BTO
Report June 2006
The main interest at this time of year is the breeding success of our
birds. It has been a mixed breeding season for many species, with the
heavy rain at the end of May and early June washing out nests in some
areas and
making it more difficult for adults to find food for their chicks.
Great Tits are re-laying in some areas suggesting failed first breeding attempts. House Martins have been late to breed in many areas and BirdTrack recorders have reported birds just recently arriving at breeding sites. Barn Owls and Tawny Owls are also having late breeding seasons in many areas. The discovery of a singing Scops Owl in the village of Thrupp in Oxfordshire was most unusual. It was first heard in late May and heard regularly throughout June and is still present at the time of writing. Scops Owls are small cryptic plumaged owls from Southern Europe and are very rare visitors to Britain and Ireland.
The third meeting
of the BirdTrack Working Group was held on 3 June. The group is comprised
of county recorders and data managers and helps to prioritise the development
work within BirdTrack for the benefit of
birdwatchers and bird clubs. The minutes of the meeting can be read at:
http://www.bto.org/birdtrack/bird_recording/btwg_home.htm
Those of you walking
Scotland's Munros and Corbetts before the end of August may like to think
about recording your Ptarmigan sightings (and lack of) on a Project Ptarmigan
form for BTO Scotland. Results will be
fed into Project Ptarmigan to gain more understanding of the distribution
and abundance of this special montane bird. Please see http://www.bto.org/survey/special/ptarmigan/index.htm
for more details
and to download recording forms, or contact Robin Anderson at BTO
Scotland on 01786 466 560 (email: robin.anderson@bto.org).
During the next month
also look out for waders on passage. At this time of year adults that
have failed to breed in the high Arctic will be returning and many will
be in fine summer plumage. Waders such as Green Sandpipers, Knot, Curlew
Sandpipers and Ruff regularly turn up at inland water bodies as well as
coastal sites.
As always, if you have any problems with BirdTrack please contact us as
soon as possible by email at birdtrack@bto.org