Surprisingly, May 2022's ringing total has slightly bucked the current trend by being better than 2021's total by 23 birds! Much like 2021, we have struggled with the weather, too dry and then very cold, wind directions rarely optimum and a generally poor spring movement countrywide also. A weird record this year was a brambling, the latest we've had in some time. Though last year its place was taken by a fieldfare. As elsewhere however the summer migrants are fewer than 2021, willow warblers, blackcaps and chiffchaffs significantly lower. Lesser whitethroats did better this year by one bird, and whitethroats, despite being very slow to arrive, actually 25% higher than last year, though in general they seem dramatically less evident.
Greenfinch numbers ringed in spring used to number in the hundreds, the 1 ringed this year joins a handful ringed this year in total, their numbers crashing because of the disease trichomonosis since 2006. Chaffinch numbers are similarly starting to fall, by 30% between 2007-18, for a variety of reasons, the aforementioned disease being one of them.
Juvenile birds are out slightly earlier this year as despite the odd weather, the spring hasn't been quite as cold as 2021. This has certainly helped boost the months numbers!
|
Species |
No.
ringed |
|
Willow Warbler |
29 |
|
Linnet |
28 |
|
Lesser
Whitethroat |
19 |
|
Whitethroat |
12 |
|
Chiffchaff |
11 |
|
Great
Tit |
11 |
|
Starling |
10 |
|
Dunnock |
9 |
|
Blackcap |
8 |
|
Woodpigeon |
8 |
|
Blackbird |
8 |
|
Robin |
7 |
|
Spotted
Flycatcher |
7 |
|
Wheatear |
5 |
|
Magpie |
5 |
|
Goldfinch |
4 |
|
Garden
Warbler |
2 |
|
Reed Warbler |
2 |
|
Song
Thrush |
1 |
|
Blue Tit |
1 |
|
House
Sparrow |
1 |
|
Chaffinch |
1 |
|
Brambling
|
1 |
|
Grey
Wagtail |
1 |
|
Sedge
Warbler |
1 |
|
Greenfinch |
1 |
|
Redstart |
1 |
|
Total |
194 |
 |
| Fledgling Great Tit |