ENTERING The newsletter of the Wetland Bird Survey W COUNTSeBS VIA BIRDTRACK See page 10

THE SWALE 4

SUMMERING SHELDUCK 14 WeBS ON THE ISLE OF MAN 12

ISSUE 36 AUTUMN 2020 ALSO INSIDE WeBS continues to support 01 WeBS SUPPORT FOR SIERRA LEONE COUNTS 02 FROM THE EDITOR counts in Sierra Leone 04 WeBS SITE IN THE SPOTLIGHT 05 WeBS OBITUARY January 2020 saw the continuation of coordinated efforts to 06 AGE AND SEX RECORDING count waterbirds along the whole of the East Atlantic flyway, 10 BIRDTRACK TO WeBS focusing on major sites that usually receive little or no coverage 12 WeBS ON THE ISLE OF MAN and in support of the International Waterbird Census (IWC). 14 SHELDUCK MIGRATION 15 RUTH THOMAS - THE JOURNEY Chas Holt and Richard Hearn explain more... 16 HOW NATURAL USE WeBS DATA he January expedition included from the Conservation Society of Sierra 18 LOW TIDE COUNT UPDATE training and support for Leone (CSSL) to count all waterbirds 18 WeBS TRAINING countries in west Africa where using the coastal wetland Important 19 LOCAL ORGANISER NEWS Tkey stopover and wintering areas are Bird Areas (IBAs) in the country. 20 BACKCHAT located, including the Sierra Leone The trip repeated a similar survey coast. WeBS and WWT supported carried out in January 2014, and a the initiative by covering our travel more complete census of the Sierra PLUS WeBS WHO'S WHO, CORE to Sierra Leone, where we joined up Leone coast undertaken in 2005 by COUNT DATES & NEWS with Jan van der Winden and Camilla Jan, the late Kenneth Gbengba and Dreef from the Netherlands and a team others. Repeated surveys enable 2 WeBSnews Autumn 2020 FROM THE EDITOR

WeBS NEWS Welcome... WeBS NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTORS Gill Birtles WeBS Counter Network Organiser, BTO [email protected] ...to the latest issue of WeBS News. Neil Calbrade WeBS Officer, BTO [email protected] It has certainly been a challenging year Allan Drewitt Senior Ornithologst, Natural for all of us with the ongoing Coronovirus England [email protected] Teresa Frost WeBS National Organiser, pandemic impacting on our daily lives. BTO [email protected] Ros Green Research Ecologist, BTO Thankfully for WeBS reporting, the main [email protected] lockdown period came in the spring Richard Hearn Policy and Advocacy Manager (International), WWT rather than during our peak recording [email protected] Chas Holt WeBS Counter and former period, and so hopefully this won't have National Organiser impacted on waterbird trends and peak counts too much. We thank David Kennett WeBS Local Organiser Ruth Thomas WeBS Counter you for your ongoing support. Brian Watmough WeBS Local Organiser

Data received from WeBS counts are as important as ever, Photography being widely used both by environmental consultants as part of Cover: Neil Calbrade, Brian Kelly and John Whitting. environmental impact assessments, and also by government bodies Inside: Guy Brrome, Peter Christian, Liz Cutting, Allan Drewitt, Edmund Fellowes, for the designation and monitoring of protected sites (pg. 16). Chas Holt, Mark Mainwaring, Richard Poppe, The role of the Local Organiser (LO) is crucial to the running of Papanie Bai Sesay and John Whitting,. WeBS, and we hear from the new LO on the Isle of Man about the challenges of recruiting new counters and covering sites that have NEWSLETTER PRODUCTION been neglected for many years (pg. 12). Design Neil Calbrade Printing Swallowtail Print, Norwich

Thanks to Gill Birtles, Teresa Frost, Colette Hall, Sarah Harris and Anna Robinson for proofreading this newsletter. Neil Calbrade Editor & WeBS Officer The Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) is the monitoring scheme for non-breeding waterbirds in the UK, which aims to provide the principal data for the conservation of their populations and wetland habitats. The data collected are used to Freetown and several other large urban assess the size of waterbird populations, assess CONTINUED FROM COVER trends in numbers and distribution and identify areas. Unsurprisingly, the human and monitor important sites for waterbirds. A programme of research underpins these comparison of results for stretches impacts such as mangrove cutting, objectives. Continuing a tradition begun in 1947, of coastline that are counted in sand mining and plastic pollution around 3,000 volunteer counters participate in synchronised monthly counts at wetlands of all different years. As was the case in are far greater in SLRE, although habitat types, mainly during the winter period. The Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) is a partnership 2014, the overall planning and waterbirds are still abundant on its jointly funded by BTO, RSPB and JNCC, in association with WWT with fieldwork conducted additional financial support for the largest mudflats. by volunteers. trip was provided by the Wadden Sea We then moved south over the Flyway Initiative (WSFI), a project course of the next two weeks to cover coordinated by Sovon (the Dutch Yawri Estuary, the Turtle Islands and

