Shorebirds in the Southern Hemisphere remain poorly studied compared to their boreal counterparts, limiting our understanding of their migratory connectivity and population structure. Within the Americas, the Rufous-chested Dotterel Zonibyx modestus breeds in Patagonia and the Falkland Islands, and winters along the coasts of Chile, Argentina and Brazil. To provide the first baseline on migratory connectivity in this species, we tracked six individuals using Argos satellite transmitters deployed at a wintering site in central Chile (Itata River estuary) and a breeding site in southern Patagonia (San Gregorio). Patagonian birds remained close to their breeding areas or migrated to the north-east to winter along the central and southern Argentine coast. In contrast, both individuals wintering in central Chile migrated south along the Pacific coast to breed at high-elevation (over 800 m asl.), on islands and along fjords located in the Aysén and Magallanes regions, using a series of mainly coastal but also inland stopovers. Across regions, breeding areas were open, wind-exposed landscapes dominated by low shrubs and grasses, despite differences in elevation. These results indicate that individuals from different parts of the species’ range can follow distinct migratory routes, but the small sample size precludes inferences about population structure or separated flyways. Expanded tracking and genetic sampling are needed to evaluate the scale and consistency of these patterns in a poorly known Neotropical plover.

The Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea is a scarce species in the Dutch Wadden Sea, with short migration peaks during spring (May) and autumn (July–September). Due to these short peaks, the regular monthly counts of waders on high tide roosts may miss the peak numbers. To get a better estimate of the numbers of staging Curlew Sandpipers during autumn migration, we conducted weekly counts along an 11-km stretch of the Frisian Wadden coast, from Koehool to Zwarte Haan, during July 2001–September 2024. This stretch encompasses the two largest roosts of the species in the Dutch Wadden Sea, the salt marshes of Westhoek and Zwarte Haan. The annual maximum number during the first peak of autumn migration (from the end of July to early August) was 2,110–9,142 birds. Maximum numbers during the second peak (late August to mid-September) were usually lower than in the first peak (740–4,590). Many juveniles were recorded in some years, suggesting good breeding success. No juveniles were observed in July and early August, but they constituted 30–90% of birds mid-August to mid-September. Annual patterns in peaks from weekly counts differed from those in standard monthly counts, because the latter often missed the brief peak in migration. The high tide roost near Westhoek has become an important staging site for Curlew Sandpipers in both the Dutch Wadden Sea and the international Wadden Sea. High and increased densities of Mud Shrimps Corophium volutator could be a reason for its attractiveness.

We used geolocators recording ambient light, conductivity and wet/dry conditions to study the migration of Little Ringed Plovers Thinornis dubius breeding in the Netherlands. Little Ringed Plovers breeding in western Europe mostly migrate in the autumn towards the inner Niger delta in western Africa, mainly using stopover sites around the Mediterranean Sea. Conductivity data indicate that these autumn stopover sites are saline or brackish habitats, suggesting that saline coastal marshes or manmade saline aquatic habitats (saltworks) are important stopover habitats for Little Ringed Plovers. The timing of the spring migration coincides with the spring equinox (preventing accurate geolocator fixes); therefore we could not locate stopover sites in spring. However, we were able to use the conductivity data to infer the timing of the spring stopover sites and migration. We found that migrating Little Ringed Plovers spent 15% (females) or 17% (males) of their time in saline aquatic habitats.

We describe a bird trap for capturing adult nesting waders. It features a flexible, adjustable box-style design that can be configured into various shapes, such as square or polygonal, to suit different field conditions. Its adaptability makes it suitable for use in diverse environments, including narrow spaces like saltpan ditches. The trap’s entrance can be customized to accommodate different wader species, ranging from small to large species (e.g., Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus and Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta). A key advantage of the trap is its portability: it is lightweight and foldable, and several traps can be easily transported in the trunk of a small car. Additionally, the trap operates autonomously, allowing researchers to set multiple units simultaneously. The trap is safe for both birds and their eggs. In summary, we consider that the trap is an affordable and effective solution for field research on nesting waders.

Eurasian Curlews Numenius arquata arquata which moult and winter in the Moray Firth, northern Scotland, had a mean start date of 24 June (95% range 18 May to 31 July) for primary moult, which then took a mean of 122 days, giving a mean completion date of 24 October (95% range 17 September to 30 November). The duration is within the pattern of longer moult duration in larger waders that spend the winter in the northern hemisphere. There was no difference in timing and duration of moult between males and females. The gap in the wing surface area created by the loss of primary feathers reduced slightly during moult. A comparison of moult data collected between the years 1978–2000 and 2001–2023 showed that Curlews moulted three days earlier in the latter period. This shift in the timing of moult could be a consequence of earlier breeding and migration in response to climate change, or an increase in breeding failure, as indicated by the reduced recruitment of first-year birds in the Moray Firth.

Migration decisions in shorebirds may be influenced by their physiological condition. We evaluated whether hematological and biochemical parameters are associated with the decision to oversummer in adult Red Knots Calidris canutus rufa on non-breeding grounds in Argentina. We analyzed hematocrit, leukocyte profiles, and plasma metabolites (total protein, glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol) in 54 individuals sampled during either the oversummering period or northward migration. Adult migrants exhibited significantly higher hematocrit and nutritional markers (total proteins, cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose) than oversummering adults, while immune parameters did not differ substantially between the two groups. Moreover, oversummering adults and one-year-old birds showed similar physiological profiles, suggesting a shared non-migratory condition. These results suggest that oversummering may reflect reduced metabolic readiness or suboptimal physiological condition, although it may not necessarily be linked to pathological or immune constraints. While the differences observed may reflect phase-specific physiological demands, they could also indicate that individuals in poorer condition forego migration to preserve physiological stability. Further longitudinal studies, integrating physiological data with ecological and behavioral variables, will be needed to clarify the drivers of oversummering. Understanding these dynamics is essential for informing conservation strategies in the context of global change.

A decline of 57% in the breeding population of Dotterel Charadrius morinellus in Scotland was reported between 1987–88 and 2011. Recent surveys of Dotterel on hills in the stronghold in north-east Scotland have recorded variable numbers of breeding Dotterel. In 2023, a coordinated and standardised survey in the eastern Cairngorms was undertaken covering five sites. The survey confirmed that Dotterel are still passing through the eastern Cairngorms and breeding successfully on formerly occupied low as well as high hills. However, Dotterel were absent from some previously occupied sites. The total number of birds recorded in the pre-breeding season and the density of breeding males across the survey area did not suggest a widespread decline in the area. Rather, it indicated that breeding Dotterel numbers were variable across sites with some sites holding high numbers and others none. Where it occurred, breeding was successful with many broods reared to at least near fledging. The possible reasons for these changes in Dotterel numbers and breeding success are discussed. These results have implications for future survey work.