Recoveries by Condition for Ring Ouzel

Annual number of encounters increased from about 15 before 1960 to 56 in 1968. Then they decreased to 10 - 25 between 1977 and 2007. From 2008 numbers increased again to maximum of  79 in 2017. Most encounters are from 28 September to 28 October. Also many encounters in spring between 11 April and 31 May.
Until 1960 about 88% of recoveries were dead birds, including about 57% shot birds. Between 1960 and 1990 the percentage dead birds was still relatively high with 81%, including 49% shot. After 1990 about 13% concerned dead birds, including 3% shot birds. Most birds were shot in France and E Spain, furthermore also in Morocco, Algeria and N Italy.

Annual Movements for Ring Ouzel

In Jan - Feb most birds are near the Mediterranean coast of France and Spain or in Morocco and Algeria, a few birds stay in the UK, S Norway and NW Europe. In Mar they start moving N, but most birds are still in S Europe. In Apr most birds have arrived in the breeding areas in UK and the first birds arrived in S Scandinavia and in C and S Europe, but many still migrating in W and S Europe or still in N Africa. From May - Aug the birds are in the breeding areas. In Sep most birds have left Scandinavia, about 50% of the birds have left UK. Many birds have reached S Europe in Sep but some migrating in NW Europe. In Oct the first birds reached N Africa, most birds are in S Europe but also birds migrating in NW Europe and UK. In Nov - Dec most birds are in S France, N Italy, SE Spain and Morocco.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Ring Ouzel

Birds from Scandinavia are most times reported in S France from Oct - Apr; there are also recoveries in the UK in Oct and Apr, in C Europe and N Italy in Oct, in E Spain in Oct - Nov, in Morocco in Jan - Mar and in Algeria in Oct and Jan - Apr. Birds from the UK have most recoveries in SW and SE France from Oct - Apr. They are also reported in E Spain from Oct - Mar, in Morocco from Nov - Apr, in Algeria in Oct and Mar, in Germany in Jun and Italy in Oct, Nov and Mar. Birds from C and S Europe have recoveries in SE France and E Spain from Oct - Apr and in Morocco from Jan - Apr. Tracking indicates two-thirds of birds from the Alps winter in Morocco, one-third in Spain (Barras et al 2021). 

Recoveries by Condition for Slender-billed Gull

Overall, most recoveries (58%) due to birds seen alive, identified by other means (from these most from leg ring(s)). Shots represent a small fraction (7.2%). By periods, however, the proportion of birds found dead by shooting passed from 38% before 1960 to 1.8% from 1991 to present. Nowadays, most recoveries (68%) come from birds seen alive thanks to colour-ring projects in several colonies through the species’ distribution range.

Annual Movements for Slender-billed Gull

Leaves breeding quarters in Jul. Recoveries in winter quarters mostly from Oct to Mar, though some birds already reach these areas in Aug, and remain there until Apr. Spring migration takes place from Feb to May.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Slender-billed Gull

Similar temporal patterns between regions, so see ‘Annual movements’.

Recoveries by Condition for Tundra Swan

Most encounters after 1980, with clear peak from 2016, and mainly during winter months in Western Europe. Small peak in August caused by ringing activities during moult in breeding area. Nearly all encounters refer to rings or colour marks being read in the field. Reports of shot birds very rare, and all but one from Russia.

Annual Movements for Tundra Swan

In November – February, all encounters concentrated in UK, Netherlands, NW Belgium and northern Germany, with occasional encounters further south. First movements towards NE along Elbe river and in Denmark begin March, Poland mid-March and first encounters Baltic end March. Low countries vacated by end March. Encounters scattered in Poland and Baltic, Finnish Gulf, Russian lakes and White Sea reached by end April. Few encounters in May, concentration in Russian breeding area from mid-May to end August. Nearly all encounters end September - begin October in Northern Baltic, move into southern Baltic and low countries by mid-October.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Tundra Swan

Encounters in winter in UK mainly connected to wintering sites in low countries in previous or subsequent winters suggesting frequent exchange. Few connections with Baltic. Birds in winter in Western and Central Europe show well connected network among main wintering sites within the area and are strongly connected to Baltic in April and October, and to Russian breeding area in May- August. A colour-marked Bewick’s swan caught on Iceland in its second calendar year in July and subsequently observed in Western Europe many times constitutes a rare exception to the pattern.

