Post-breeding stopover sites of waders in the estuaries of the Khairusovo, Belogolovaya and Moroshechnaya rivers, western Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, 2010–2012

During the northern summer and autumn seasons of 2010–2012 we collected data on the numbers of waders that stop on the estuaries of the rivers Khairusovo, Belogolovaya and Moroshechnaya on the west-central coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. Among known wader stopovers on the west coast of Kamchatka, this is the area that supports the largest numbers. We found that the most abundant species were Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris, Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica, Black-tailed Godwit L. limosa and Red-necked Stint C. ruficollis. Two globally-threatened species were also recorded: Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascarensis and Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus. At least 35 Great Knots colour-marked in NW Australia, one from South Australia and two from China were recorded in the area. We also observed several colour-marked Bar-tailed Godwits, Red-necked Stints and a Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres marked in different areas of Australia and in China.