Little Ringed & Ringed Plover Breeding Survey 2007

During 2007 the BTO is running a UK-wide breeding survey of Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover. This will be the second concurrent survey of these two species; the first being over 20 years ago in 1984.

The 1984 survey of Ringed Plover revealed a total of c. 8,540 pairs in Britain (Prater 1989). England held about 2,390 pairs, Wales an estimated 220 pairs, Northern Ireland 130 pairs and Scotland c. 5,800 pairs, i.e. two thirds of the total population.

The first pair of Little Ringed Plovers in the UK nested at Tring Reservoirs in 1938. Ever since, breeding numbers have been increasing steadily, accompanied by a west- and northwards range expansion. In 1944 there were three pairs, by 1950 c. 30 pairs, in 1956 74 pairs, in 1959 98 pairs and by 1967 223 pairs at 154 sites in 26 counties. In 1973, a survey of Little Ringed Plovers summering in Britain revealed at least 467 pairs, at 261 localities (Parrinder & Parrinder 1975). The last national survey in 1984 showed that the population had further increased to 608-631 pairs recorded at 370 sites in most counties in England and Wales; there were no breeding records from Scotland and Northern Ireland (Parrinder 1989). The latest population estimate of 825-1,070 summering pairs comes from the 1988-91 New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland (Gibbons et al. 1993).

To obtain updated population estimates for the two species in the UK and its constituent countries. Considering that Ringed Plover is now on the Birds for Conservation Concern Amber list, and that the UK and the Republic of Ireland together hold around 80% of the temperate breeding population of the nominate race of this species, it is clearly important that the national population should be monitored on a regular basis.
To investigate the species' current distribution and habitat associations. The 1984 survey revealed that Ringed Plovers had undergone several local and regional population declines and a distinct spread from the coast to inland sites since the 1970s. Meanwhile Little Ringed Plovers extended their range, taking advantage of man-made habitats such as gravel pits.
To census all those Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated for their importance for breeding Ringed Plovers (no sites are designated for Little Ringed Plovers).

Chesil and The Fleet (Dorset)
Colne Estuary (Essex)
Dengie (Essex)
Hamford Water (Essex)
North Norfolk Coast (Norfolk)
North Solent (Hampshire)
North Uist Machair and Islands (Western Isles)
Papa Stour (Shetland)
South Uist Machair and Lochs (Western Isles)
Tiree Wetlands and Coast (Argyll)

Survey Methods

The survey involves coverage of a large number of sites, including key sites identified from the 1984 survey or occupied subsequently. In addition, a stratified selection of random inland and coastal sample tetrads will need to be covered to provide estimates of the number of plovers away from these key sites and thus ensure completeness of overall population estimates.

For Ringed Plover, two visits should be made to each site within the periods of 15 April to 14 May (Visit A) and 15 May to 30 June (Visit B)

For Little Ringed Plover, three visits are required to sites in the periods of 15 April to 14 May (Visit A), 15 May to 14 June (Visit B) and 15 June to 15 July (Visit C).

We require complete coverage of each survey site (key site or sample tetrad). Observers will need to count the adults present (and plot registrations on a map) and estimate the number of breeding pairs (through observation of pairing behaviour, nests or the presence of chicks). The level of skill required for this survey is the ability to identify and distinguish Ringed Plovers and Little Ringed Plovers.

Full instructions are given on survey forms available through your BTO Regional Representative.

For information about identification and sexing of Little Ringed and Ringed Plovers, please click here.

To take part please contact your local Regional Representative who will have a list of sites to be surveyed and survey forms for sites in his/her region. If there is no Regional Representative for your area, survey forms will be available from Greg Conway at BTO HQ (E-mail: ).

The maps below show the distribution of key sites, occupied in 1984 and subsequently. If you know of any occupied sites outside the areas marked in Pink please send in counts on a Supplementary Records Form, see below.

Survey forms with maps have been prepared for all key sites and sample tetrads.

If you find a site occupied by either species during the breeding season, or need to report details of more than three visits, please use a Supplementary Records Form, which can be obtained from your Regional Representative or downloaded below.

If you have any further questions about this survey please contact: Greg Conway, Breeding Plover Survey Organiser, BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU. Email: Tel: 01842 750050.

Gibbons, D.W., Reid, J.B. & Chapman, R.A. (1993) The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland: 1988-1991. London: Poyser.

Parrinder, E.D. (1989) Little Ringed Plovers Charadrius dubius in Britain in 1984. Bird Study 36: 147-153.

Parrinder, E.R. & Parrinder, E.D. (1975) Little Ringed Plovers In Britain in 1968-73. Brit. Birds 68: 359-368.

Prater, A.J. (1989) Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula breeding population of the United Kingdom in 1984. Bird Study 36: 154-159.

Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Countryside Council for Wales, The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, Anglian Water and Environment & Heritage Service (Northern Ireland); BTO funding comes from the legacy-based fund Birds in Trust, and the Christmas and New Year Bird Count.

Please return the completed survey form to your BTO Regional Representative by 31st August 2007 at the latest. If there is no RR in your region, please send completed forms directly to Breeding Plover Survey, BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU.

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