Recoveries by Condition for Temminck's Stint

Most encounters are obtained after the early 1990s. They come mainly from the mid- to late breeding season, peaking in Jun-Aug (85% combined). Most encounters in May-Jul are based primarily on adults while those from Aug – mainly juveniles. Majority of encounters are recorded in N & C Europe (85 and 8% respectively). The encounters based on dead birds decreased markedly over time: from 94% pre-1960 to less than 1% after 1991; those based on alive birds considerably increased from virtually 0% before 1960 to 99% after 1991. The latter is mostly due to ringing recoveries, and especially to colour mark records (33% of all encounters). Shooting as а factor has been largely reduced from 78% pre-1960 to practically 0% after 1991; most historical data come from the W Mediterranean.

Annual Movements for Temminck's Stint

Post-breeding dispersal and autumn migration start as early as Jul, adults usually precede juveniles. S Europe and the Mediterranean region are reached mostly in Aug-Sep, but some encounters from Oct-Nov also exist. S European and N/NW African encounters from Dec-Feb suggest possible overwintering in those regions. Departure from African wintering grounds is mid-Mar to April (Delany et al. 2009). The number of encounters in the Mediterranean region start to increase from mid-Apr and the breeding grounds are occupied May-Jun.

Tracked S Norwegian breeders left their breeding sites in late Jul and overwintered in Mali from Sep to late Apr/early May, most likely in the Niger River Basin or surrounding areas; in spring, after stopping over in coastal Algeria, the breeding grounds were reached back in early Jun (Lislevand, Hahn, 2015).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Temminck's Stint

Dispersal movements after the breeding season start in mid-summer, the autumn migration being intensive in late summer and early autumn with numerous encounters in C & S Europe. Mediterranean region & S Europe hold very few encounters from mid- to late autumn. Small number of birds possibly overwinter in SW/S Europe and NW/N Africa, based on a limited number of recoveries from early to late winter.

Extrapolation of the overall migration direction of the birds passing through S Sweden indirectly supports the data showing wintering grounds of the species in W Africa (Hedenström, 2004).

Concentration of encounters in NE Italy (Po Delta), S Italy and S France (Camargue) possibly indicate important stopover areas in the Mediterranean region.

A bird ringed in S France has been encountered in Benin (W Africa) in Mar (Delany et al. 2009).

Recoveries by Condition for Whiskered Tern

Most encounters are obtained during the late 2010s. Majority of them are recorded in C Europe (92%), primarily during the period Jun-Aug (87%). Just couple of encounters prior to 1960. The encounters based on dead birds markedly decreased over time: from 71% during 1961-1990 to less than 1% after 1991; those based on alive birds considerably increased from 3% in 1961-1990 to 99% after 1991. The latter is mostly due to ringing recoveries, and especially to colour ring resightings. Shooting was an important factor in the past only (34% of all recoveries during the period 1961-1990).

Annual Movements for Whiskered Tern

Post-breeding dispersal and autumn migration movements start in late Jul (Gochfeld et al. 2020) but are more evident in Aug-Sep – by this time W European breeders are encountered SW from their breeding grounds, mostly in Spain, some birds remaining in SW Europe until Nov. Birds breeding in SW Europe are encountered in W Africa as early as Aug (Mali), the wintering grounds near the Gulf of Guinea (Ghana) are reached in Sep with encounters until Nov. Spring encounters from Apr (Senegal) and May (Mali) indicate possible return migration routes; spring records exist also from Tunisia (Mar), Italy (Apr) and Hungary (May). Local short-distance movement in Dec suggests wintering in S Spain.

C European breeders migrate mostly SE, with encounters during migration and winter in Israel (Sep, Jan) and E Africa (Kenya, Dec).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Whiskered Tern

Genetic evidence supports the existence of two distinct (W & E) subpopulations in Europe, which markedly differ in wintering distribution and seasonal migratory routes (Dayton et al. 2017). Dispersal movements are prominent from late summer. W European population takes SW routes, with encounters mainly in Spain, sometimes until late autumn. SW European breeders migrate mostly S towards W Africa where are encountered from late summer to mid-autumn. Return migration records (early to late spring) are spread from W Africa to C Mediterranean and C Europe. Local encounters in Spain in Dec indicate overwintering. Long-distance recoveries of the birds breeding in C Europe suggest SE direction of autumn migration, with winter encounters in the E Mediterranean & E Africa.

