May 2023 saw 50 less birds ringed than 2022, and certain species weren't ringed at all, great tit and blue tit being the most surprising. Almost all species were down on last year with the exception of garden warbler which at 4 birds ringed was double last May's number, and blackcap which were over double last years total at 19. This is most likely because the influx of juvenile birds has not occurred yet, as the spring seems, at least here, to be later than last year. The first juvenile linnet and starling were only ringed this morning for example, when in 2022 both were into double figures by this point.
Wheatear numbers were significantly lower than last year, with only a couple of days of double figure records, none of which were in May. The ringing numbers were correspondingly low.
Spotted Flycatcher numbers were abysmally low compared to last year, with just a single bird ringed compared to 7 in May 2022. Perhaps they are late in, as the constant northerly winds will not help incoming migrants, but its quite possible that this will be the entirety of our spring records.
There was a first ringing record for Landguard with a 2nd year buzzard ringed on 22nd. This is not a species that was on the radar at all, as they scarcely occur over Landguard, still more rarely land on the reserve. This individual was harassed by the local corvids which almost certainly is the reason it was caught. It was also underweight and exhausted as we would expect, but after a nights roosting in the holm oaks, it flew strongly south.
|
Willow Warbler |
21 |
|
Linnet |
19 |
|
Blackcap |
19 |
|
Chiffchaff |
18 |
|
Whitethroat |
15 |
|
Lesser Whitethroat |
9 |
|
Woodpigeon |
6 |
|
Reed Warbler |
5 |
|
Garden Warbler |
4 |
|
Goldfinch |
3 |
|
Wren |
3 |
|
Blackbird |
2 |
|
Wheatear |
2 |
|
Dunnock |
1 |
|
Robin |
1 |
|
Magpie |
1 |
|
Spotted Flycatcher |
1 |
|
Starling |
1 |
|
Buzzard |
1 |