Ancient Avocet at Cliffe!

colour-ringed Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) Cliffe Pools, 29/4/14

On the 29th April this year, I saw this Avocet (above) feeding on the small pool in the area known as 'coastguards' at Cliffe Pools rspb reserve. Scanning across, with the bird showing comfortably at good range, I noticed the colour rings on its legs (Left: Red/Yellow, R: Yellow) so noted down the pattern and digiscoped a passable photo for my records. I've seen colour ringed avocets at the site before but never succeeded in getting any results from the various online resources.

After similar efforts with this this bird, I was expecting the same outcome so I was pleased to get an email last week which suggested it's history could be traced and requested my photo. Shortly after I received an email from the ringer, John Middleton, with the bird's history which turned out to be very interesting!

It turns out that this bird was ringed on 02/07/1990 at Titchwell, Norfolk, and these are the subsequent sightings:

Seen	Date	Until
Holme, Norfolk	08/08/1990
Havergate, Suffolk	13/08/1990
Funton, Kent	16/12/1990	13/01/1991
Elmley, Kent	09/03/1991
Elmley, Kent	29/04/1991
Elmley, Kent	18/05/1991
Elmley, Kent	25/05/1991
Minsmere, Suffolk	10/06/1991
Havergate, Suffolk	03/11/1991
Havergate, Suffolk	15/11/1991
Tamar, Devon	07/12/1991	27/12/1991
Exe, Devon	28/12/1991
Exe, Devon	02/03/1992
Titchwell, Norfolk	21/03/1992
Snettisham, Norfolk	05/05/1992
Elmley, Kent	??/05/1992
Rushenden, Kent	??/05/1992	??/06/1992
Titchwell, Norfolk	31/07/1992	01/08/1992
Funton, Kent	11/10/1992
Rushenden, Kent	??/05/1993
Funton, Kent	18/09/1993
Titchwell, Norfolk	01/07/1994
Elmley, Kent	06/10/1994	07/10/1994
Blythburgh, Suffolk	30/01/1999
Titchwell, Norfolk	20/03/1999
Snettisham, Norfolk	28/03/1999
Titchwell, Norfolk	30/03/1999
Titchwell, Norfolk	28/02/2000
Titchwell, Norfolk	29/07/2005
Titchwell, Norfolk	17/07/2006
Two Tree Island, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex	11/02/2012
Two Tree Island, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex	10/11/2012
Two Tree Island, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex	11/12/2012
Two Tree Island, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex	26/01/2013
Two Tree Island, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex	25/02/2013

I knew that waders can be long lived but I had to do a double take when I saw that initial date! These records mean that when I saw this bird, it was approaching it's 24th birthday - what a remarkable achievement.

Looking through the list of sightings there are some interesting patterns - particularly the bird's regular movement between North Norfolk and the Thames estuary, after a visit to Devon as a young bird. There are also the three long periods with no sightings.

Amazed with the result, I forwarded it to the BTO for their interest and yesterday had an email from Lee Barber, Recoveries Officer, who was able to confirm the bird and share some further information. This bird was one of a brood, all of which were ringed at the same time and the odd record still comes in. This means it is currently one of the longest-lived avocets ever recorded in the UK. Lee also points out that in 1990 Avocet was still a rare breeding bird (they become extinct in the UK in 1840 and only recolonised North Norfolk in 1947). Projects like this help establish important information about movement, health and other things. The European record for Avocet is currently 27 years 10 months.

Report colour-ringed waders here and here.

Thanks to John, Lee and Raf Vervoort for their help.