Graham Appleton
@wadertales.bsky.social
Writer & life-long birdwatcher. Formerly Director of Communications for BTO. #WaderTales blogs about #waders #shorebirds #birds #ornithology
1/4 A short thread about ground-nesting waders, prompted by new review paper by Klaussen et al in @bou.org.uk journal, IBIS: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1... #ornithology
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of variation in nest predation of ground‐nesting birds
Predation and communities of predators of ground-nesting bird nests and fledglings have been studied across multiple groups of ground-nesting birds, such as waders, waterbirds, gamebirds and passerin...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
The first juvenile waders are arriving from their breeding grounds. How quickly do they learn to feed efficiently on shellfish and polychaetes? wadertales.wordpress.com/2026/02/05/l... #ukbirding
The first juvenile waders are arriving from their breeding grounds. How quickly do they learn to feed efficiently on shellfish and polychaetes? wadertales.wordpress.com/2026/02/05/l... #ukbirding
1/4 A short thread about ground-nesting waders, prompted by new review paper by Klaussen et al in @bou.org.uk journal, IBIS: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1... #ornithology
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of variation in nest predation of ground‐nesting birds
Predation and communities of predators of ground-nesting bird nests and fledglings have been studied across multiple groups of ground-nesting birds, such as waders, waterbirds, gamebirds and passerin...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Great sighting! Every colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit can tell a story. Here's one: wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/04/04/j... Combining everyone's sightings: wadertales.wordpress.com/2019/07/29/g... And add in tracking for powerful conservation science: wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/01/09/h...
Just one Black-tailed Godwit
When you receive a list of sightings of a colour-ringed bird that you have reported to a scheme organiser, it can hide a wealth of information. Here’s one such bird. Blue Red – Yellow Green-flag BR…
wadertales.wordpress.com
Stephen Welch@lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 3d ago14 ad Blackwits dropped in at Seton Burn dusk on Friday, tricky at 300m range but grateful to @jengill.bsky.social for matching and history of RR-W/W, a bird which winters on the Stour with 126 resightings - though relatively early return date might suggest it is a failed breeder... #BirdingScotland
How to increase number of breeding waders/shorebirds? Spread volcanic ash? wadertales.wordpress.com/2015/09/28/t... 🎂 Eruptions can bring long-term gain ... ... but can cause short-term pain: wadertales.wordpress.com/2016/12/20/b... #ornithology
With fewer than 500 remaining adult Spoon-billed Sandpipers (see update at bottom of this blog wadertales.wordpress.com/2020/10/22/s...) this is very welcome news! #ornithology
RareBirdAlert@rarebirder.bsky.social · 6d agoMajor boost for migratory shorebirds as UNESCO expands Korean tidal flats site www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/M...
At the end of July, I check whether French authorities have reauthorised the temporary ban on shooting Curlew. They did! Curlews are still shot, but it is illegal. More here: wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/07/30/b... Birds tagged in France breeding in UK ⬇️ #ornithology
At the end of July, I check whether French authorities have reauthorised the temporary ban on shooting Curlew. They did! Curlews are still shot, but it is illegal. More here: wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/07/30/b... Birds tagged in France breeding in UK ⬇️ #ornithology
You may hear that 'species x is moving north', particulalrly in discussions about climate change. A range may be 'moving north' but individuals rarely change where they breed or spend winter. Juveniles drive change, as discussed here: wadertales.wordpress.com/2019/07/29/g... 🎂7️⃣ #ornithology
