The Lincolnshire Bird Club

There were an unprecedented number of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers at Occupation Lane, Walesby this morning and last night. I ringed a total of 34 Chiffchaffs and 21 Willow Warblers together with 8 Blackcaps and a Lesser Whitethroat, all of which were juveniles! I would estimate that there were at least 120 phylloscs feeding on the woodland edge - never seen as many in 35 years ringing at the site

High juv Chiffchaff numbers I would certainly expect and have been predicting such for a couple of months. Like yourself Stuart I do not remember hearing so many singing Chiffchaffs in the areas that I cycle and walk in.
Willow Warblers are another matter. Numbers in the same areas seem to be well down - wonder where they are from? High numbers of singing Blackcaps this year. Also highest remembered numbers of Yellow Wagtails breeding - they seem to have gone for nesting in cereal fields more than ever on the Wolds.

On the wet Heath I have surveyed annually for FE since 1998 CC numbers went from a consistent 1-2 terrs during 98-2010 to 13 this year: WW number have gone down generally but this year were up amazingly to 43 terrs: round Barton pits CC was a very rare breeder in the 80's but is now much more common than WW but there have been lots of juvs passing through this week. It's also been a good year up here for YW with the most recorded for 10 years mainly in winter wheat

Agreed Graham - Yellow Wags all in winter wheat which had hardly grown in early spring this year. Birds started breeding quickly and left territories very soon after chicks fledged as wheat height increased. I had five pairs along a three mile walk that I do several times a week so was able to monitor them.

My regular cycle route from Seaview via Elm House farm 180 acres wet grassland HLS , and several
cattle grazed pasture fields and c 200 acres of winter wheat around Theddlethorpe, I only recorded 1 pair of YW .
Lots of fresh plumage WW passing through Theddlethorpe dunes, but breeding territories
have been declining for several years,( but have not done a CBC since 2014)

regards John

All your findings mirror mine. At Occupation Lane in 1988 the ration of Willow Warblers ringed compared to Chiffchaffs was about 12:1. In recent years it has been about 1:10 and mirrored at other sites in the Mid-Lincs RG area.