Recoveries by Condition for Garganey

Most recoveries are due to dead birds with a great proportion by shooting (ca. 68%). This proportion was higher during the 1961-1990 period (ca. 84%), decreasing to just a 17% during the 1991 – to present time period. In this last time period, most (77%) recoveries were due to birds recaptured alive.

Annual Movements for Garganey

Post-breeding migration to Africa starts in Jul/Aug; obvious passage through Europe in Aug/Sep. Recoveries in Africa from Oct to Mar, with recoveries in spring in Europe already patent in Mar. Small number of birds can spend the winter in Europe.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Garganey

The N/NW European birds start their post-fledging/post-breeding movements in Aug. Waterbirds hunting season opening time period in NW European countries. Many recoveries in NW in Aug/Sep. Winter destination is reached between Oct and Nov. Most recoveries in Africa from Jan to Mar. Central European populations join Italy before crossing the Mediterranean in Aug/Sep, but in lesser number than in spring. Spring migration mostly throughout E/SE Europe, with many recoveries in Mar/Apr, which seems to reveal a loop migration as compared to autumn.

Recoveries by Condition for Western Marsh Harrier

Until 1960 87% of the recoveries were dead birds, including 54% shot birds. From 1961 to 1990 83% concerned dead birds, including 16% shot birds. From 1991 45% concerned dead birds, 3% was shot.
19% of the recoveries was identified from wing tag.
The hunting hotspots were the Low Countries, France, N Italy and Spain. Also shot birds in the Baltic States, C Europe, NW Africa and few in the UK, Fennoscandia and Greece.

Annual Movements for Western Marsh Harrier

From Dec - Feb many birds in sub-Saharan Africa, also birds in NW Africa, UK and W, C and S Europe. In Mar most birds have left sub-Saharan Africa, more birds in NW Africa and W, C and S Europe. In Apr few birds in sub-Saharan Africa, also less in NW Africa and Iberian Pen., most birds arrived in W and C Europe and SE UK, first birds in S Finland. From May - Jul most birds are in NW and C Europe, S UK and S Finland, few birds in S and E Europe and France. In Aug numbers in France and S Europe increase, first birds arrive in NW Africa, still many in breeding areas. In Sep first birds arrive in sub-Saharan Africa, more birds in NW Africa, S Europe and France, less in the breeding areas. In Oct - Nov almost no birds in Finland, few birds in other breeding areas, more in sub-Saharan Africa.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Western Marsh Harrier

From UK birds are found in Ireland (Sep - Nov), W Europe (Aug - Dec, Apr), Germany (Oct), Iberia (Aug - Mar) and NW Africa (Oct - Dec, Apr) and Mauritania (Oct, Apr). From the Low Countries recoveries in the UK (Sep - Nov, May), France (Sep - Jan, Apr), Spain (Sep - Jan, Apr), N Italy (Apr - May), NW Africa (Sep - May), Mauritania to Guinea (Sep - May). Birds from C Europe are found in the UK (Aug - Sep, May), W Europe (Aug - Jan, Apr), Italy (Sep - Apr), Spain (Aug - Apr), NW Africa (Aug - May) and Mauritania to Nigeria (Aug - May). From S Finland and Denmark birds are found in W Europe (Aug - Sep, Mar - Apr), C Europe (Aug - (most) Apr), Italy (Sep - Apr), Spain (Sep - Feb), N Africa (Oct - Dec, Mar - Apr), sub-Saharan Africa (Oct - Apr).  Russian birds are found in Israël (Mar - May).

Recoveries by Condition for Stock Dove

A gamebird in many countries, so many recoveries caused by shot, even nowadays. Overall, therefore, 33% of recoveries due to shooting. Temporally, however, this general pattern has changed. Before 1990, roughly ca. 75% of recoveries were due to birds found dead, and from these many by shooting. From 1991 to present, the percentage of birds found dead (shot) represent 20% of recoveries. This contrasts with >70% of recoveries due to birds found alive, most (ca. 50%) by ringing.

Annual Movements for Stock Dove

Movements towards SW Europe patent in Sep, with a main passage through W Pyrenees (one of the main flyways) in Sep-Oct. Recoveries from Nov onwards already show wintering, which covers mostly Iberia, W France and Britain. Birds remain in their wintering sites up to Feb. By Mar, practically no recoveries in Iberia, and spring migration active, patent. Arrival to N breeding quarters, in Fennoscandia, from Apr to May.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Stock Dove

See ‘Annual movements’.

