Bird Ringing and Nesting Records

Introduction
Following more than 30 years ringing at Weir Wood, Roy Sanderson’s  ringing role has been taken over by Phil Holland.  Alan Caulkett and Shaun Taylor are now responsible for managing the nestboxes.

2012 Ringing Recoveries
Stock Dove – nestling ringed Weir Wood 26-04-2011, found dead near Haywards Heath 29-07-2012, 8km SSW.
Reed Warbler – ringed Weir Wood 28-07-2009, controlled by another ringer Icklesham 03-08-2012, 54km ESE.

2014 Ringing Report Contributed by Phil Holland

Flying Pulli
Mallard  4 Read to fly assisted by Fishery staff food
Mandarin  3  20 Females at nest
Stock Dove  1  4 Study site nestboxes
Barn Owl An early brood of 3 fledged around 25th June and a second fledged 1 around 11th November
Kingfisher  5
Grey Wagtail  1  At dam while failing to catch Sandpipers
Blue Tit  6
Great Tit  2
Chiffchaff 13
Willow Warbler 2
Blackcap 22
Common Whitethroat 3 3 One pullus was retrapped 22 days later at reedbed. The nest was in Hemlock Water Dropwort
Reed Warbler 14 None were retrapped (4 adult, 10 young)
Sedge Warbler 3
Wren 1
Blackbird 3
Robin 4
Dunnock 2
Reed Bunting  1  3  Nest at north end of buoy rope in Meadowsweet
Total 90 30

 

There have been no recoveries reported in 2014. I only put mist nets up at Whillet’s this year – about 20 hours across July to mid September usually 160ft of net.

2014 Nestbox ReportContributed by Alan Caulkett and Shaun Taylor

Mandarin Barn Owl Stock Dove Blue Tit Great Tit
Total boxes 30 134
Boxes used 13 2 9 52
Nest incomplete 2
Not used 6 59
Wasps 0 0 0 0
Hornets 0 1 0 0
Mice 0 0 0 25
Eggs first recorded on 8th April 6th May 8th April 8th April 22nd April
Eggs counted 200 5 14
Boxes with fledglings 7 1 9 43
Birds fledged 80 4 18 153 73
Boxes predated ? ? ? 3
Boxes with failed eggs ? ? ? 3
Boxes not counted 0 0 0 4 *

 

 

 

* A Nuthatch was not monitored at the eggs/nestling stages. but an adult was seen carrying food to the box on 6th May 2014 and four young were subsequently seen to fledge from it.