A new report has highlighted startling changes in conditions for waterbirds in the UK during the last decade. Each winter Britain sees the arrival of millions of waterbirds of many different species from the Arctic and northern Europe.

Dungeness and Rye Bay is a prime destination for these birds. It is listed as a principal site for waterbirds in the UK with two species, shoveler and mute swan, occurring in internationally important numbers. In the last five years Dungeness and Rye Bay supported an average of 36, 165 birds.

Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB’s conservation director, said:

“Two aspects of this long-running study really stand out. Firstly, that bird populations change over time and understanding this is critical to developing future conservation strategies.

“Secondly, that the UK's wetlands, and particularly those on the coast, are of enormous importance to the survival of a great number of waterbirds which migrate from many other countries. The protection and wise management of our wetlands is a priority to ensure that they continue to provide a lifeline to bird populations in the face of climate change.”

An analysis of the 50 most widespread winter-visiting wetland birds (excluding gulls) shows there have been some very dramatic changes over the last decade.

The five birds faring the worst, compared with a decade ago, include: ringed plover; pochard; bar-tailed godwit; and the Greenland white-fronted goose. While the five recording the greatest increases over the period include: little egret; whooper swan; black-tailed godwit; avocet and the Greenland barnacle goose.

For some declining species, such as the ringed plover and bar-tailed godwit, it seems they are shifting away from wintering in the UK, which instead spend the winter in continental Europe.

However, those species which have increased in number are increasing for a variety of reasons.  Avocets are believed to have increased because of milder winters and targeted conservation action, while the black-tailed godwit and whooper swan, which migrate from Iceland, are thought to be increasing because of subtle changes in farming there, possibly linked to climate change.

The annual report is based on the fieldwork of around 3000 bird surveyors participating in synchronized monthly counts at wetlands, including estuaries, marshes, lakes and reservoirs, across the UK.