Return migration is mostly mid- to late spring.

Recoveries by Condition for European Nightjar

Until 1960, almost all recoveries were of dead birds, including some which had been shot. Since 1990 almost all recoveries are of birds recaptured by ringers due to increased efforts at breeding sites, and the development of migration camps in Mediterranean countries.

Annual Movements for European Nightjar

Movements mainly known from light logger data (Cresswell and Edwards 2013; Evens et al. 2017; Evens et al. 2017). Birds from NW have a loop migration crossing the western Mediterranean in early Oct, then moving to S/SE to cross the central Sahara and reach the N of the Gulf of Guinea, before moving E to the winter range in continental Central Africa. In spring, they return via W Africa before heading north to Iberia. Birds from N and C Europe take a straighter route over the eastern Mediterranean, both in autumn and spring, heading directly towards southern tropical Africa (Norevik et al. 2017).

Connectivity by Month by Region for European Nightjar

Movements from NW and N Europe start at the end of Aug, all birds have left by the end of Sep. Individuals are seen in S Europe in April and start to return to NW and N breeding sites in  early May; all are back by early Jun. Birds breeding in W Europe show a similar pattern those in NW Europe. In autumn, birds move through continental Europe throughout Sep, consistent with crossing the Mediterranean and Sahara in early Oct, after a stopover of e.g. 10 days in the Mediterranean basin (Evens et al. 2017). Autumn migration takes approximately two months, with birds arriving at the end of Oct. In spring, departures from winter grounds start from the end of Feb and continue through Mar.

Recoveries by Condition for Red-breasted Merganser

Game species in Fennoscandia, Denmark, Iceland, Russia; it has been hunted until recently (2016) in Malta. Most encounters obtained during the breeding season in early summer – ca. 65% in Jun-Jul. In total, the share of encounters based on alive birds forms about half (48%) of all cases; however, it fluctuates from 15% pre-1960s, about half (ca. 53%) during 1961-1990 to ca. 47% after 1991. Inversely, dead recoveries largely decreased from about 77% before 1960 to ca. 44-46% during the following periods. Shooting’s share dropped from ca. 37% of all cases pre-1960 to ca. 10% after 1991. Some recoveries are based on drowning in fishing nets – 9% of all dead birds found in Denmark (Bønløkke et al. 2006), 29% in Finland (Saurola et al. 2013).

Most encounters obtained between mid-1960s and mid-1970s, mainly in N & C Europe (ca. 90%).

Annual Movements for Red-breasted Merganser

The species undergoes a flightless wing-moulting period in Aug-Sep (Craik et al. 2020). The largest known moulting area in Europe is in Denmark (Scott, Rose, 1996). Females and immatures start autumn migration earlier than males (Craik et al. 2020). Post-breeding movements of the Fennoscandian birds start in Aug but are more evident in Sep-Oct; the wintering grounds in the Black Sea and W Europe are reached as early as Oct. Spring migration in the Baltic Sea region is active in Mar-Apr (Skov et al. 2011). Breeding sites in Fennoscandia are reached in late Apr and May. British Isles breeders overwinter on local coastal waters, some moving as far as Denmark and Norway; local birds are joined by wintering birds from the Iceland mostly in Dec-Jan. Black Sea population overwinters locally dispersed (Sep-Feb). Single birds remain in their wintering areas until Apr-May.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Red-breasted Merganser

The bulk of birds breeding in Fennoscandia are encountered from early autumn until late spring primarily in the region of Baltic and North Seas (including the straits in between), where they join the local residents from Denmark, Germany and S Sweden. The remainder Fennoscandian breeders take longer routes to spend the winter along the Atlantic Coast of W Europe, Mediterranean Sea, SE Europe and Black Sea. C European breeders (Germany) are found wintering along the coasts of Mediterranean Sea and W Europe from early autumn to early spring. Bird breeding in S Ukraine are found during autumn and winter primarily in the Black Sea basin.

Icelandic breeders are recorded during the winter on the coastal waters of British Isles; stragglers are recorded in E Greenland (Nov) and The Netherlands (Lyngs 2003).

