Survival and winter site-fidelity of Turnstones Arenaria interpres and Purple Sandpipers Calidris maritima in northeast England

Abstract

The winter site-fidelity and annual survival of Turnstones Arenaria interpres and Purple Sandpipers Calidris maritima was investigated at Hartlepool, Cleveland using samples of individually colour-ringed birds. All colour-ringed Purple Sandpipers and a high proportion of colour-ringed Turnstones present at the start of winter were resident in the study area throughout the winter. All Purple Sandpipers and a high proportion of Turnstones (81–88%) survived the winter. Reasons for the high winter survival rates of both species in comparison with other waders are discussed. Most Turnstones (83–88%) survived between spring and autumn and came back to Hartlepool, usually to the same feeding area. A lower proportion of Purple Sandpipers (57–77%) survived through the summer to return to Hartlepool, particularly in 1993; some returned to winter elsewhere. Annual survival and summer return rates of both species are discussed in comparison to those reported in previous studies. © 1998 British Trust for Ornithology.