Returns from four of our lowland nest box schemes suggest an exceptional year for blue and great tits.
After the cold winter we rather expected a decline in breeding populations and there was a small decline in great tits from 53 occupied nest boxes in 2009 to 46 this year. Blue tits on the other hand increased from 34 to 38 pairs, Now doubt the proximity of these four schemes to winter feeding stations helped them survive the winter. Early returns from our upland schemes suggest a small decline in both species.
Despite the cold dry spring clutch sizes were normal. Although in a few cases there was a short gap in the laying cycle which is most unusual. Brood sizes have been very high and they seem to have grown and feathered very quickly.
One unusual event was the finding of a young blue tit in a brood of 6 great tits. It was as far advanced as is larger siblings when ringed.
John Wilson
1 comment:
John's comments fit in with my experience from Roeburndale: Great Tits up from last year (14 pairs this year, 9 in 2009), Blue Tits up (17 against 7 in 2009) and even better, Pied Flycatcher up from 17 to 21 pairs
Paul
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