Paul W has put a big effort in helping me recently and this week the second brood Tree Sparrows have hit top form. Over the two sessions we ringed 151 nestling Tree Sparrows. Spotted Flycatchers are declining and we do not ring their nestlings every year but on 1st we ringed three broods totalling 10 nestlings which means 15 for the year and a record for us, I think this increase is not a real increase but more a reflection of our improved connections across the county. One of the Spotted Flycatcher nests was on a window ledge of a bathroom and so we ringed them in the bathroom which is a first for me.
On Thursday I helped out with a farm walk with the Marlborough Downs Nature Improvement Area and at the BBQ afterwards I put up Tree Sparrow nest box number 1000 with the help of the landowners daughter.
We have also ringed the following other nestlings: Linnet 10, Swallow 10, Pied Wagtail 4, Kestrel 2, Collared Dove, Stock Dove.
The nest recording efforts of the group have been superb this year and we will once again be among the major contributors of nest records to the BTOs Nest Record Scheme. MP, PW