Following the theme of this year, September 2023, was a significant improvement on last year. 461 birds ringed, of 30 species, compared to 401 last year. As we were lacking in the numbers of some commoner species, i.e. not a single starling ringed at all this month, compared to 11 last September it was surprising that the diversity of species remained almost the same. This was helped by the first red-backed shrike ringed here in several years, a wryneck and a nightingale turning up later than last year and higher representation of sedge and reed warbler.
Meadow pipits at 127 ringed were over twice the number caught last September, the weather has clearly been more favourable to their passage this year. Blackcap and chiffchaff numbers were also up, as were grey wagtail. Robin numbers remained low, as with the other months this year, though the presence of several singing birds makes a change from the springs dearth. Blackbirds also remained low, but hardly different to last year, where only 3 were recorded in September. We did however receive a Belgian ringed adult male and are awaiting feedback on its history, a significant recovery for a species doing so poorly here locally this year. Spotted flycatcher numbers were also identical to this month last year, a paltry one, reflective of the species decline in Britain.
|
Species |
No. ringed |
|
Meadow Pipit |
127 |
|
Blackcap |
90 |
|
Chiffchaff |
69 |
|
Grey Wagtail |
52 |
|
Blue Tit |
18 |
|
Robin |
14 |
|
Willow warbler |
13 |
|
Goldfinch |
12 |
|
Lesser Whitethroat |
8 |
|
Great Tit |
8 |
|
Dunnock |
8 |
|
Woodpigeon |
6 |
|
Whitethroat |
5 |
|
Reed Warbler |
5 |
|
Goldcrest |
3 |
|
Sedge Warbler |
3 |
|
Pied Flycatcher |
3 |
|
Sparrowhawk |
3 |
|
Wren |
2 |
|
Lesser Redpoll |
2 |
|
Garden warbler |
1 |
|
Nightingale |
1 |
|
Spotted Flycatcher |
1 |
|
Wryneck |
1 |
|
Blackbird |
1 |
|
Great Spotted Woodpecker |
1 |
|
Cetti's Warbler |
1 |
|
Red-backed Shrike |
1 |
|
House Sparrow |
1 |
|
Magpie |
1 |
|
Total |
461 |