How to increase number of breeding waders/shorebirds? Spread volcanic ash? wadertales.wordpress.com/2015/09/28/t... 🎂 Eruptions can bring long-term gain ... ... but can cause short-term pain: wadertales.wordpress.com/2016/12/20/b... #ornithology
I have a lot to thank Bill Oddie for. When he was at school, he set up a Natural History Society that I (and many others) benefited from. That's where my love of birds developed. The first time I had to represent BTO on TV, it was with Bill. He was so helpful. RIP
Excitement at #Slimbridge, with three Spotted Redshanks yesterday. What happend to the flocks of 30, 60 and 100+ that used to be seen in autumn? Blog from this day in 2018 🎂8️⃣ wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/07/26/f... #UKBirding
Fewer Spotted Redshanks
It’s usually a good day if you see a Spotted Redshank in Britain or Ireland. How about a flock of 60? On 27 July 1975, I was fortunate to be part of a Wash Wader Ringing Group cannon-netting team t…
wadertales.wordpress.com
Excitement at #Slimbridge, with three Spotted Redshanks yesterday. What happend to the flocks of 30, 60 and 100+ that used to be seen in autumn? Blog from this day in 2018 🎂8️⃣ wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/07/26/f... #UKBirding
Fewer Spotted Redshanks
It’s usually a good day if you see a Spotted Redshank in Britain or Ireland. How about a flock of 60? On 27 July 1975, I was fortunate to be part of a Wash Wader Ringing Group cannon-netting team t…
wadertales.wordpress.com
Hiding Skylarks? One of the interesting things about keeping lists of birds you see and hear on your walks is that you appreciate the birds you miss. As in every July, Skylarks have 'disappeared' (while moulting?) Graph from @birdtrack.bsky.social (Britain & Ireland) @jengill.bsky.social
Good news for England's breeding Black-tailed Godwits. Did you read that Natural England are providing £650k to support @wwtworldwide.bsky.social launch a new breeding programme? Thread starts with history of falling and rising numbers in East Anglia: wadertales.wordpress.com/2021/01/27/e...
England’s Black-tailed Godwits
Back in 1976, all of the UK’s fifty pairs of Black-tailed Godwits were breeding in the Ouse Washes, which cut across the Norfolk/Cambridgeshire border in eastern England. Over the next thirty years…
wadertales.wordpress.com
One ringed Black-tailed Gidwit can tell a story, thanks to colour-ring readers. Example: wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/04/04/j... And when you put all of the records together! wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/01/09/h... #ornithology
Sarah Enoch@sarahenoch.bsky.social · 2w agoA Black Tailed Godwit was extra pleasing to see this week at RSPB Conwy, as it had colour rings. Previously seen on the Orwell, Suffolk in '25 (@edkeeble.bsky.social) Also Iceland, Holland, Scotland, Devon, Essex...Fascinating ! #birdmigration #birdingwales #ukbirding @wadertales.bsky.social
Smoke gets in a Curlew's eyes? Tagged bird avoids wildfires. Blog from 19 July 2022 🎂4️⃣ wadertales.wordpress.com/2022/07/19/a... #ukbirding #birds
A Norfolk Curlew’s summer
This blog follows the fortunes of one Curlew (B/OW-OY) as he attempts to raise chicks in Norfolk, migrates to Portugal, diverts to avoid a forest fire and returns to his winter home in a Portuguese…
wadertales.wordpress.com
Learn more about wader migration to/from/through UK & Ireland. wadertales.wordpress.com/2017/07/20/w... Published 20 July 2017 🎂 Over 17k reads #ukbirding #birds
How many Spotted Redshank were at #Minsmere (on the Suffolk coast) yesterday? On 21 July 1991, there were 1️⃣1️⃣2️⃣ Where are these big flocks now? Blog about decline, migration etc. wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/07/26/f... #UKbirding
Fewer Spotted Redshanks
It’s usually a good day if you see a Spotted Redshank in Britain or Ireland. How about a flock of 60? On 27 July 1975, I was fortunate to be part of a Wash Wader Ringing Group cannon-netting team t…
wadertales.wordpress.com
Good news for England's breeding Black-tailed Godwits. Did you read that Natural England are providing £650k to support @wwtworldwide.bsky.social launch a new breeding programme? Thread starts with history of falling and rising numbers in East Anglia: wadertales.wordpress.com/2021/01/27/e...