Recoveries by Condition for Ruff

40% of recoveries are birds shot or otherwise taken, with a decreasing trend over time. Relatively most shot birds are reported from Russia (>95%), closely followed by Italy (>80%), and from France, Denmark and the Netherlands. Ring recoveries (30%) and birds of which rings were read in the field (11%) are relatively most numerous in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Reports of dead birds that died from other causes make up the remainder and are reported equally from all areas.

Annual Movements for Ruff

From end Nov to end Mar all re-encounters are in Africa and SW, SC and W Europe. In mid Apr encounters across C and E Europe, end Apr spreading further NE. Begin May first encounters in Russia, mid May Scandinavia and Russia including far east filled, end May easternmost breeding sites in Yakutia reached. From end Apr, encounters in Africa and SW Europe almost absent, by end May all encounters N of 50th latitude. Remarkable concentration in upper Niger Delta end Jun/begin Jul, coinciding with scattered encounters across Europe from Jul, increasing to peak during Aug in all European areas except Russia east of 45th longitude. Thinning out in Europe Sep, increasing number in Africa from end Sep. By mid Oct only few remain in Europe.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Ruff

Birds during breeding in May-Jun in N and E Europe and Asia mainly connect to migration sites in W and C Europe during Aug-Oct and Mar, Italy Mar-Apr. Connections to wintering sites in Africa are mostly in Oct-Feb. Re-encounters in winter and spring are very rare. Autumn encounters Jul-Sep in E Europe mainly between Black Sea and Finland within the period, birds in N Europe connect to migration sites within the region and period, and to (far)eastern breeding sites May-Jun, Black Sea Aug, Africa Oct-Mar, Italy mostly Mar and France Oct-Mar. Likely breeding birds in W and C Europe in Jun are rare and connect mostly to Italy Feb-Apr. Migrants Mar-Apr and Jul-Sep connect to Africa Oct-Mar, Russia and Fennoscandia May-Aug. Quite some birds winter France, connecting mainly to Fennoscandia in Aug.

Recoveries by Condition for European Golden Plover

Globally, half the recoveries are of dead birds, a proportion that dropped from ~75% before to 30% after 1990. There is an increase in recovery numbers along time.

Annual Movements for European Golden Plover

The recovery data of birds ringed in West Europe illustrates very well the dichotomy and the extend of wintering sites in W and SW Europe, and breeding sites to the NW. Such regions at mid-latitudes are certainly key hotpots in the movement strategy of the species. The moult strategy is variable different between Icelandic and Russian populations due to migratory constraints and shorter breeding season for the latter (Machín et al. 2018). No tracking data available yet, needed to inform the obvious winter movements in the species.

Connectivity by Month by Region for European Golden Plover

Birds breeding in East Europe are on the move in Central Europe in April, with still last spring recoveries during the same month in West Europe. The bulk of summer recoveries in the breeding range of North Europe and arctic Russia is from May to July, with first birds back on wintering sites in September. Icelandic and Scottish birds are mainly recovered in winter range in SW Europe in December-February, with recoveries of Icelandic birds in the British Isles in September-October, then April.

Recoveries by Condition for Little Ringed Plover

More than 40% are ringing recoveries, occurring evenly throughout range. Another 17% are birds identified by other means, i.e. rings being read in the field. Unlike other species, both categories already common pre-1960. Shot birds represent 18%, most occur in Italy and S France, nearly all before 1990. Remainder are birds found dead, occurring throughout entire range.

Annual Movements for Little Ringed Plover

Hardly any birds in Europe in Nov-Feb, first birds S Spain in Feb, Italy Mar. By end Mar birds arrive in France, low countries, Germany, British Isles, bulk arriving mid Apr. First birds appear in Fennoscandia mid Apr. No recoveries in Africa from end Apr through to mid Sep. High densities concentrated in Netherlands, Schleswig-Holstein, S Finland and S and E Germany from end May through begin Jul. Scattered in Europe in Aug, Finland vacated begin Sep and scarce elsewhere in Europe. Rapid decline through Sep, most birds gone by mid Oct, few left Italy.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Little Ringed Plover

Birds from British Isles in May-Jul connect to Belgium, France, Iberia and Tunisia mainly in Aug, and to W Africa Oct-Apr. Birds in other months only show local movements. I W Europe, arriving birds in Mar-Apr connect to S France and Italy in Mar or Aug, birds during breeding May-Jul to France, Spain, Morocco in Sep, Italy Oct or Mar, few Hungary and Slovenia in Aug. Many passing birds in Aug from British Isles and Germany. Few birds in N Europe in Apr-May show local movements Apr-Jul, in Jun-Sep birds connect to C and SE Europe in Aug and scattered wintering sites in Africa and India Oct-Mar. Most birds in C Europe ringed in Schleswig-Holstein (Hein& Reiser 2000) in May-Jul, connecting to S France Aug-Sep, Italy Mar and scattered in Africa and Iran Sep-Mar.

