July 2014

Many sites welcomed the number of birds that were around this month and the July total of 1,431 (768 Runnymede RG; 663 Maple Cross RG) bears this out.

Excluding pulli, which vary greatly from year to year, 1,384 birds were ringed, comparing well with 1,486 in 2010 but short of the 1,743 in 2011, our best recent years (an example of regression toward the mean).

Grasshopper Warbler (J Hewitt)

49 species appear on July's list (40 Runnymede RG; 36 Maple Cross RG) with the first Yellow Wagtail since 2009 (Stanwellmoor) and a Grasshopper Warbler at Wraysbury. Grey Wagtail featured at Broadwater and a Stonechat at Chobham where there were also 3 Nightjars and another at Black Park.

With full access to reed beds now, Reed Warblers at 179 challenged Blue Tit (210) for top species with Blackcap 141 and Chiffchaff 105 also over the ton. Sedge Warblers have occurred in lower numbers in recent years and 26 was a nice total for this species, especially as this included several adults.