Devon and Cornwall Wader Ringing Group

Leucistic OystercatcherLeucistic Oystercatcher ringed on 29 Oct 2018We had the second mist netting session at Dawlish Warren on 29 October 2018, with a team of 11. We had hoped we would catch more than the 8 Oystercatchers and 3 Dunlin that we managed, as we set 10 nets on three sides of the island roost. A ship in the estuary with bright lights made the nets visible which may have been a factor. Nevertheless, it was worthwhile as Andrew Hoodless was able to check measurements for the harness for the GPS tags we plan to fit to Oystercatchers in the future to study their day-to-day movements.

One of the oystercatchers was very interesting, and one a few of us have seen around the Exe in the last couple of years – a leucistic bird with almost a completely white head. Thanks to all that helped – especially as some had a long journey home afterwards.

Mist-netting totals

2023-2024 winter totals

Species Ringed Retraps Controls Colour ringed
Redshank 12 0 0 0
Snipe 7 0 0 0
Curlew 10 0 0 10
Dunlin 70 0 1 71
Grey Plover 0 1 0 0
Black-tailed Godwit 5 0 0 0
Bar-tailed Godwit 1 0 0 0
Water Rail 1 0 0 0
Mallard 1 0 0 0
Turnstone 1 0 0 0

2024-2025 winter totals

Species Ringed Retraps Controls Colour ringed
Dunlin 3 0 0 3
Redshank 1 0 0 0
Lapwing 1 0 0 0
Snipe 1 0 0 0

Grand totals

Species Ringed Retraps Controls Colour ringed
Dunlin 124 0 1 121
Redshank 53 0 0 0
Lapwing 6 0 0 0
Snipe 9 0 0 0
Curlew 30 0 0 30
Grey Plover 2 1 0 2
Black-tailed Godwit 36 0 0 0
Bar-tailed Godwit 22 0 0 0
Water Rail 1 0 0 0
Mallard 1 0 0 0
Turnstone 1 0 0 0
Jack Snipe 1 0 0 0
Teal 1 0 0 0
Common Gull 1 0 0 0
Oystercatcher 48 0 0 44
Woodcock 1 0 0 0
Knot 1 0 0 0
Greenshank 1 0 0 0

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