The Lincolnshire Bird Club

I processed 21 new and 6 re-trap Blue Tits at Kirmond le Mire today whilst another ringer processed 47 new Blue Tits and 4 re-traps in a Muckton garden - such numbers are unprecedented at the sites in one session.

Stuart, we have also been experiencing unprecedented number of Blue Tits in Bob Sheppard's garden at Bourne this winter, and had assumed they had just done well locally with some new nest boxes erected last winter in the adjacent wood. At the end of October we ringed 50 and retrapped 7 one day and then ringed another 50 with 7 retrapped the following week-end. In all we ringed over 300 Blue Tits there at the end of 2011. Amongst these, were three birds ringed in 2003/04 and had not been seen since - so no idea where these have been hiding for 7 or 8 years! (the British record is 9yrs 9 months).

Be interesting to know if it's a Lincolnshire thing or whether theres lots nationally.

Alan

Just another observation re. Blue tit numbers; at work, Hill Holt Wood, Norton Disney, i have a couple of small feeders outside my office window and i have recently observed up to 30 tits, predominently Blue with some Great and Coal, on and around them at the same time. I have had an interest in birds for over 35 years and can't ever remember seeing so many Blue tits at once, i wonder if it is nationwide, perhaps the garden birdwatch will give an indication.

Oliver.