Recoveries by Condition for Little Stint

Most encounters are obtained from the autumn migration – 83% in Aug-Sep (mostly juveniles). Majority of encounters (ca. 88%) are recorded in N, C and SW Europe (62, 18 and 8% respectively). The encounters based on dead birds decreased markedly from 91% pre-1960 to 3% after 1991; those based on alive birds considerably increased over time – from 7% before 1960 to 97% after 1991. The latter is mostly due to ringing recoveries. Shooting was an important negative factor in the past (74% of all pre-1960 recoveries) but it is currently responsible for just less than 1% of all cases.

Most of the distant (>=50 km) recoveries are less than 3000km away (but some are more than 6000km). Most encounters come from active ringing sites in W Norway, SE Sweden, Finland, N Poland, S France, Tunisia.

Annual Movements for Little Stint

In NW, W & SW Europe the species is generally more numerous in autumn than in spring which suggests a loop migration strategy in some populations (Ilichev 1985, Delany et al. 2009).

Post-breeding movements start as early as Jul, adults usually precede juveniles. In Europe, autumn migration is most intensive Aug-Sep (numerous encounters both inland and along the coasts), the numbers progressively decrease in Oct-Nov. The encounters from W African wintering grounds are mostly Nov-Apr (the earliest – Sep, the latest – May).

The birds present in Kenya in Apr-May are still mainly wintering individuals (Pearson 1987).

The first migrants reach S Africa in early Aug and arrival continues until Nov; departure takes place from late Mar to early May. Small number of birds overwinter in Africa (Underhill et al. 2009).

The breeding grounds are occupied in late May and Jun.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Little Stint

Dispersal movements after the breeding season take place from mid-summer. Juveniles usually migrate later than adults (Delany et al. 2009). Autumn migration is most numerous late summer – early autumn.

Young (and mostly passage) birds ringed in Norway tend to follow the Atlantic seacoast to W Africa, while adults take a more easterly, overland route via the Mediterranean region (Bakken et al. 2003).

African wintering grounds are reached late summer or early autumn at earliest and the birds spend the winter there mostly between early autumn and mid-spring.

Return migration takes place in Africa usually early to late spring. The migrants are usually encountered in the Mediterranean region in mid- to late spring. The breeding sites are reached back in late spring or early summer, usually the males being first (Mazur et al. 2021).

Recoveries by Condition for Grey Wagtail

The number of encounters has steadily increased over the years, with most birds encountered from the end of April to begin October. Recoveries in Britain, the Low Countries and Germany are mainly birds alive (ringing recovery). Recoveries in southern Europe (Spain and Italy) are mainly birds found dead or shot. Overall, the proportion ringing recoveries has increased while the proportion shot birds has decreased over time.

Annual Movements for Grey Wagtail

By March, most wintering birds have left Spain and arrive at their western and central European breeding grounds.The first birds arrive in Scandinavia by the end of March. Birds moving within the British Isles arrive at northerly breeding locations mainly in April, southerly breeders move erratically over short distances. Migrating birds from Scandinavian and central European breeding locations pass through western Europe in September and October. and arrive in Spain in October - November.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Grey Wagtail

Birds breeding in Central Europe are recovered in Spain and southern France, mostly from November to January. Some birds from eastern breeding locations in Czechia and Slovakia have winter recoveries in Italy and Greece. Birds breeding in Scandinavia have most winter recoveries in Britain and West-Europe, the most southern recovery is in Northern Spain. There are many autumn recoveries at the coast of West-Europe of birds on migration with a Scandinavian origin. Birds breeding in Britain mostly winter in Britain, some winter recoveries are in Western France. There is only one recovery in southern Spain in December. Birds breeding in Western Europe mainly have winter recoveries in the western parts of France and Spain. There are also some winter recoveries in southern Britain.

