Expert insight on elusive Welsh woodcock and sewin

Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust news release

The woodcock is one of the most iconic quarry species in Wales, and in the past 30-years has been the subject of extensive research by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, in an effort to learn more about this elusive bird.  To give a flavour of this ground-breaking research, including a new satellite tracking programme, starting in February 2012, Ian Lindsay,  a leading authority on woodcock will give fascinating insight on this secretive bird at an evening presentation being held at the Newtown House, Dinefwr Park & Castle, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire on Wednesday 23rd November 2011.

This informative event has been organised by the newly formed south-west Wales committee, of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, under the chairmanship of Nigel Birt-Lewellin.

The committee, covering the counties of Carmarthen and Pembrokeshire organised this event in order to share with other woodcock enthusiasts the scientific developments that are enabling researchers to track the autumn migration of woodcock as it returns to its breeding grounds as far away as Russia and Latvia.  The evening will also include the latest research being carried out by GWCT researchers on brown trout as well as the migratory sewin (sea trout).

The woodcock was amber listed in 2002 because of an apparent decline in its native breeding population.  However, in autumn, the resident UK woodcock population is supplemented by a large influx of at least 750,000 migrants from continental Europe.  Ian Lindsay will explain how the GWCT, a leading wildlife research charity, will, for the first time,  attach small satellite tags, to 20 woodcock across the UK in the spring of 2012, in order to track the birds back to their breeding grounds in Russia, Belarus and Scandinavia.  This will give insight into the migration strategies of woodcock across Europe and will help us to evaluate the effects of changes in habitat, climate or hunting pressure at stop-over or wintering areas.

 Unfortunately the GWCT’s research shows that there has been a general decline of native breeding woodcock in Wales over the past 30 years.  Ian explains, “We intend to attach satellite tags to a small number of woodcock in Wales to learn more about over-wintering migrants and we will be carrying out a national breeding survey in 2013 in conjunction with the British Trust for Ornithology to discover whether the population has increased or declined nationally since our last survey in 2003.  This should give a better picture on their current conservation status in Wales.”

Of equal significance in Wales is the management of the resident brown trout and migratory sewin (sea trout), which have been the subject of increasing regulation particularly in respect of stocking.  At the event on the 23rd November, Dylan Roberts, the GWCT’s head of fisheries, will summarise the results of the Trust’s research on brown trout management and stocking.

The course fee, to attend the evening event on Wednesday 23rd November at Newtown House, Dinefwr Park & Castle, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire is £10 to include a buffet supper. For further information, please contact Lynda Ferguson on 01425 651013 or book online at: www.gwct.org.uk/courses.