Recoveries by Condition for Woodchat Shrike

Most recoveries are after 2000 and are mainly during the breeding season and migration (85% in Apr-Aug) and mostly in SW Europe (~69%). The percentage of recoveries of dead birds has decreased from 75% pre-1961 to 3% after 1991; those of live birds increased from 17% before 1961 to 96% after 1991. Shooting was an important factor in the past - 29% pre-1961 and 18% in 1961-90. Nowadays, the majority of recoveries are recaptures by ringers. Shrikes are among the numerous birds illegally trapped and killed annually in the Mediterranean (Brochet et al. 2016). Most distant (>=50 km) recoveries are located around the C & W Mediterranean, there are very few long-distance recoveries of Е populations (nominate ssp. and niloticus).

Annual Movements for Woodchat Shrike

Pre-migratory movements start in Jun (Harris & Frankiln 2000) and migration Jul-Aug; adults leaving first (Cramp & Perrins 1993). SW European breeders are in NW Africa (Morocco, Algeria & Tunisia) in both autumn (Sep-Nov) and (mostly) spring (Mar-May). C European populations migrate mainly SW, with encounters in France, the Iberian Peninsula and NW Africa mostly in Aug-Sep, very few from Oct-Nov. There is a recovery from the Sahel wintering grounds (Sudan) in Oct. Return migration starts Feb (rarely Jan), peaking in Mar-Apr. Spring migration through the W Mediterranean and NW Africa is from mid-Mar to the end of May (mostly early April to mid-May), the nominate race migrating about 13 days later than ssp. badius (Gargallo et al. 2011). Breeding grounds are usually occupied in Apr-May.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Woodchat Shrike

Post-breeding dispersal happens mid- to late summer with most birds having left breeding sites in early autumn. The Spanish population is found from Morocco to Tunisia in early to late autumn and early to late spring. The German population was intensively studied in the 1950-60s, resulting in encounters mainly in late summer and early autumn in W & SW Europe and NW Africa (rarely in mid- or even late autumn). Birds breeding in SC Europe are encountered mostly in early to late spring in N Africa. Spring migration usually starts in late winter, it is more pronounced in early to mid-spring, and some of the breeding grounds are reached in late spring. Some W populations possibly make a loop migration, with their spring recoveries being further E than autumn recoveries (Yosef & ISWG 2020).

Recoveries by Condition for Grey Plover

As for many waterbirds benefiting from the recent deployment of colour ringing schemes, the shift from older dead recoveries to modern live recoveries is obvious, though still 35% of recoveries are of dead birds after 1990 – this plover being a game bird in several countries in W and SW Europe.

Annual Movements for Grey Plover

Grey Plovers tagged while resting in the Wadden Sea moved to Yamal or Taimyr for the breeding season (E to c. 100°E), and wintered from Northern Ireland and the Wadden Sea south to Guinea Bissau in West Africa (Exo et al. 2019). For Siberian breeders, this tracking study also identified autumn stopover sites in arctic Russia, and an inland spring route over East Europe and western Russia. A further contribution of this tracking study is to prove individual fidelity to breeding and wintering sites, which is impossible to document with dead ring recoveries. 2nd calendar-year individuals stay on the wintering grounds but can move to breeding grounds, though later then adults (Exo et al. 2019).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Grey Plover

Most first-summer plovers stay in the winter range, so that the year-round distribution of recoveries in the British Isles and the Wadden Sea does not allow to draw a precise monthly connectivity picture, but tracking data of birds tagged in the Wadden Sea complete the figure; Grey Plovers leave their wintering grounds between mid and end of March, rest in the Wadden Sea until mid to end of May, then move rapidly close to the breeding grounds with several short final bouts depending on snow cover (Exo et al. 2019). In autumn, plovers return to the Baltic, Wadden and North Seas as early as August, and September.

Recoveries by Condition for Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

No data before 1960. Between 1961-1990, 98% of the recoveries due to ringing, only 2% as dead recovery due to shooting. Nowadays, 100% of recoveries associated to recaptures of birds alive under ringing programs.

Annual Movements for Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

First movements after breeding found in Jul-Aug. For the SW population, passage through NW Africa in autumn until at least Sep, probably also later even no data available. Wintering in Senegambia at least from Nov to Mar. Passage across NW Africa in spring patent in Apr (Arizaga et al. 2012).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

SE population: Individuals ringed in Israel in Apr and Jun; recovery from Cyprus in Apr.

SW population: data from Spain mostly from May to Aug (though a bird from the Balearics, ringed in May, recovered in mainland Spain in Oct); from NW Africa, from Jun to Sep; from Senegambia, from Nov to Mar.