Centre for Ornithology). The WSFI most of the Sherbro Estuary. The BTO RSPB The Nunnery, Thetford, The Lodge, Sandy, provides the umbrella for periodic southern estuaries of Sierra Leone are Norfolk IP24 2PU Bedfordshire SG19 2DL Tel: 01842 750050 Tel: 01767 680551 coordinated censuses of waterbirds much less impacted than those further www.bto.org www.rspb.org.uk along the East Atlantic Flyway; in north, with extensive mangrove forest doing so, it provides important still present in many areas, and plastic additional count data for the IWC. pollution far less evident. These areas JNCC WWT Monkstone House, City Road Slimbridge, Gloucestershire Having arrived in the capital, are mostly remote and hard to reach, Peterborough PE1 1JY GL2 7BT Tel: 01733 562626 Tel: 01453 891900 Freetown, we first spent several days with journeys by road taking many www.jncc.gov.uk www.wwt.org.uk in the north of the country counting hours. All the fieldwork was boat-based Information in this Newsletter is compiled from a variety of Scarcies Estuary and the Sierra Leone and involved surveys of tidal mudflats, sources and does not necessarily reflect the views of WeBS partner River Estuary (SLRE). Scarcies Estuary sandbanks, and mangrove creeks at low organisations. © BTO 2020 Published by BTO/RSPB/JNCC. is a rural area, largely surrounded by tide; operating as two teams to help farmland and small fishing villages, maximise coverage of the estuaries When you have finished with this whereas the SLRE is adjacent to during relatively constrained tidal magazine, pass it to a friend or recycle it. Autumn 2020 WeBSnews 3 windows. Counts were undertaken at low tide, unlike in most coastal WeBS sectors, because at high tide most of the waders and other waterbirds roost in dense areas of mangrove where they are impossible to observe. A trip to west Africa during the winter provides an opportunity to see a mix of exotic resident birds and migrants that are more familiar to birders from northwest Europe. Coastal wetlands in winter are dominated by waders that breed in the far north, many of which may migrate through WeBS sites during passage periods. Over the course of the survey, the most abundant species proved to be Curlew Sandpiper with nearly 15,000 birds logged. Several thousand each of Whimbrel, Grey Plover, Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper were also A selection of counted, along with several hundred Herons, Egrets and Knot, Greenshank, Sanderling and a Stork feeding on Avocet. Many of these counts exceed the tidal mudflats the relevant species thresholds for are a familiar sight in wetlands of international importance. Sierra Leone. These waders share the intertidal mudflats with a variety of other birds. Counting A typical estuarine mudflat in Sierra waterbirds from Leone can feature Great White Egret, sandbanks exposed Grey Heron, Little Egret, Western Reef by the low tide. Egret, Green-backed Heron, Sacred PAPANIE BAI SESAY (CSSL)/CHAS HOLT (CSSL)/CHAS SESAY BAI PAPANIE Ibis, Woolly-necked Stork, Palm-nut Vulture and Pied Kingfisher, as well Notable absentees from our list their ecology, monitoring and as, in favoured areas, more localised were Kentish Plover and Little conservation, and the sustainable species such as Great White Pelican, Stint, whereas a census of the same management of estuarine Pink-backed Pelican, African Spoonbill area in 2005 produced totals of 98 environments. Everyone involved in and Black Egret. The sandbanks and Kentish Plover and 1,271 Little the initiative is keen for a regular and spectacular Turtle Islands again held Stint! Populations of Kentish Plover sustainable monitoring programme large groups of terns, comprising Royal are known to have declined across of surveys, undertaken by Sierra (6,000), Sandwich (1,700), Common the species’ range and Little Stint Leoneans, to become established. We (1,300) and Little (1,100) with smaller are prone to marked fluctuations therefore look forward to continuing numbers of Lesser Crested, Gull-billed, in annual breeding productivity on this training in the future. Caspian and Black Terns. Arctic breeding grounds – but their Sierra Leone is a poor, but beautiful, Away from mudflats and apparent disappearances are striking. country which has suffered tough sandbanks, mangrove channels hold As well as counting waterbirds, periods during its recent history, relatively low densities of birds but our activities in Sierra Leone from militant warfare in the 1990s still provided encounters with a included engagement with local to an outbreak of Ebola in 2014 diverse range of species including communities and training of CSSL (incidentally a matter of weeks after several Hamerkops as well as a couple staff to help them develop their bird our previous trip). of Nile Crocodiles. Other memorable identification and counting skills. A With the Coronovirus situation sightings during the surveys were preparatory training workshop also now affecting the health of provided by African Skimmer, took place in December 2019 at communities around the world Goliath Heron and Giant Kingfisher Tasso Island Ecolodge, in the SLRE, as well as impacting the ease of – all exceptional-looking birds! The where survey participants and other international travel, we hope that most exciting discovery in terms of representatives of communities it is not too long before there is an local rarity was a Laughing Gull, a from all of the main Sierra Leonean opportunity to return and continue first for Sierra Leone. estuaries learnt about waterbirds, this important initiative. 4 WeBSnews Autumn 2020 WeBS LOCATION SPOTLIGHT

The Swale is a tidal channel that separates the from the mainland and is one of the most important sites in southeast England for waterbirds.

Brian Watmough WeBS Local Organiser

ach winter the Swale supports and Swale Local Nature Reserve are For the WeBS counts, the site is more than 60,000 waterfowl managed by the Kent Wildlife Trust divided into 17 sectors with a core and ranks 19th in the and the RSPB are developing a new team of more than 20 counters. EPrincipal Sites table of UK wetlands. reserve at Seasalter. This concentration Counting on the coast can often be There are internationally important of reserves has contributed to the challenging. Whilst some roosts, like numbers of Black-tailed Godwit, Natural England assessment that 90% those of Oystercatcher, are regular, Dark-bellied Brent Geese and of the SSSI is in favourable condition. for other species the preferred roost Wigeon and nationally important However, not all the waterbirds are changes through the season. At the numbers of a further dozen species. flourishing. There are amber Alerts for highest tides roosts can be flooded The grazing marshes at Elmley have Dunlin and the waterbird assemblage. and the birds relocate, requiring the the largest concentration of breeding Dunlin have declined by 38% in the counters to check with each other to waders in southern England, long-term at the site, which mirrors avoid double counting. supporting more than 400 pairs each the regional and national trends so it is We are always looking for new of Lapwing and Redshank. probably not due to local conditions. counters and we hold an annual The 6,658-ha Swale SSSI is a Twenty-two of the 35 waterbird meeting for counters from the North double ended tidal channel (not an species that use the site have declined Kent estuaries – the Thames, Medway estuary)18-km long between the by 30% or more in the medium-term and Swale – to which we invite Isle of Sheppey and the north Kent so we need to consider why. For some representatives from conservation coast and is part of the Greater species the answer is straightforward, agencies to discuss local issues. Thames estuary. It includes intertidal the 67% decline of the nationally The Swale Wader Group (www. flats, saltmarsh, saline lagoons, and important population of White-fronted swalewaders.co.uk) has ringed more extensive coastal grazing marshes. On Goose is linked to a decline in the UK than 10,000 waders over the last 40 the northern shore of the Swale the population as a result of short-stopping: years and many of the ringers are Elmley and Swale National Nature as the winters become milder, the also WeBS counters. Such a long Reserves are managed by the Elmley birds are no longer migrating as far at history of ringing helps interpret Conservation Trust and Great Bells the UK. For other species the reasons the WeBS counts. For example, the Farm is being developed by RSPB. are less obvious, such as for Redshank national decline in breeding Curlew On the southern shore Oare Marshes which has a long-term decline of 53%. has meant they are now Red-listed but the numbers of birds wintering on the Swale have declined less than the national trend. Ringing recoveries of Swale Curlew show that our birds breed in Baltic states and Finland where breeding populations are stable or increasing. In summer, the coastal grazing marshes at Elmley support more than a thousand pairs of breeding waders. An extensive programme of predator control involving fox proof fences and trapping of stoats, hedgehogs (which are relocated) and Carrion Crows has contributed to high productivity of fledged birds. This in turn raises the question what happens to the fledged JOHN WHITTINGJOHN Autumn 2020 WeBSnews 5

WeBS Obituary

Black-tailed Godwit and Wigeon occur in internationally important numbers on The Swale, and Lapwing fledging rate is assessed using colour-ringing.

