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Estimates of wintering coastal waders

Great Britain’s wintering coastal wader populations have been estimated for the period 1994-95 to 1998-99 using data provided from two sources: the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) and the Non-estuarine Coastal Waterfowl Survey (NEWS). For the first time, these estimates incorporated a reasoned estimate of the level of missing counts within the datasets used. This new methodology led to an estimate of the number of waders present on Great Britain’s coasts which was 11% larger than that calculated by methods used in the past. The new approach suggests that Great Britain’s coastline supports approximately 2.1 million waders, with the updated population estimates and 1% threshold values tabulated below.

Great Britain is of considerable international importance for waders. It holds more than 50% of the East Atlantic Flyway populations of four species of wader (Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Redshank and Turnstone) and more than 25% of the East Atlantic Flyway population of a further nine species. However, for the first time since the start of monitoring in the early 1970s, the historical increase in the numbers of predominantly coastal waders wintering in Great Britain is coming to an end. Seven of the 14 species that have shown population changes of more than 5% since the last set of population estimates (from the period 1987-88 to 1991-92) have declined in numbers. It is thought that climate change may be a factor explaining some of these fluctuations in numbers.

A more complete discussion of the estimates and the methods used can be found in:

Rehfisch, M M, Austin, G E, Armitage, M, Atkinson, P, Holloway, S J, Musgrove, A J and Pollitt, M S (2003) Numbers of wintering waterbirds in Great Britain and the Isle of Man (1994/95–1998/99): II. Coastal waders (Charadrii). Biological Conservation, 112, 329-341.

Population estimates and national thresholds of coastal waders wintering in Great Britain, based on data collected between 1994-95 and 1998-99.

* Note that 50 is normally used as a minimum threshold.

Note also that no updates were provided for those wader species which winter mostly inland, i.e. Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria, Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, Ruff Philomachus pugnax, Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus, Snipe Gallinago gallinago, Woodcock Scolopax rusticola, Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus and Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos.