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 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

27/01/09

Recoveries tables and maps updated with the latest 2008 results. Includes our oldest ever bird. Changes to Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Curlew and Other Species pages.

25/01/09

Totals updated with the latest 2008 results.

Comparison with national ringing totals added.

Recovery page added for Whimbrel to celebrate our latest stunning recovery: an adult ringed on the Swale in 2007 - killed by a Gyr Falcon in Arctic Finland in 2008

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