Further news about the Hayling Island Ringed Plover Project

Birds on the Brink was pleased to get a further update from Trevor Codlin, the driving force behind the Hayling Island Ringed Plover project. As a memory jog, the project’s aim was to install fencing to help safeguard the nesting prospects of Ringed Plovers and reduce the pressure caused by human and canine disturbance for high-tide-roosting waders. Birds on the Brink helped with funding for the project.

Above: The new fence installation on Hayling Island. ©Trevor Codlin

Trevor told us: ‘… the fence at Gunner Point has now been erected. We also did some Holm Oak clearance around the old enclosure, and the area is looking much more open now, which will suit the birds.’

He continued: ‘The Hayling Herald ran a story about the project prior to the fence arriving, and we also put signs up to inform the public. In general, it has been well received by the locals and the fencing contractor did a great job getting the fence up in a day. We have also erected a temporary fence around the front of the enclosure; this has also been fairly well received, although someone has taken to removing a small section of it, several times. I hope to meet them before long and find out why.’

Above: Waders, mainly Dunlin, coming in to land at high tide on Hayling Island. ©Paul Sterry/Nature Photographers Ltd

The timing of the fence installation was perfect because the winter high tide roost developed just after it was erected and the number of birds was estimated by some to be over 2,000. Trevor’s personal tally was around 1,600, and that comprised mainly Dunlin, with 160+ Ringed Plovers and a Sanderling as an added bonus.

Trevor also tells us that there is a HAYLINGPLOVERS website which will be populated with blog posts as the season progresses towards the start of the breeding season. The Hayling Plover project has partnered with the RSPB Life on the Edge Project, and they will help organise volunteers and monitoring. Predation will be monitored too, with the possibility of deploying nest cages in future if required.

As a final word Trevor says: ‘I hope that things will now be better for the birds with a reduction in human and dog disturbance, and in turn this will reduce predation. Thanks again for the support from Birds on the Brink.’ The Birds on the Brink team wishes the project and the plovers all the best for the coming season.