Headstart

Curlew numbers have declined dramatically over recent years. It is now classified as a red data species. The headstart scheme is a way of attempting to redress that trend. Taking eggs from nonviable locations on airfields and rearing to ‘release-age’ is putting more of these magnificent waders out on our marshes.

This flock I recently photographed at Wild Ken Hill contained ‘flagged and ringed’ birds that were part of the headstart scheme there. More power to their elbow! Click on the link to read their full story.

Semaphore

We stumbled across this Curlew the other week. Flagged and numbered I suspect he was ringed and tagged on the Wash but I’ve not yet received information back from the ringer.

 

In disguise

Recently, during a tour along the coast we came across this wader. At a distance it was doing a good impression of a Curlew. It was however a Black tailed Godwit with a slightly deformed bill.