Visual greetings to Rob Lambeck

The birds on these photos taken today in Luvenga settlement coast were in the Dutch hands…

It was in 1991 and 1993 that Rob Lambeck started individual colour-ringing of the breeding White Sea Oystercatchers (which I largely took over and expanded since 1997 till now) – and it was really great to find today two of “his” birds. Bluegreen rings on bird E-1 remain absolutely perfect, and the other bird shall be traced through the records still (or recaptured next year) as it lost one ring, and only has worn-off “0” plastic ring besides the usual steel that I failed to read as it stayed far even for a telescope user. I still have to trace the life stories of these two 19+ - year birds (at least 2008-1993 =15 plus 4 years age of first breeding), as the ringing data for Rob’s birds are not currently with me.

Additional great fun today was that in the same flock of non-breeders (or failed breeders) in Luvenga we saw an A16-orange Oystercatcher that I have ringed myself in July 2002 as a chick on Bolshoy Lomnishny island (over 10 km distance across the sea).

Seems that later in July, when more birds join this flock before migration, it is worth to re-visit the area for another check on colour-ringed Oystercatchers!

P.S. On the second photo E-1 bird is the most left of the four; it is not possible to read the rings on the photo, but believe me they are in perfect quality still!