Another oldie

This week I recieved the ringing data of the British Oystercatcher I saw in Nieuwpoort this spring. It had been ringed in September 1996 in Suffolk as a bird of at least 2 years old. This means it is now at least 19 years old! I saw it mating with a Belgian-ringed bird, so surely it breeds somewhere near Nieuwpoort.

British-ringed Oystercatcher, now at least 19 years old.

Lapwing update

I just recieved the ringing details of the metal-ringed Lapwing I observed this April. It turned out to be ringed as a chick at exactly the same place, in April 1996! So this bird is now 17 years old, not too bad! I hope to see this bird again there next year.

Metal-ringed Lapwing, now 17 years old!