Mark Rehfisch 1960–2019

Mark Rehfisch was head of the BTO’s Wetland and Coastal Ecology Unit from 1995 to 2009, overseeing BTO research on waterbirds and seabirds, and the development of WeBS and other waterbird monitoring. The team’s work on climate change not only highlighted the shifts in many species’ distributions north-eastwards towards their breeding grounds in association with milder winters, but also the potential impacts of sea young? A colour-ringing project is waterfowl shot. The impact of the level rise, providing the hoping to provide some answers. development of the largest solar basis for predictions of Like all sites in southern England, array in England adjacent to the future impacts. the Swale is under a number Swale SPA and an important feeding During this period, of threats, including sea-level area for Brent Geese, Lapwing and Mark also oversaw the rise, disturbance, development, Golden Plover is unknown. development of more wildfowling and fishing. The The Swale has some of the best robust methods for the population of Kent is forecast to sites to watch waders in southern Non-Estuarine Waterbird grow by more than 300,000 by England and whilst the reserves can Survey and for surveys of 2030 and this is likely to increase sometimes seem crowded it is still gulls and non-native geese. disturbance. Fortunately, the main possible to spend a day without He was integral to many of roosts are protected from land-based seeing another person. The variety the developments in WeBS disturbance on nature reserves but of habitats at the site contributes that we are now familiar are still vulnerable to increasing to the importance of the Swale for with, including online data disturbance from water and air. The waterbirds providing birds with capture and reporting, the local authorities, statutory agencies the opportunity to respond to WeBS Low Tide Counts and NGOs established Birdwise, changing conditions. WeBS counts scheme and the WeBS Alerts www.birdwise.org.uk, an initiative make an important contribution reporting for protected sites. to mitigate disturbance to birds to its conservation. The challenges Mark will be greatly wintering in Kent. Bait digging for counters remain; to maintain missed by former BTO is frequent on intertidal areas but consistency of coverage, to extend colleagues, collaborators there seems little understanding the counts to include the summer and volunteers. of its impact. Similarly, there is months, to complete the low tide no monitoring of the number of counts and to share and enjoy. WIGEON BY EDMUND FELLOWES/BTO; LAPWING BY RICHARD POPPE AND BLACK-TAILED GODWIT BY NEIL CALBRADE NEIL BY GODWIT AND BLACK-TAILED RICHARD POPPE LAPWING BY EDMUND FELLOWES/BTO; BY WIGEON 6 WeBSnews Autumn 2020 Age and sex recording in WeBS A new feature in WeBS Online allows counters to record proportions of male and female or adult and first-year birds to help research into productivity and populations.

Teresa Frost WeBS National Organiser

n January 2020, we launched a new feature in WeBS Online data entry, to allow countersI to optionally record the number of birds of different ages and sexes for certain wildfowl and wader species. This might be all the birds of a particular species present, or a sample from larger flock(s). The data gathered will be invaluable for future analyses of breeding success by looking at age composition across years, and tracking changes in migratory behaviour by recording the ratio of male to female birds.

WHY AGE DATA? WeBS Core Counts allow us to track how whole populations are doing. But additional information is needed to understand the drivers behind the headline trends. Collecting information on age ratios is one way to get information on breeding success. Productivity is an important demographic factor Proportions of juvenile affecting populations, helping us birds in flocks can to understand why WeBS and give an indication of international population trends breeding success are increasing or decreasing. ALLAN DREWITT/BTO Many of the waders we count in winter breed in the high Arctic, WHY SEX DATA? flyway. Collection of sex ratio where it is difficult to monitor Just as with age data, data can provide useful data breeding success. By counting the information on sex ratios will for investigating differences proportion of first calendar year give us finer detail of population in survival between the sexes. birds we see in a flock, we are structure in different months and Timing of migration, and moult able to gain valuable information different parts of the country, migrations are also known or on breeding success. Wader and whether these differ from suspected to differ between sexes ringing projects collect data at year to year. We know that there for several species and after a places like the Wash and the are considerable differences few years of data collection, it is Swale, but there are other parts in overall sex ratios in many hoped we can shed some light on of the country where no ringing wintering duck flocks and that this – perhaps you could collect is done, and WeBS counters can a greater proportion of males data regularly at your site, to see help fill the gap. are found in the north of the how it varies over time? Autumn 2020 WeBSnews 7

HOW TO HELP Recording age and sex data need not be done on every WeBS Count, or for every species, to be useful. There are two times of year where it will be particularly helpful. We are keen to receive samples of duck sex ratios in January, as this is when the Duck Specialist Group encourages data collection alongside the International Waterbird Census. Early autumn is a helpful time to collect juvenile wader data, of interest to the International Wader Study Group.

If you don’t have time to collect the data during your Priority Core Count, you could go back on a different day, and submit data with a casual count or supplementary count. And if you aren’t confident enough of your age/sex identification skills for certain species to take part, don’t worry – you can still do your WeBS count as normal, as Try to select your age or age and sex recording will remain sex samples to reflect entirely optional. the birds on your sector

We will highlight future project research requests via this females – we need to know samples – many thanks to all newsletter, social media and your which sample is from which flock of you who have submitted friendly Local Organisers. For to be able to calculate the overall data, but we would be delighted example, Ros Green explains ratio correctly. to have some more! As we what summer breakdowns by age mentioned in WeBS News 35, and sex for Shelduck could help If you do not use WeBS the very first National Wildfowl reveal on page 14. Online, but submit paper forms Counts forms from the 1940s to your Local Organiser or the used to have space to record this Remember, you do not have WeBS Office, and want to take information, so this is a return to collect data on every bird part you will need to record the of data collection after a very present on your count, just information separately. If there is long hiatus! We are looking representative samples. To sufficient demand, we will create forward to being able to compare avoid bias, we ask about the a supplementary form that can be some recent data with data from “flock size” you are drawing used, so please let us know. over 70 years ago, once we have each sample from. If you are digitised some historical forms. only able to see enough detail So far we have received 541 on birds close by to age them, a age samples and 2,188 sex Continued overleaf further away group might have a different age structure to the one close to you, so it helps to know If you already undertake field-based age assessments for WWT, what proportion of the birds on please continue to submit your counts to WWT in the usual way. your sector you drew the samples WWT undertake age assessments on Whooper Swan and Bewick’s from by giving the flock size as Swan and eleven goose populations native to the UK. They collate well as your usual total sector count. Or perhaps there are two information on breeding success using the proportion of young (first- groups of ducks in your WeBS winter) birds in non-breeding flocks and the average brood size. sector, a big flock of mostly For further information contact: https://monitoring.wwt.org.uk/ males and a small flock of mostly contact-us/ 8 WeBSnews Autumn 2020

ADDING AGE AND SEX RECORDINGS INTO WeBS ONLINE

Log into WeBS Online and enter count data. You will see that there is a percentage symbol (%) next to each species where recording of age or sex is permitted. To enter age/sex recordings for a particular species, click on this symbol. Note, that if you have not marked this species as present first, it is not possible to select this option. You must ensure that the species is either marked as present or a count has been added before you can add age/sex recordings.

