First Woodcock Watch location updates for September

We've received our first location updates for September from a number of our tagged woodcock.

Amy, Knepp, Lanyon, Remy, Rocky, Smithy, St Brendan and Wensum have all sent data.

In St Brendan's case it is the first update we have received since 10th June. Still in Latvia, St Brendan has covered over 2,300km since leaving Ireland at the end of March.

 

Woodcock Watch Location Data

 

Click here to view location data for each of our tagged woodcock.

 

Sponsor a woodcock for just £3 a month

Don’t miss this rare chance to get involved in important scientific research by sponsoring a satellite tracked woodcock.

For just £3 a month, you can follow your own bird’s location as it travels up to 10,000 kilometres every year, whilst scientists from the Game & Wildlife Trust build a unique picture of the woodcock’s migratory habits.

Each sponsor helps to pay for the satellite tracking, which has seen birds tagged in the British Isles travel to breeding grounds in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, including a 7,000 kilometre journey to Siberia. Without the support of sponsorship, we would not have known about these remarkable migrations or the details of stop-over locations that are vital to each journey.

Sponsor a woodcock - choose your bird >


We have been able to tag a further 11 birds in recent months, in seven English counties, plus Wales, Scotland, and Ireland and these are now available for sponsorship.

From as little as £3 a month, you can enjoy the pleasure of sponsoring one of these remarkable woodcock and supporting our research. In addition to being able to track your bird online, you will receive a sponsorship pack including a certificate, factsheet and your own woodcock lapel pin.

Sponsor a woodcock - choose your bird >

Sponsoring your woodcock is quick and easy

All you need to do is click here and select the bird you would like to sponsor, or call us on 01425 652381. You will not only be supporting ground-breaking research, but also enjoy an appreciation for the British countryside and the chance to enjoy the remarkable achievements of these elusive birds.
What other sponsors say

“The study has been a revelation in the distances covered by this remarkable bird”
- Kevin Appleton

“My interest in these lovely birds is general, i.e. their migratory patterns, our resident birds and their habits and habitat. I think that it behoves us to know as much as we can about any quarry species”
– David Houston

“I think the groundbreaking work you are doing is fascinating - keep up the good work”
– William McCabe

Sponsor a woodcock - choose your bird >

Latest Woodcock Watch location updates

We're still receiving reliable and regular updates from the majority of our tagged woodcock.

We're pleased to have heard from James this week for the first time since the middle of June. He's currently moving north through western Russia.

The chart below shows the current location data for each woodcock involved in the project.

Four woodcock have now passed the 4,000km mark

Four of the woodcock taking part in our Woodcock Watch project have now covered over 4,000km on their journeys.

 

Amy, BFC, Lanyon and Olwen have all travelled furthest so far with James and Smithy not far behind.

 

Click here to view the latest location data for all woodcock.

 

Sponsor a Woodcock for just £3

 

Would you like to support our Woodcock Watch project? For just £3 a month you can sponsor any of our birds and help us track them on their epic journeys.

 

Find out more >

 

 

 



Latest Woodcock Watch tweets

Guest Blog: Smithy's progress

Jerry Barnes

Jerry Barnes, Chairman of the Bristol and North Somerset branch of the GWCT and Chair of the Landed Estates group at accountancy and investment management group Smith & Williamson, discusses the progress of Smithy – one of the latest birds to join the exciting Woodcock Watch project.

After a slow and on my part nervous start, I am beginning to feel like Smithy is one of my sons on a gap year before university and I can only get second hand information about him via his Facebook page. I want to know more than just where he is!

From watching Smithy being captured and tagged on land at my shoot in North Somerset on the 3rd March to the last recorded sighting of him on the 25th June, he has travelled over 3,500 km from his feeding grounds near Bristol to Tamogsky district of North East Russia. And what an adventure he appears to have had along the way.

 

Smithy

First up was a non-stop flight to somewhere near Krakow in Poland. He then made a few short stops in Western Poland before embarking on another non-stop flight to Belarus, close to the Russian border – probably for a few days of much-needed rest and relaxation! Smithy seems to have settled into his new life in Russia with three extended stays in different territories. The first lasting a couple of weeks was near Uglch in the Volga Valley, the second near to the River Sukhona for around a month and finally, his current location near Sergiyevskaya where he has been for the last three weeks.

It would be interesting to hear Dr Andrew Hoodless’ views on why he hasn’t set up home for his roding rituals in any one particular place.

I’ve noticed that many of the other woodcock have remained static for quite some time. I would like to think this is because they’re females and are staying with their nests during daylight and only moving in darkness, which is why there have been no new sightings.  I do hope so.

My uneducated conclusion from this personal research is that Smithy is clearly Russian, he is young, very fit and energetic. He also likes river valleys (salmon preferred) and has a fondness for motorways!  Just like with my gap year son, I have so many questions that for now, will remain unanswered!

I am looking forward to hearing Dr Hoodless speak at the CLA Game Fair on Friday, 18 July at 3pm in the GWCT’s tent. I have so many questions!  Smith & Williamson, which sponsors Smithy, will be hosting a drinks reception earlier at 2pm, at the same venue, so if anyone would like to swap woodcock stories, they are very welcome to come along. I look forward to meeting you.

First woodcock location updates for June

We've received our first woodcock location updates for June. You can see the current location for each bird on the map below whilst the chart displays more detailed journey data.