This April was a record breaker . . . for the lowest April total since the observatory was formed, of 179. It was also less diverse in species than the 2021 total, however this years total includes the first male serin ringed at the observatory plus the first Grey Wagtail ever in April.
Chiffchaffs were more abundant this year but to balance that Blackcaps were lower by 3 birds. Willow warblers were higher in 2022, and wheatear and jay were unrecorded in 2021, though the former was definitely due to lack of trapping effort. We recorded 2 firecrest this year, but failed to catch any goldcrest. No sedge or Cetti's warblers this year are perhaps a reflection of how deathly quiet spring migration has been for warbler passage here. 4 redwing still hanging around in April (one even caught today) another sign of how the weather is holding species back.
Hopefully its just a (very) late start to spring, and numbers will pick up in May when the weather turns. We'll have to wait and see.|
Species |
No.
ringed |
|
Chiffchaff |
45 |
|
Blackcap |
39 |
|
Linnet |
27 |
|
Willow Warbler |
23 |
|
Robin |
8 |
|
Wheatear |
7 |
|
Redwing |
4 |
|
Lesser
Whitethroat |
4 |
|
Song
Thrush |
3 |
|
Blue Tit |
3 |
|
Goldfinch |
3 |
|
Firecrest |
2 |
|
House
Sparrow |
2 |
|
Woodpigeon |
2 |
|
Blackbird |
1 |
|
Chaffinch |
1 |
|
Great
Tit |
1 |
|
Wren |
1 |
|
SERIN |
1 |
|
Grey
Wagtail |
1 |
|
Jay |
1 |
|
Total |
179 |