Rare bird found after 25 years

A RARE whimbrel has been found breeding on the Shetland Isle of Fetlar, almost a quarter of a century after it was ringed nearby.

The bird is believed to be the oldest known surviving ringed whimbrel in the world, more than doubling the typical 11-year lifespan of the species.

It has surpassed the previous longevity record of 16 years, held by a bird ringed as a chick in Shetland in 1979 but which was shot in France in 1995.

Dr Murray Grant, principal conservation scientist with RSPB Scotland, said: "I first came across this bird 24 years ago during my doctoral research on whimbrel in Shetland. It was probably at least two or three years old then, as that's when these birds normally start breeding, so it is a great surprise to learn it is still revisiting Fetlar after so long.

"However, my pleasure at learning of this record-breaking whimbrel is tempered by the fact we've only found it because of our research into their population decline on Shetland."

Shetland holds around 90 per cent of the UK whimbrel population. According to RSPB Scotland, it was estimated there were up to 500 breeding pairs of whimbrel in Shetland in the late 1980s. It is feared this number could now be as low as 250.

Dr Grant said: "Whimbrels are fascinating wading birds, migrating from their African wintering grounds each spring to breed in the most northern parts of Scotland and other sub-Arctic lands such as Iceland and Finland.

"Unfortunately, just like their larger, more familiar cousin the curlew, their numbers in the UK are falling rapidly."