Levington Lagoon

We were catching and ringing waders at Levington Lagoon last night.  It was a perfect warm, starry night with a gentle breeze, no moon and the highest tide of the year.  However, the only downside was that high tide was at 0200 hrs.  Four, two panel North Ronaldsey nets were erected across the wetland areas of the lagoon at around 1830 hrs.  Whilst setting the nets we caught a Snipe which was a very promising start to the evening.  In no time at all darkness fell and it became completely dark and eerie.  The calls and cries of hundreds of waders from the mudflats filled us with exciting expectations.

Over the last thirty winters, I have enjoyed the experiences of such occasion’s scores of times resulting in numerous adventurous nights and countless memories.

One of our target birds was Redshank so that we could individually colour ring them in order to follow their movements as part of a Natural England and British Trust for Ornithology led Project on the survival and ‘Turn Over’ of waders on the Orwell estuary over the winter period.

Our catch included Redshank 41, Snipe 2, Oystercatcher 1, Curlew 3, Dunlin 5, Grey Plover 1, Golden Plover 1 and one Spotted Redshank.  We also controlled an Iceland Redshank.

We retired for home with the milkman, shattered, at 0500 hrs.  Our ringing session had lasted 11 hours, another fantastic night out.

Anna holding an Oystercatcher

Spotted Redshank

Golden Plover