Unless you are recording age and sex composition for all birds within your WeBS count sector, please enter data for samples for separate flocks, so that we can calculate proportions correctly. The reason we ask for samples divided into flocks is that sometimes birds separate into flocks with e.g. mostly adults or mostly males in one part of a count sector.

To enter data, select the green ‘+ Add Flock’ button. From here, you can enter the size of Flock 1. The size of Flock 1 will default to your WeBS sector total. If the flock you are sampling from is smaller than this, as the sector is split into separate flocks, please estimate the size here, so we know how representative your samples are.

Full Guidance, including tables of which species can be recorded and suggested months where this is possible taking into account plumage and moult, can be found in the counter resources on the WeBS website, via the help button in WeBS Online, or at bit.ly/WeBSAgeSex.

100%

75%

Male

50% Indeterminate

Female

25%

0% Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Preliminary Mallard results suggest that fewer females are detected between March and June on WeBS counts, which is when they are incubating, and highlights the moulting period where it is more difficult to distinguish females from males in eclipse plumage. Autumn 2020 WeBSnews 9

To add age recordings, select the blue ‘+ Add Sample’ To add data for additional flocks, select ‘+ Add Flock’ button and select ‘Age’. This will then show options for you and carry out the same process. The total for all the flocks to type in the number of birds seen which were at ‘Adult’, is given underneath the ‘+ Add Flock’ button, so that ‘1st Calendar Year’ and ‘Indeterminate’ ages. you can ensure the totals do not exceed the WeBS count You can add as many samples as required. To add sex total. You can delete specific flocks, age and sex counts by recordings, once again select ‘+ Add Sample’ and select selecting the red bin button at the top right hand corner ‘Sex’. This will then show options for you to type in the of the corresponding sections. Once you have entered all number of birds seen which were at ‘Male’, ‘Female’ and the Age/Sex recordings for a specific species, select ‘OK’ ‘Indeterminate’ sex. You can add as many samples as and the box will disappear. If sample numbers are too required. If you are recording both age and sex samples, large within a specific flock e.g. you have recorded a total these do not necessarily have to be the same. You could for of 26 birds across all samples in Flock 1, which is greater example record three samples from the flock for Sex and than the flock size (10), an error message will occur and only one for Age. You will see that the total number birds you cannot submit the data until this has been corrected. assessed for age and the total assessed for sex within the Once all age/sex recordings have been noted, please flock is kept up-to-date underneath the ‘+ Add Sample’ submit your data by selecting ‘Submit Count’. button, so that you can ensure the numbers recorded for age and recorded for sex for the samples do not exceed the total flock size.

Proportions of males and females can indicate differences in distribution and winter survival EDMUND FELLOWES/BTO 10 WeBSnews Autumn 2020 WeBS and BirdTrack now on speaking terms One of the main comments regarding WeBS Online we received from WeBS counters who also use BirdTrack, was that they had to input their counts twice into the different systems. Well, that is no more...

Gill Birtles WeBS Counter Network Organiser

s we mentioned in WeBS News 35, we have now ADDING WeBS RECORDS INTO BIRDTRACK introduced an optional feature for importing records When adding data into BirdTrack, it is useful to specify submitted in BirdTrack into WeBS Online. This that the list is also a WeBS count. This helps you and Ais to make it easier for those who carry out WeBS counts others identify your WeBS visit from your other BirdTrack and who also keep regular BirdTrack lists, so that data does lists. This information is also passed on to County not need to be manually entered online twice. You can, Recorders when they download BirdTrack data, so they will of course, simply enter your counts straight into WeBS know the data may be duplicated if they also download Online if you prefer. WeBS data. To do this, when detailing your site visit, You can use any of the existing ways to enter your under ‘Count type’ within the ‘Optional visit information’ counts into BirdTrack (through the webpage or Android section, select ‘WeBS count’. and iPhone apps) and all waterbird species you record in You can choose to enter waterbird records only into your list, together with counts and species comments, will BirdTrack as a ‘Casual’ list, or alternatively do a ‘Complete’ be transferred when you import into WeBS Online. list including all bird species seen, as you prefer. Then enter your records into BirdTrack as normal. REGISTERING A WeBS SITE IN BIRDTRACK If you already have a site set up in your BirdTrack account that covers the same area as your WeBS site, you can use the existing site. Otherwise, the first time you enter data for WeBS in BirdTrack, you will also need to create your WeBS site as a site in your own BirdTrack account. To create the site through the web browser, log in to BirdTrack at https://app.bto.org/birdtrack. Select ‘My Places’ on the left, then select the green ‘+Create new place’ button on the right. Type in the site name e.g. ‘Little Ouse - Thetford WeBS site’, find the site on the map and either drop a pin in the centre of the site or draw the site boundary. Then press ‘Save’ to create the site. Referring to WeBS in the place name helps you and others identify the WeBS site, but is optional.

If you are using one of the BirdTrack phone apps, you can do this within the app by pressing ‘Create/Add New Place’. If you do not have a BirdTrack account, you will need to register first. You can find guidance about how to set up and use the BirdTrack system in the ‘Taking Part’ webpages at www.birdtrack.net. Autumn 2020 WeBSnews 11

IMPORTING RECORDS FROM carefully, making sure you did not BIRDTRACK INTO WeBS ONLINE forget to include any species and Your WeBS Core Count Once you have added data into that the counts are correct for all priority dates for the BirdTrack, go to WeBS Online, waterbirds, gulls and terns. 2020–2021 season... select ‘WeBS Core Count’ then Non-waterbird wetland species select the WeBS site and enter the such as Dipper will appear in the date of the count, ensuring that ‘Other Common Species’ tab as usual. 2020... they correspond with the record you If you have any species of waterbird have entered into BirdTrack. When or common wetland birds that have 18 October you have done this, a blue button not previously been recorded at the will appear next to the date saying site for WeBS, these will appear in the 15 November ‘Import counts from BirdTrack’. bottom section. When you press the blue button, If you usually look for gulls or 13 December all BirdTrack visits you have made on terns and did not see any, you will that date within 5-km of the centre need to go into the tabs and select of your WeBS site will be listed. that they were not present. 2021... Select the relevant list and select ‘Start If you recorded plumage data Import’. To help you identify the in BirdTrack this has not been 17 January relevant list the ‘Count Type’ shows as imported. However, if you click on ‘WeBS count’ if you have previously the % sign by a species to add age 14 February selected this in BirdTrack. or sex data, your BirdTrack plumage Once you have clicked ‘Start and species comments are displayed 14 March Import’, the data from BirdTrack to help you complete this section, will be transferred into the WeBS (see the Guidance in part 6 of the 11 April form but you will still need to add WeBS Counter Handbook). the ice cover and count accuracy Once you are happy that everything 23 May information. Check your counts is correct, click ‘Submit Count’. 13 June 25 July 22 August 12 September 10 October 7 November 19 December

Where tidal conditions at coastal sites are unfavourable on these dates, Local Organisers are encouraged to agree alternative dates. Ideally, these should be separated by at least three weeks from counts in the preceding and following months. Counts on different count units within complex sites should be coordinated to avoid the This new feature was launched on 5th March 2020. Over the days that possibility of double counting. followed (including a Core Count weekend) it was used 129 times, by 70 different counters. We had a very positive response, with 11 counters taking the time to contact us by email or on Twitter to praise it. Comments included: Keep up-to-date with count "Great work to those involved", "worked a treat", "great addition", "timing [of dates and add them to your launch] was perfect", "saves so much time", "it was so easy", "couldn’t be electronic calendar at www. simpler" and "highly recommend". bto.org/webs/coredates 12 WeBSnews Autumn 2020 Manx WeBS counts on the up Taking over as Local Organiser may seem a daunting challenge, but the rewards are well worth it, and often it brings with it new faces among the counters.

David Kennett WeBS Local Organiser

took over as WeBS Local In July 2019, at the start of (now part of a major new nature Organiser (LO) from Pat Cullen the WeBS reporting year, only six reserve) by the same counter who in September 2019. For several sites were being regularly counted. has been recording there every Idecades, Pat carried out WeBS In the south, one volunteer who, month for the past 20 years. counts at most of the 50-or so sites encouraged to sign up to WeBS Following a few emails and originally assigned to the Isle of after an inspiring talk by Dawn some WeBS promotion at MOS Man. Many of the records go back Balmer at a Manx Ornithological winter meetings (many thanks to to the 1960s and 1970s, long before Society (MOS) meeting in early our bird club secretary and BTO the current set-up was established 2017, took on not one, but four Ambassador, Janet Thompson, and the online system introduced; sites in the Port St Mary area! for her encouragement and help), some sites haven’t been surveyed Further along the south coast, there was some very welcome for several years. Though retired the North Perwick Bay to The interest in the survey. The Isle of as WeBS LO, Pat kindly agreed Chasms site was added; this had Man is lucky in that the whole to again carry out Whooper Swan been covered since April 2019 by island is covered by a single OS counts in January this year, as part the new counter who had previous 1:50,000 map (sheet 95) which (in of the five-yearly International WeBS experience at a site in the addition to the WeBS Vacant Sites Swan Census - as he put it, he had Forth Estuary in Scotland. In online page) makes it quite easy been counting Whoopers for over the north of the Island, coverage to display and show the vacant 40 years and was very familiar with continued at the important Point sites in a local context. In January their preferred winter haunts! of Ayre (POA) Gravel Pits site 2020, six more sites were adopted: the important and demanding, but often disturbed, areas of Derbyhaven Bay and Langness (Castletown Bay East); the inland sites of Kionslieau and Eairy Dams by another new recruit (already a BBS volunteer); and in the north, Glascoe Dub (dub is Manx for a pond or small water body) and Ramsey Vollan (possibly better known locally as Mooragh Park Lake) by a fourth new counter who was already very familiar with both sites. And more were to come! In April this year, two more counters (with previous WeBS experience at sites on Anglesey) took on, not only the existing site at Garwick Bay, but also created two new sites, the adjacent Laxey Bay (including the harbour) and a nearby farmland dub. In June, the seemingly unstoppable volunteer, already counting at the Glascoe and Ramsey Vollan sites, adopted Autumn 2020 WeBSnews 13

Single Wood Sandpiper, Long-tailed Duck and Red-breasted Merganser were some of the highlights of the 2019/20 WeBS Year on the Isle of Man, while Purple Sandpiper numbers peaked at 19 birds.

Ramsey Harbour (last surveyed different species. Of these, 40 refreshed and very user-friendly, about ten years ago) and finally, were “core” wetland species, version of WeBS Online. The another new counter (and the including wildfowl, waders, rails, new 2020/21 season is already second BBS volunteer to sign up grebes and cormorants, plus gulls off to a good start with our to WeBS), took on the Clypse and and terns, while the remaining latest counter (previous WeBS Kerrowdhoo reservoir sites. 29 are on the additional species experience at sites in Chichester At times, throughout all this lists, and included seabirds (e.g. Harbour), taking on Douglas activity, I have felt a bit of a the cliff nesting species), raptors, Harbour and Bay. This is a very fraud, as although I’m familiar corvids and numerous small welcome addition which will with many of these sites, I have passerines. All the records have bring the total number of sites yet to do a WeBS count myself. been interesting, whether from the covered up to 18. As LO, of course, I can visit the big sites at Langness/Derbyhaven I think it’s been a remarkable sites to do single visit counts and and the POA gravel pits, to the year for WeBS in the Isle of hopefully I may eventually get small Dubs with only a few ducks Man, despite the difficulties round to doing this. and Moorhens as the reward. of the last five months. It just Despite the restrictions due As very much a novice, still remains for me to say a very big to the Coronavirus crisis, the in my first year as LO, this has thank you to all the counters for vagaries of the weather and all definitely been a very steep their determination and hard more than half the sites being learning curve but has been work, and to the photographers covered for only 6 months, or made much easier by the huge who kindly allowed me to use less, the 2019/20 season saw 10 amount of help and advice their pictures in this article. I counters make a combined total I’ve received from the Counter hope they will all be pleased to of 96 visits to 17 separate coastal Network Organiser, Gill see their efforts recognised by a

ALL PHOTOS BY PETER CHRISTIAN PETER BY PHOTOS ALL and inland sites, recording 69 Birtles, and of course, by the wider WeBS readership. 14 WeBSnews Autumn 2020 Unravelling Shelduck Migration

More WeBS counts of Shelduck in June, July and August could help fill gaps in knowledge about how Shelduck move around the country during the period of their moult migration.

Ros Green BTO Research Ecologist

espite being such a Recording ratios of male common and conspicuous to female Shelducks could species, there is still much help scientists understand Dto learn about Shelduck migration their migration strategies and moult strategies in the UK. A recent BTO review (Green et al. 2019) has consolidated what is known, and a tracking study (Green et al. 2020) has improved our knowledge of how quickly Shelduck can migrate across the North Sea. However, lots of knowledge gaps have also been highlighted, which more WeBS data could help to fill.

The majority of British breeding Shelduck migrate to the Wadden Sea (The Netherlands and Germany) between late-June and September to moult their EDMUND FELLOWES/BTO flight feathers, though several UK moulting sites also exist, including estuaries will see an increase in the Firth of Forth, the Humber numbers, as numbers in smaller References: Estuary, The Wash, Bridgwater sites decrease. Count data from Bay and the Mersey Estuary. Little these months would really Green, R.M.W., Burton, N.H.K. & Cook, is known about which Shelduck help build up a picture of how A.S.C.P. 2019. Review of the migratory from which populations migrate Shelduck move about the county movements of Shelduck to inform to which moult sites. Do west during migration. Any data on the understanding of potential interactions coast breeders use UK moult sites, sex or age class of birds would also with offshore wind farms in the southern while east coast breeders travel to be helpful. Thank You. North Sea. BTO Research Report 718, BTO, the continent? Do males, females Thetford, UK. and immature birds travel to different areas? No-one seems to You can enter proportions of male and Green, R.M.W., Burton, N.H.K. & Cook, know, and here’s where your data female or adult and immature birds A.S.C.P. 2020. Pilot tracking study of collection can help! from your site in WeBS Online using the migratory movements of Shelduck the % symbol next to the species count to inform understanding of potential We’d love to know how box. Guidance on how to record sex interactions with offshore wind farms in the Shelduck numbers fluctuate across and age ratios in WeBS Online can be North Sea. BTO Research Report 725. BTO, the country during the non-core found on pages 6–9 or on the counter Thetford, UK. WeBS months. We suspect that resources page of the WeBS website numbers might reduce on the west www.bto.org/webs-counter-resources coast as they increase on the east coast between June and August, and that known UK moulting Autumn 2020 WeBSnews 15 Ruth Thomas – the journey

Despite suffering life threatening injuries, Ruth made a remarkable recovery and her work on Curlews on the Solway helped her achieve a Degree that once looked out of reach...

Ruth Thomas WeBS Counter

uth Thomas was a budding Zoology student at the University of RCumbria with a dream of a successful career in ecology and conservation ahead of her when it all came crashing down, literally, in July 2018 after she was critically injured in a major car crash in the Lake District.

Airlifted to the Critical Care Unit at the Royal Preston Hospital with what the doctor on board the helicopter described as some of the most serious injuries he Following her had ever seen, Ruth spent three accident, studying weeks in a coma and a total Curlews on the of three months in hospital, Solway became suffering nine fractures to her Ruth's passion pelvis and lower spine and a BROOME GUY Traumatic Brain Injury, having to learn to walk and talk again, monthly counts are vital for significant number of Curlew but determined to return to her monitoring their numbers. Ruth’s were recorded that had not studies and, as she describes study set out to prove that the been seen by the WeBS counter. them, “her birdies”. established WeBS monthly core Hence it could be concluded that count methods for wetland birds including hinterland numbers And, just over a year after the did not account for all the birds when performing WeBS core crash, Ruth returned to Carlisle present in one day. counts is vital in recording all to complete her final year. Curlew present. Ruth’s passion for ornithology A small area of the Solway never left her and ultimately Firth between Boustead Hill Ruth has since graduated formed the basis of her and Drumburgh was selected to university with a 2:1 honours dissertation entitled “A Study perform the study and a circuit degree and is currently looking Assessing the Effectiveness of devised that included the estuary for work in the ecology and WeBS Core Counts on Curlew habitat WeBS already covers conservation fields. numbers on the Solway Firth”. plus the adjacent farmland that WeBS does not record. This is You can follow Ruth on Twitter at Ruth could be found morning due to wading birds like Curlew @zoologyruth and evening, almost daily over feeding on both habitats. The a several month period, out in local WeBS count organiser all weathers, recording Curlew kindly provided the official on the estuary and hinterlands; WeBS count numbers to which a bird with a UK conservation Ruth compared her numbers status of Red-listed and thus and found that in one month a 16 WeBSnews Autumn 2020 Your counts count The wealth of bird data provided by WeBS volunteers are DETAILED used daily by Natural England’s conservation advisors and DATA... ornithologists for a wide range of purposes. Conservation advice is available via the Designated Sites System search page at https://designatedsites.

naturalengland.org.uk/

Allan Drewitt Senior Ornithologist, Natural England SiteSearch.aspx

eBS data are particularly valued for managing protected wildlife sites Wimportant for birds: Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Special Protections Areas (SPAs) and Ramsar Sites. We use both Core Count and Low Tide data to help support the case for nature conservation designations for birds; to set conservation objective targets; to monitor and assess site condition against these targets; and to assess the potential impacts of built development and other activities on these sites. Data collected away from protected sites are similarly of value in that they contribute to our understanding of regional and national population MAINWARING MARK trends, identify potential new WeBS data were valuable for the designation of Morecambe Bay and Duddon Estuary SPA protected sites and help to locate new species as ‘qualifying features’ information on desired bird and count SSSI and SPA birds such as Ruff and Mediterranean and habitat feature condition, which periodically feed or roost Gull. Proposals to designate including abundance targets outside protected site boundaries. new protected sites are subject which are often based on to public consultation and the WeBS counts. Annual WeBS DATA UNDERPIN PROTECTED highest level of scrutiny before monitoring is crucial here, as SITE DESIGNATIONS receiving Ministerial approval. we want our targets to reflect The most obvious and perhaps As such, very few designations situations where numbers have rewarding application of WeBS would have succeeded without consistently increased over time, data is the designation of new the evidence provided by WeBS and also to ensure that we take SSSIs, SPAs and Ramsar Sites. counts, with their proven care not to make less favourable Recent examples of major site track record of rigorous survey numbers worse still. WeBS designations are the combination methodology, coordinated provides an up to date, long- of two SPAs to create the new coverage and data validation. running data series which we Morecambe Bay and Duddon rely upon to review and revise Estuary SPA/Ramsar Site and the WeBS DATA INFORM CONSERVATION our targets. Our conservation extension of the Teesmouth and OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS advice packages also assist Cleveland Coast SPA/Ramsar Site, WeBS data relating to birds environmental assessments of both including additional areas of which are qualifying features any proposed activity affecting habitat important for coastal non- of protected sites are used in sites by advising on activities breeding and breeding birds. These Natural England’s conservation that can potentially affect new sites protect habitat used by advice packages. These set out bird features or habitats, and a combined total of nearly 30,000 our conservation objectives therefore have potential to waterbirds and seabirds, including for SSSIs and SPAs, providing undermine our objectives. Autumn 2020 WeBSnews 17

