WELCOME



Swale Wader Group is an informal group of amateur birdwatchers and ringers (banders) who study the waders and other birdlife of the Swale in North Kent, UK.

 

The Group has operated ringing sites at a number of locations around the Swale since 1960 and has ringed over 26,000 birds in this time - mainly waders. Regular WeBS surveys are carried out in the area to monitor populations of visiting estuarine birds the breeding populations of the local wader and Bird birds of prey are assessed, too.

 

All the members of the Group are volunteers  and the ringing is carried out as part of the national bird ringing scheme organised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).  The scientific aims and results of our efforts are explained below together with some of the highlights of our work from the last 40 or so years.



Ringing part of the record catch of 24 Whimbrel in August 2010


 

What's New

 

05/02/11

Harrier sightings map and sightings gallery updated.

 

03/10/10

Harrier sightings map and sightings gallery updated.

 

If you would like to contact us please use the contact form



MARSH HARRIER WING TAGGING PROJECT

 

We have tagged 28 Marsh Harriers in the 2010 breeding season and by 1 August we were getting our first distant sightings in Essex. Read more about our marking project which aims to discover more about where local breeding birds go HERE.

 

Report tagged Harrier sightings HERE





RINGING OPPORTUNITIES

 

Opportunities exist for ringers with all permit classes to take part in wader ringing throughout the autumn. Our season normally begins in mid-July and runs through to the end of the year. Anyone interested should contact us using the form on the Contact Us page.

 

 

If you want to contact us or to find out more about bird ringing please email us using our contact form.


Report a ringed bird

including those with colour rings