The Lincolnshire Bird Club

A morning ringing session produced the following - all but 5 were juvenile birds.
Wren 5
Dunnock 3
Blackbird 2
Les. Whitethroat 1
Whitethroat 3
Blackcap 1
Chiffchaff 13
Goldcrest 4
Coal Tit 10
Blue Tit 6
Treecreeper 1
Chaffinch 1
Bullfinch 3

Also seen on adjacent recently harvested pea field 260 Rooks, 45 Jackdaws, 32 Wood Pigeons and 2 Magpies.

Were you surprised at the lack of Willow Warblers Stuart?

Roy

In a word, Roy, the answer is no. To elaborate, when I started ringing there in 1983 no compartments of Willingham Forest had been clear felled. I ran a Constant Effort Site at Occupation Lane from 1988 to 1997 and the average capture rate of Willow Warblers was 44. Around that time, large swathes of the Forest, including Walesby Moor, started to be clear felled resulting in large areas being re-planted. The newly planted clear fell areas and the accompanying birch scrub became a far more attractive breeding area for the species. Although the amount of effort was less, the average capture rate at Occupation Lane from 2000 to present is 13 - only one was ringed last year and only one so far this year! In general I think Willow Warblers are definitely declining in the area and the successive habitat change has led to Chiffchaffs being by far the most numerous phylloscopus warbler at the site.