After an excellent April, May has proved to be a bit of a let down with only 438 new birds ringed compared to last years 527, against a best ever total of 687 back in 2022.The reason for this drop in numbers can be put down to the lack of success with our nest boxes. We have had large numbers of nest boxes predated this year which has resulted in about a 50% reduction in Great Tit pulli and 66% reduction in Blue Tits.
Other than that, adult numbers are about the same as usual, except for Lesser Whitethroat; we are yet to catch one this year and by now we are usually in double figures, which is a bit concerning. On the plus side, we seem to have two pairs of breeding Grasshopper Warblers, a species which has not bred at Stanford since 2021.
A very welcome surprise for 2026!
However, the undoubted highlight of the month was a Nightingale, caught on the 23rd May in the woods behind the rail-track ringing station, the first since 1994 and only the second ringed on site.
The other bit of good news is that after floating out two more tern rafts late last month we have Common Terns breeding on all three and for the first time, a Black-headed Gull has bred on the reservoir and has thus far hatched its eggs. Fingers crossed. On the Leicester side, Water Rail took up residence in the large reed bed and have presumably bred. If so this will only be the second time they have been recorded breeding.
MJT