Winter site-fidelity and survival of Redshank Tringa totanus at Cardiff, south Wales

The site-fidelity of adult Redshank Tringa totanus was investigated using colour-ringing and radiotracking at Cardiff Bay, a wintering site in south Wales, in 1996/97 and 1997/98. Between 7 and 20% of colour-ringed adults were seen away from the bay in winter, although only at a distance of 4 km. Radiotracking also suggested that adults were largely faithful either to the bay or to this neighbouring site. Return rates of 89% and 83% were estimated over two successive summers, indicating site-fidelity between winters. Survival rates of 91% and 100% were estimated over the two preceding (four-month) winter periods. Annual survival rates, calculated as the product of the winter survival and over-summer return rates, were therefore 81% and 83%. These estimates are comparable to those previously obtained for Redshank, in studies both on breeding and wintering grounds. Analyses of ring recovery data from throughout the UK complemented the colour-ringing and radiotracking studies in showing that the majority of Redshank are site-faithful both within and between winters. Ring recovery analyses also indicated that first-year Redshank had similar recovery patterns to adults.