September 2014

Good weather and extra activity at Wraysbury and Tythebarns gave a welcome total of 1,294 new birds (924 Runnymede RG; 370 Maple Cross RG).

Blackcaps were the most numerous species totalling 370 (including 198 Wraysbury, 108 Tythebarns and 24 at both Hilfield and Bedfont) followed by Chiffchaff at 198 (including 76 Tythebarns, 52 Wraysbury, 36 Chobham and 19 Broadwater).

Meadow Pipits also featured highly at 105 (57 Hilfield, 31 Chobham and 20 Bedfont) and Goldfinch made a healthy 80 (mostly at Wraysbury).

A total of 45 species were ringed (37 Runnymede RG: 29 Maple Cross RG) with the premier being a Wryneck at Wraysbury. Tree Pipit appeared at Chobham, Grey Wagtail at Windsor and Redstart at Wraysbury, with Tree Sparrow and Yellowhammer at Willows.

Adult Wryneck at Wraysbury (C Hunter Roach)

Recent Recoveries

A Pied Wagtail we ringed at Bricket Wood in December 2010 was caught again, this May, 300 miles north in Peebles in the Scottish Borders.

August 2014

Another month of high totals giving 1,603 new birds (1,013 Runnymede RG; 590 Maple Cross RG). The Maple Cross total was their highest ever for August whilst RRG was only surpassed in 2010 and 2004.

Hobby (C & D Lambsdell)

Warblers took the top three places with 365 Blackcaps, 169 Whitethroats and 145 Reed Warblers. Garden Warblers did well at 91 as did Sedge Warblers with 40. 

Most amazing though, were 72 Willow Warblers – 53 of them at Broadwater; it is over four years since we had more than 50 a month.

There was a marvellous range of species, 42 in all, with Maple Cross producing the lion’s share – a Hobby and 2 Sparrowhawks at Broadwater, Redstarts at Hilfield and Milton Keynes; 3 Spotted Flycatchers at Hilfield and 9 Tree Sparrows at Willows, whilst Wraysbury had 4 Linnets and an unseasonal Redpoll.

Recoveries began to trickle through again including a Meadow Pipit in Bordeaux, France and a Common Redpoll just about as far north on the British mainland as it could get at Shebster, by Thurso.

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.

June 2014

Robin (D Harris)

June totals often vary widely dependant on the number of pulli available but this month’s total of 1019 (449 Runnymede RG; 570 Maple Cross RG) has the largest number of full-grown birds (986) since 2006.

46 species were ringed (38 Runnymede; 33 Maple Cross) with 2 House Martins at Windsor, a Mistle Thrush at Wraysbury and a Grey Wagtail at Hilfield being the highlights.

House Martin (C Hunter Roach)

It is only a couple of years since we tried for 10 Cetti’s Warblers in a year; here we have 8 in a month! There was our first Nightjar of the year, 3 Kingfisher, 19 House Sparrow, 9 Tree Sparrow and a Linnet for good measure.

Blue Tit was top species at 135 followed by Blackcap at 107 but it was the number of Robins that caused comment – 78 compared to a 5-year June mean of 39.

Pulli numbers were low this month due to the ‘late running’ of the Bedfont gulls and terns and predation of Swallow nests at Tythebarns.

A female Reed Warbler caught at Windsor was ringed last August just north of Lisbon, Portugual - 1,400km away.

May 2014

As is to be expected, totals soared this month with over 959 birds ringed (438 Runnymede RG; 521 Maple Cross RG), the highest May total since 2006. Pulli were a major component at 462 (186; 276) mostly Blue Tit (351) and Great Tit (107) but also 3 House Sparrows and a Lapwing chick. 

Elsewhere, CES sessions started with early indications of a good season for juveniles and the usual mixed fortunes for resident and migrant species. High water levels persisted at Bedfont and Stanwellmoor with only 3 new Reed Warbler against 17 in 2013 and returning birds only 2 against 25 in 2013.

In gardens, the arrival of juvenile Starlings and their parents raised them to third place behind Blue and Great Tits with 97 ringed whilst Blackcap and Robin followed with 54 and 52 respectively.

April 2014

Despite generally good weather this month the poor days did seem to fall on planned sessions so 235 new birds (127 Runnymede RG; 108 Maple Cross RG) was a reasonable total. We probably missed out on some migrants later in the month but still achieved 30 species with highlights of a Tree Pipit and a Firecrest at Wraysbury, Stock Dove at Tythebarns and Sparrowhawk at Hilfield.

Only Reed Warbler was missing from our usual warbler lineup with Blackcap making top numbers of 49. Five Robins at Tythebarns opened the pulli season.

March 2014

With many sites saturated and very muddy it took some opportunistic ringing to reach 279 new birds (154 Runnymede RG; 125 Maple Cross RG) of 31 species. The species quality was high with  pride of place going to 2 Woodlarks at Chobham. Whilst not new to the Group species  list – pulli were ringed in 1986 and 1988 – these are the first full-grown birds to appear. 

Woodpecker box

Complementing these, a Skylark was ringed at Woolley Firs and 14 Meadow Pipits (3 Stanwellmoor; 11 Wooley Firs). A Snipe was testimony to the dampness at Stanwellmoor and a Yellowhammer at Woolley Firs took the winters total there to 12. Other nice species handled were Redwing at Hilfield and Woolley Firs with 6 Dartford Warbler and a Common Redpoll at Chobham. 

Southerly winds early in the month brought in some warblers with 9 Blackcap and the top total for the month – 34 Chiffchaff (15 Bedfont and 10 Hilfield).

A Woolley Firs nest boxes were repaired and additional boxes added including a Great Spotted Woodpecked box.