WeBS DATA REFLECT SITE CONDITION bird numbers, including built which can help understand the Recently we have worked with development on or near bird implications of new proposed BTO to develop ways to use habitats, industrial operations, activities and strengthen the case WeBS Alerts to help monitor flood defence works and a to oppose changes or mitigate the health (or ‘condition’) variety of recreational activities. their effects. The comparison of of sites designated for non- These can result in habitat site-level trends with regional breeding waterbirds. Alerts are loss or deterioration, either or national trends is often provided for 49 species or species directly through changes in particularly revealing and helpful populations and are available land management or indirectly in these cases, and the more for 55 SPAs across England. because of increased disturbance. advanced sector-level alerts can The latest Alerts, using data up help understand where and why to 2017/18, show trends and When assessing the effects sites are failing to support their percentage changes in numbers of any proposed activity bird populations. against the ‘baseline’ values on protected sites the most used to justify site designations. important information is the Much of this work would be This means that we can compare number and distribution of birds impossible without WeBS data the existing value of sites with likely to be affected, particularly and we would like to thank all their importance at the time of those which are qualifying volunteers working both on and designation which, in many cases, features. Recent bird counts at off designated sites for their is over 30 years ago. the sector level are crucial and efforts. Your data are highly we often compare five-year peak valued and essential for our Changes in bird numbers means for affected areas against work to protect, manage and can reflect site-level factors, the overall site totals to provide monitor England’s internationally such as increased disturbance essential context for our advice. important waterbird populations. or habitat deterioration, but When considering effects of can equally result from wider habitat loss and/or displacement changes outside our control on intertidal areas we also use such as changes in migratory Low Tide data as additional bird movements, including supporting information. ‘short-stopping’. Comparison with regional and national WeBS Alerts have long been trends over the same time used to assist such site protection period will ultimately allow us casework, often providing to identify those sites which important details on bird trends are in ‘unfavourable condition’ and where resources are necessary to undertake research into the causes of declines GLOSSARY and implement necessary management changes. Sometimes Protected Sites: this research can involve greater • Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): land designated under the interrogation of the WeBS data, Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 for the special interest of its flora, fauna or for example in studies of the geological or physiographical features. potential disturbance effects • Special Protection Area (SPA): strictly protected sites designated under the Birds of recreational activities on Directive (Directive 2009/147/EC on the conservation of wild birds). estuaries. Although bird trends • Ramsar Sites: wetlands of international importance designated under the are usually just one component Ramsar Convention. of site health checks, which include many other attributes Qualifying features: the features for which a SSSI, SPA or Ramsar site has been designated. In relating to habitat suitability, the case of birds they normally include species present in nationally or internationally important they provide the most obvious, numbers (i.e. at least 1% of GB or biogeographic populations respectively) and/or important reliable and regular indicator of assemblages of different species. change, once again underlining Conservation objectives: a description of the desired state of the qualifying features of a our reliance on WeBS. protected site including specific targets or target ranges. Features being managed in a way which maintains their nature conservation value are in "favourable condition", meaning that the features are being adequately conserved and monitoring demonstrates that they are meeting all the WeBS DATA ARE CRUCIAL FOR mandatory site-specific targets set by the conservation objectives. IMPACT ASSESSMENTS Baseline values: normally the numbers of individuals of specified bird species, or numbers of All WeBS counters will be individuals in an overall bird assemblage, present at the time of site designation. These figures are aware of the many human often provided in formal descriptions ("citations") of a site’s importance. activities that can influence 18 WeBSnews Autumn 2020

Low Tide Update Low Tide Counts complement the Core Counts on estuarine sites, and give an insight into the distributions of different species within a site.

Neil Calbrade WeBS Low Tide Organiser

he winter of 2019/20 saw and February and will allow Low Tide Counts carried comparisons of distributions and out on 18 estuaries around densities of species across a site Tthe UK, including the Solway with previous years. Firth, Taw-Torridge, Fowey, Hayle, Ythan and Deben Estuaries. As part of the online WeBS Reporting interface via www. The counts for the 2020/21 bto.org/websreporting-lowtide, winter will soon be underway on dot density maps for all sites The Swale, Firth of Tay, Camel and species are now available. Estuary, Pegwell Bay and Irvine- This allows the user to compare Garnock Estuary among other the distributions of birds using sites being counted under the six- any combination of site, species yearly programme. and years side by side for ease of comparison. Monthly peak counts We would welcome counts and average densities can also now from any estuary, even those been seen for all species recorded that have not yet been counted on each site in a particular winter. under the scheme, so please contact the WeBS office (email: [email protected]) if you are able to organise a team or be able Estuaries that have been to count a whole site yourself counted under the Low and would like to take part. The Tide Count Scheme counts are carried out, ideally, once a month between November

WeBS TRAINING Local Organiser Training Gill Birtles explains how the current trend toward virtual meetings has opened up new opportunities for training... Organisers and also where there Due to the popularity also proven are opportunities to of recent BTO virtual popular, further develop the training sessions, in with 30 Local system, which we are August, September and Organisers having attended. always looking to do. one due at the beginning It has been really great The training of October this year, the for the WeBS team to ‘meet’ has been a really good If there is sufficient WeBS team conducted Local Organisers and put a opportunity to highlight demand from Local a series of WeBS Online face to the name, many of ‘tricks of the trade’ that Organisers who haven't training sessions for whom we may never have may not be well known, as been able to join the Local Organisers using met if it weren’t for the well as addressing on the recent events, there Zoom, to demonstrate rapid development of virtual spot questions and aiding is potential for similar how they can manage training at the BTO, and I'm discussion about coverage training sessions to be counters, sites and data sure likewise it has been in different regions. It offered in the future, so within their regions. good for them to meet the has been great to hear watch this space! These sessions have WeBS team too. what works well for Local Autumn 2020 WeBSnews 19

