Monday 20 January 2020

BBSG Recording Area Breeding Priority Species 2019


Not sure if this is worth doing each year but at least it gives a heads-up on what is happening with some of our more scarce species. These results are taken from this Blog and from Twitter throughout the breeding season and then put onto a master spreadsheet. As always, a few records will not have been passed over for various reasons but at least we have some meaningful records.

Pochard - up to 18 males and a smaller number of females but this year only 3 successful broods.
Grey Partridge - always difficult to record in the breeding season but at least 10 coveys in autumn.
Ringed Plover - 3 pair.
Little Ringed Plover - at least 8 pair.
Redshank - at least 4 pair.
Cuckoo - 7 males recorded (4 lowland and 3 upland habitats).
Merlin - 3 to 4 territories.
Cetti's Warbler - at least 10 territories.
Grasshopper Warbler - 5 territories.
Willow Tit - 45 territories.
Ring Ouzel - 5 to 6 territories.
Yellow Wagtail - 8 territories.
Lesser Redpoll - 8 to 10 territories.

Pochard down from last year, Cuckoo becoming worrying, Cetti's nearly doubling each year, a drop in Grasshopper Warbler, Willow Tit a 50% drop in 5 years, Yellow Wagtail up slightly and Lesser Redpoll about the same (but overlooked?).

To my knowledge there were no Lesser Spotted Woodpecker records, Whinchat, Wood Warbler or Corn Bunting. No records for Tree Pipit but must have been seen at Wharncliffe, the usual site. In due course Martin Wells will have a few more records passed over and hopefully add into these.

Thanks for all of your input

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