Nelson

Sex: Male

Hatch date: 8 May 2017

Release date: 12 Jun 2017

Release site: Lady Fen, WWT Welney

Latest sighting: RSPB Pilot Project, May 2020

Guardian: not yet, become a Guardian

Photo credit:
Louise Clewley/WWT

The beginning of his story...
Nelson's egg was collected from the RSPB Nene Washes in April 2017 and was one of the first eggs to hatch at WWT Welney on 8 May that year.

Back to the wild...
Nelson was released on Lady Fen at WWT Welney on 12 June 2017, alongside 24 other young godwits, including his siblings Denver and Remi.

And his story continues...
July 2017. He visits WWT Steart Marshes in southwest England.
February 2018. He is spotted at three sites near the Tagus River in Portugal.
April 2018. He is back at the Ouse Washes.
May 2018. He stays at the WWT end of the Ouse Washes and visits Lady Fen. He appears to have paired with another 2017 headstarted bird, Lady.
June 2018. He moves to the RSPB end of the Ouse Washes and is seen at Dunkirk, near Ely.
April 2019. Nelson is back at WWT Welney and has reunited with Lady.
June 2019. Nelson is reported from the west coast of France.
February 2020. Nelson is reported from Porto Alto, Portugal.
April to May 2020. Nelson is spotted back at Lady Fen with Lady, but both move to the RSPB Pilot Project site (adjacent to the Ouse Washes) to nest.

How was he named?
Nelson was named after WWT Welney's Nelson-Lyle Hide, from where he was first spotted in summer 2018. The Nelson-Lyle Hide has views of the middle-section of the washes at WWT Welney.