Ruff (RBBP)

Before drainage of the Fens, Ruff was a common breeding species. It also bred on the low ground in the Marsh district between Louth and the coast and in the NW of the county. By the early 19th century they were much reduced but were still regularly found on a number of washes and fens near Boaston, Crowland, Spalding and Spilsby. However, it was practically extinct by the middle of the century and in 1882 a pair bred on Scotton Common but the female was shot and the eggs taken, the last breeding record (Lorand and Atkin 1989). In more modern times, scrutiny of records for the last 29 years to 2018, four instances of probable breeding have occurred in 2010, 2016, 2017 and 2018 at two separate sites. Frampton Marsh has reported lekking behaviour in all of the four years mentioned, with males and females present for over a week. While encouraging, there has been no evidence of nesting behaviour as yet.  The wintering and migratory population varies from year to year and in the five years to 2018 peak monthly counts from LBR show an average wintering population of 80 birds ranging from 18 (2014) to 155 (2015). Peak monthly spring migration in April-May averaged 100 birds ranging from 60 (2015) to 152 (2014).  Peak monthly autumn migration from August-October averaged 220 birds ranging from 184 (2018) to 571 (2017). The highest monthly count of all in the 5-year period at all sites was 257 at Alkborough Flats on Oct 2017.