COUNTER NETWORK Local Organiser News

Gill Birtles WeBS Counter Network Organiser

e would like to thank Ben Welbourn (Cotswold Special thanks is particularly needed for two long-term Water Park); Peter Jones (Irt/Mite/Esk Local Organisers who have stepped down in the last year. Estuary); John Thorogood (North Blackwater); John Thorogood, who was the Local Organiser for North KevinW Feeney (Merseyside – inland); Andrew Warr Blackwater (Essex) and Steve Holliday who was the Local (Worcestershire); Alastair Inglis (Forth Estuary – North); Organiser for Northumberland (inland). Between them they Jeremy Squire (Loch Leven); Shane Wolsey (Down (other have a combined WeBS experience of 70 years and leave sites) and Londonderry (other sites)); Michael Stinson behind them a great legacy of WeBS counts in their regions. (Tyrone); Steve Holliday (Northumberland (inland)); We would all like to thank them for their hard work and Richard Barnard (Humber Estuary – Mid South); Pete dedication to the scheme. Roseveare (Cornwall (excl. Tamar Complex)) and Peter Special thanks also go to Alistair Duncan who began Hearn (Morecambe Bay – North) for all their hard work counting in 1974, including a stint as Local Organiser for as Local Organisers and who have retired from the scheme Aberdeenshire for 30 years, who has now retired. We would since the last newsletter. also like to thank John Topham who stepped down as a We would also like to thank the following new Local counter this year after nearly 19 years of counting two sites Organisers: Martin Routledge who has taken over as the in the Huddersfield/Halifax area (Yorkshire) region. This is a Buckinghamshire – North Local Organiser; Derek Julian massive achievement – thank you for your support! who is the new Cornwall (excl. Tamar complex) Local Organiser, Charles Nodder for taking on the Tamar complex Desperately seeking organisers... (Cornwall); Martin Overy who is the new Exe Estuary We are urgently seeking new Local Organisers for (Devon) Local Organiser; Barbara Moore who has taken Harrogate and Yorkshire Dales, Clwyd (inland), over as the Humber Estuary - Mid South (Lincolnshire) Buckinghamshire (South), Derbyshire, Durham, Halifax/ Huddersfield area (Yorkshire), Kent (East), Kent (West), Local Organiser; Tim Daley for taking on Northumberland Irt/Mite/Esk Estuary (Cumbria), Worcestershire, Cotswold (inland); Eve Tigwell who is the new Local Organiser for Water Park (Gloucestershire), Isle of Cumbrae, Jersey Somerset Levels; Jonathan Pattullo for taking over as the (inland), Forth Estuary –North, Sutherland (excl. Moray Angus (excl. Montrose Basin) Local Organiser; Alan Seago Basin) and Co. Down. If you would like to know more for taking on Carmarthenshire and Mike Douglas for taking about becoming a WeBS Local Organiser please contact us at the WeBS [email protected] . over as Morecambe Bay – North Local Organiser.

WeBS LOAC LOAC Update

The Local Organiser Advisory Committee (LOAC) If you have any comments about any aspect of WeBS that provides an opportunity for the counter network to improve you would like to bring to the attention of the LOAC, please communication with WeBS staff, providing ideas, feedback get in touch with your Local Organiser or LOAC regional and advice. Although the LOAC hasn't met for a couple of representatives listed below. years, we are planning to have a meeting in the new year.

WeBS LOAC Representatives

Southwest England Northern England North and West Scotland Eve Tigwell Colin Wells Bob Swann [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Eastern England Wales Northern Ireland Chris Gunn Andrew King Kerry Mackie [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] or Midlands South and East Scotland Shane Wolsey Brian Moore Allan Brown [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 20 WeBSnews Autumn 2020 BACKCHAT

WORD OF MOUTH... Snap shot Vacant sites... Do you have a friend who would make a good WeBS counter, or perhaps you have time to take on an additional site yourself? We are always looking for more help! Vacant sites and priority sites can be explored via the ‘Find a vacant site’ button on the webs homepage at www.bto.org/webs. It is also possible to set up new sites, particularly where these would help fill gaps in coverage of certain habitat types and regions – contact the relevant Local Organiser or Gill Birtles at the WeBS office to discuss. 2020 IWSG Golden Plover Survey Award winning WeBS Counter! The 17th–18th October 2020 sees a Europe-wide Golden Plover survey take place on behalf of the International Wader Study Group. Additionally, records of Lapwing We would like to congratulate Adam Lake, one of and Curlew are also requested. These dates are over the our youngest WeBS Counters from Devon, who won WeBS Count weekend, so all of your WeBS counts of the 14–17 years category and the overall Young Bird these species will be fed into the survey, but please add Photographer of the Year title for 2020, with this any extra flocks that you see away from your WeBS site superb image of a Mute Swan. into BirdTrack. Five years of Wader Tales This September marked the fifth anniversary of the Calling all photographers and artists WaderTales blog series. WaderTales blogs are written by Graham We are always in need of good quality photographs and Appleton, to celebrate waders and wader research. Many of the artwork of WeBS species for use in the WeBS annual report 98 articles are based on previously published papers, with the and WeBS newsletter. If you have artwork or images that you aim of making wader science available to a broader audience. would be happy for us to use, with full credit given of course, Read all the blogs at www.wadertales.wordpress.com please get in touch.

The WeBS team & contacts

Although the first port of call for Gill Birtles counters should be their Local WeBS Counter Network Organiser Organiser, many counters and Local Counter and Local Organiser database Organisers are in regular contact with management, WeBS Online the WeBS team. For those that are [email protected] not sure who to contact for various matters, the following ‘Who’s who’ Neil Calbrade should help... WeBS Low Tide Count Organiser, Data Requests, WeBS News Editor The WeBS Office Graham Austin [email protected] The Nunnery WeBS Alerts, WeBS database Thetford management, Statistical analyses Teresa Frost Norfolk [email protected] Management of WeBS, WeBS Core Counts, IP24 2PU Annual Report Tel: (01842) 750050 Matthew Baxter [email protected] Fax: (01842) 750030 Web Software Developer Email: [email protected] [email protected] Web site: www.bto.org/webs