Visited my two smaller woods which are part of our RAS project on this species. These woods along the upper Lune valley have seen a marked increase in numbers using our nest boxes over the past two years.
Prior to 2011 we never had more than two pairs in both woods, but last year both woods had five pairs and this year one has six pairs and the other five pairs. Ringing of the adults has shown excellent survival. At one wood we ringed all five males in 2011. This year we managed to catch four males and three of them were returns from last year. Similarly for females with two out of four caught this year being returning birds.This wood is rather unusual for Pied Flycatchers, not the usual mainly mature Oak woods they seem to prefer elsewhere in the area but it is a mature alder wood.
On our last visit all 11 nests had broods of healthy looking young, only hope that the forcasted bad weather of the next two days has no bad effect.
At the end of the season Kevin Briggs is collecting Pied Flycatchers nests to see what materials they use. Will be interesting to find if nests from the alder wood vary from the Oak woods in their composition. Many thanks to Pete Woodruff and Sheila and Mac Cooper for help in recording these woods.
John
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