1/8/2019

Technical error hides some unexpected data

We were not expecting to receive a lot of data from our satellite tags this spring. No new tags were fitted in 2019 and only one was fitted in the spring of 2018, meaning most of our tagged woodcock (and the tags themselves) were several years old.  The tags’ batteries generally deteriorate over time and it was no great surprise when we stopped receiving updates in March.

However, we have now discovered that this lack of communication was the result of a technical error during data-processing, not flat batteries as first suspected. Location data received during this period have been safely stored, but the Woodcock Watch map has not displayed these updates. While it is frustrating not to have been able to watch our birds ‘live’, and we apologise to our woodcock sponsors for this, the good news is that we can now provide unexpected spring 2019 updates for five woodcock.

The active tags belong to Holkham, Nellie III, Wensum, Sir John and Fonthill Abbie II. All five woodcock have made it back to their spring breeding grounds, and in every case, have returned to the same locations used in 2018. Currently, all five birds are still moving and transmitting, so it appears that the birds are alive and well.

Name

Tagging location

Tagging year

Breeding site

2019 arrival date

Most recent fix

Wensum

Norfolk

2013

Southern Finland

30/03/2019

15/07/2019

F. Abbie II

Wiltshire

2016

Western Russia

19/04/2019

10/07/2019

Sir John

Norfolk

2017

Western Russia

17/04/2019

15/07/2019

Nellie III

Norfolk

2017

Southern Sweden

26/03/2019

11/07/2019

Holkham

Norfolk

2018

Southern Norway

23/03/2019

29/06/2019

Over the next few days we will provide more details on each of these woodcock’s movements. 

WW Map 010819

Join our biggest tracking project yet and help curlew, lapwing and woodcock

Appeal

We need to understand what’s happening to our wading birds. With your help, we can answer the difficult questions about where our curlew, lapwing and woodcock go, and why.

Please help us by donating by card or PayPal:

Comments

Woodcock sightings

at 12:44 on 06/08/2019 by James Gurling

20 years ago on a local estate there were many Woodcock that returned each year.Numbers reduced 10 years ago but now seem to be building up once more.

Make a comment