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.

MARSH HARRIER WING TAGGING PROJECT

We have started an exciting new Marsh Harrier marking project to discover more about where local breeding birds go. Read more about it 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

What's New

21/11/09

New Photo of winged tagged Marsh Harrier added.

Interactive map of Marsh Harrier Sightings and Recoveries added

21/09/09

BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER at HARTY

We have started work on the gallery and have included photos of Kent's first Broad-billed Sandpiper. We have quite a few other photos selected and these will be added to the gallery over the next few weeks.

2009 ringing totals updated added.

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