England’s Black-tailed Godwits
Back in 1976, all of the UK’s fifty pairs of Black-tailed Godwits were breeding in the Ouse Washes, which cut across the Norfolk/Cambridgeshire border in eastern England. Over the next thirty years…
wadertales.wordpress.com
How many Spotted Redshank were at #Minsmere (on the Suffolk coast) yesterday? On 21 July 1991, there were 1️⃣1️⃣2️⃣ Where are these big flocks now? Blog about decline, migration etc. wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/07/26/f... #UKbirding
Fewer Spotted Redshanks
It’s usually a good day if you see a Spotted Redshank in Britain or Ireland. How about a flock of 60? On 27 July 1975, I was fortunate to be part of a Wash Wader Ringing Group cannon-netting team t…
wadertales.wordpress.com
One ringed Black-tailed Gidwit can tell a story, thanks to colour-ring readers. Example: wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/04/04/j... And when you put all of the records together! wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/01/09/h... #ornithology
Sarah Enoch@sarahenoch.bsky.social · 2w agoA Black Tailed Godwit was extra pleasing to see this week at RSPB Conwy, as it had colour rings. Previously seen on the Orwell, Suffolk in '25 (@edkeeble.bsky.social) Also Iceland, Holland, Scotland, Devon, Essex...Fascinating ! #birdmigration #birdingwales #ukbirding @wadertales.bsky.social
Learn more about wader migration to/from/through UK & Ireland. wadertales.wordpress.com/2017/07/20/w... Published 20 July 2017 🎂 Over 17k reads #ukbirding #birds
Hiding Skylarks? One of the interesting things about keeping lists of birds you see and hear on your walks is that you appreciate the birds you miss. As in every July, Skylarks have 'disappeared' (while moulting?) Graph from @birdtrack.bsky.social (Britain & Ireland) @jengill.bsky.social
Smoke gets in a Curlew's eyes? Tagged bird avoids wildfires. Blog from 19 July 2022 🎂4️⃣ wadertales.wordpress.com/2022/07/19/a... #ukbirding #birds
A Norfolk Curlew’s summer
This blog follows the fortunes of one Curlew (B/OW-OY) as he attempts to raise chicks in Norfolk, migrates to Portugal, diverts to avoid a forest fire and returns to his winter home in a Portuguese…
wadertales.wordpress.com
Buffy, naive young Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks. How quickly do juvenile waders become proficient food-finders? wadertales.wordpress.com/2026/02/05/l... Paper by Josh Nightingale #ornithology
Nice record (and comment) Ed! Sad that a red-listed Hudsonian Godwit has ended up on the wrong side of the Atlantic! Read more about these v impressive migrants: wadertales.wordpress.com/2022/03/15/n... and wadertales.wordpress.com/2020/08/28/t... #UKbirding
Ed Keeble@edkeeble.bsky.social · 3w agoHow nice- not as exciting as a new c-ring combo, but after more than 50 years on and off watching godwits at Stutton Mill something interesting has popped up. If it sticks, will prob feed on Essex shore on the falling tide, back to Suffolk a couple of hours after low tide and into roost.#UKbirding
Nice record (and comment) Ed! Sad that a red-listed Hudsonian Godwit has ended up on the wrong side of the Atlantic! Read more about these v impressive migrants: wadertales.wordpress.com/2022/03/15/n... and wadertales.wordpress.com/2020/08/28/t... #UKbirding
Ed Keeble@edkeeble.bsky.social · 3w agoHow nice- not as exciting as a new c-ring combo, but after more than 50 years on and off watching godwits at Stutton Mill something interesting has popped up. If it sticks, will prob feed on Essex shore on the falling tide, back to Suffolk a couple of hours after low tide and into roost.#UKbirding
For young Black-tailed Godwits, raised in the Nene & Ouse Washes (limos subs), the first move is often to the East Anglian coast. Map in blog about headstarting: wadertales.wordpress.com/2017/06/13/s... Headstarted birds were quite adventurous: wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/08/03/h... #ornithology
Dawn Balmer@debalmer.bsky.social · 3w agoGreat visit to Minsmere today. Temminck's Stint, Black Tern, adult Little Gull, 2 Roseate Terns and a great selection of waders. A stunning juvenile limosa (colour-ringed) and 3 adult limosa - look forward to receiving the ringing details. A juvenile Caspian Gull flew over. #SuffolkBirding