Recoveries by Condition for Caspian Tern

Although ringing of this species has started in the early 20th century, most encounters have been obtained after the 1960s. They come mainly from the breeding season and especially from Jun – nearly half of all records (48%). Majority of encounters (65%) are recorded in N Europe. The encounters based on dead birds considerably decreased over time – from 86% pre-1960 to 14% after 1991; those based on alive birds markedly increased – from 1% pre-1960 to 84% after 1991. The latter is mostly due to ringing recoveries, and especially to metal ring readings in the field and colour mark encounters. Shooting constituted 58% of all cases before 1960, it is currently reduced to about 3%. Birds are locally trapped in W Africa (especially in the Inner Niger Delta in Mali) for sport, food and income (Zwarts et al. 2009).

Annual Movements for Caspian Tern

Post-breeding dispersal starts in late Jul, the autumn movements are evident from Aug – numerous encounters (both coastal and inland) from W, C & E Europe. Mediterranean region is reached mainly Sep-Oct. Most breeding sites are left by Oct. The African wintering grounds (mostly Senegal, Mali & Ghana, but scattered records throughout the Sahel E to Chad) are occupied as early as Oct, but mostly in Nov.

First-year birds commonly remain in W Africa during the summer (Zwarts et al. 2009), some undertaking partial return migration (Kilpi, Saurola, 1984). Recent satellite-tracking study identified (based on 39 birds) W Sahel (69%), lake Chad (10%), Nile River Delta & Basin (8%); as main wintering regions in Africa; 13% remained to overwinter in S Spain (Rueda-Uribe et al. 2021).

Spring migration starts in Mar-Apr and the breeding sites are reached back in Apr-May.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Caspian Tern

Unlike most other tern species, Caspian Terns routinely fly overland on their way to and from the wintering grounds (Zwarts et al. 2009). In Europe, the Fennoscandian population undertakes the longest distance migration (Shiomi et al. 2015).

Baltic Sea population takes mainly SW & S routes, while the Black Sea region breeders – mostly SW. Dispersal movements after the breeding season start in late summer, lots of encounters are spread throughout Europe. Most birds reach S Europe & N Africa early to mid-autumn. A small part of them stay to overwinter (S Spain), while the bulk continues to the wintering grounds (mostly in W Africa, but also in C & E Africa) which are reached mainly in late autumn. Return migration takes place primarily in mid- to late spring.

A vagrant bird marked in USA has been encountered in UK during the 1930s.

Recoveries by Condition for Little Auk

Game species in Greenland and (under special regulation) in Russia.

Most encounters are obtained after 2005, exclusively during the breeding season – 99% in Jun-Aug (mainly adults): 19, 71 and 5% respectively. Encounters prior to 1960 are almost lacking. Those based on dead birds decreased markedly over the years – from 90% in 1961-90 (70% shot) to less than 1% after 1991. Inversely, the share of recoveries based on alive birds largely increased – from virtually none to more than 99% respectively, the latter mostly due to ringing encounters. The encounters based on shooting/hunting come exclusively from SW Greenland, while those based on alive birds – from Svalbard.

Ringing data from the Russian Arctic is absent.

Annual Movements for Little Auk

Post-breeding dispersal starts in Aug or Sep. The species undergoes a flightless wing-moulting period after breeding season (Montevecchi, Stenhouse, 2020). Birds breeding in Svalbard and Bear Is during moult period move E into the Barents Sea, dispersing along the ice edge between S Spitsbergen and Novaya Zemlya (Fort et al. 2013). Later on, they take SW routes, subsequently being encountered in SW Greenland and Iceland mostly between Nov and Feb, Mar at latest.

Tagging of birds in E Greenland revealed an important post-breeding staging area (moult period) in the Greenland Sea (Mosbech et al. 2012), as well as wintering area off Newfoundland, ca. 2500km SW from the breeding colonies (Fort et al. 2012).

Breeding colonies are usually occupied in Apr-May (Stempniewicz 2001).

A theoretical model was recently developed of possible migration overturn driven by climate change, involving transarctic flights (Clairbaux et al. 2019).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Little Auk

Dispersal movements are evident from late summer, prominent migration takes place in early to mid-autumn. The Svalbard population is encountered wintering in SW Greenland and Iceland from late autumn to early spring. Wintering concentrations are known from the sea waters around Europe as well – Norwegian and North Sea (significant) and Arctic ocean (less numerous) (Stempniewicz 2001). Barents Sea seems to hold wintering the population breeding on the Franz Josef Land archipelago (Montevecchi, Stenhouse, 2020).

Influxes and wrecks occurred on a number of occasions in W Europe possibly triggered by prolonged food shortages during or immediately following severe storms (Camphuysen, Leopold, 1996), like the North Atlantic winter cyclones (Clairbaux et al. 2021).