Staffordshire wading bird is oldest on record in UK

Conservationists are celebrating the discovery of a record-breaking Avocet at RSPB Middleton Lakes in Staffordshire.

The bird has set a new national longevity record at 36 years old after being originally ringed at RSPB Titchwell in Norfolk on 2nd July 1990.

The avian charity's logo features the bird.

Avocets in the UK

Avocets are slender, long-legged wading birds with striking black and white plumage.

Their long, up-curved beak is used to sweep shallow water, feeding on insects, crustaceans, and worms.

Nowadays, Avocets can be found along many UK coastlines, although thirty years ago they bred mainly on the east coast and wintered in the southwest of England.

Providing they nest successfully, Avocets typically remain loyal to their nesting site for life, stressing the importance of maintaining suitable habitats for returning pairs.

The Avocet’s history with the RSPB

The Avocet disappeared as a breeding bird from the UK by 1840 due to widespread wetland drainage.

Its comeback began in 1947 when four breeding pairs arrived on the Suffolk coast, later known as RSPB Minsmere.

The reserve team pioneered a habitat management method with the “scrape,” shallow lagoons and islands replicating coastal wetlands, providing ideal nesting habitats.

Avocets have bred successfully at Minsmere every year since 1963, and this approach has been adopted nationwide, aiding species recovery.

RSPB remarks on the record breaking Avocet

James Robinson, RSPB Chief Operating Officer, said: "Finding this record-breaking Avocet is a fantastic moment for nature.

As the bird features on the RSPB’s logo, the Avocet symbolises hope and the incredible recovery that is possible when people come together to help wildlife.

This achievement is thanks to the passion and support of our members, volunteers, supporters, and staff, whose collective efforts over many decades have helped restore habitats and bring species back from the brink.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has played a part in this success story."

Middleton Lakes’ role in Avocet recovery

Today, around 1,950 breeding pairs of Avocets and 8,700 wintering birds reside in the UK.

RSPB Middleton Lakes has developed a mosaic of habitats across a former gravel extraction site, providing perfect feeding and breeding grounds for wading birds.

In 2025, the reserve recorded 10 pairs of Avocet and 16 fledglings.

Middleton Lakes has become one of the largest single wetland sites in the West Midlands, showcasing how reclaimed land can transform into diverse habitats for various species.

Importance of bird ringing

The age of the Avocet was identified through its unique coloured rings fitted as a nestling on 2nd July 1990.

Bird ringing, coordinated by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), is a vital scientific technique used to monitor wild bird populations, offering crucial insights into various bird species in the UK.

Jon Carter from the BTO said, "Ringing data makes a major contribution to the study of population changes and to our overall understanding of species declines.

Ringing also helps us monitor longevity in wild birds, and this remarkable record is a great example of this.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of volunteer ringers, we can learn so much, and this information helps us steer conservation and policy decisions."

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