Nest boxes 2026

The breeding season was not particularly noteworthy, and the boxes had limited occupancy. The spread of laying/hatching times (within species) were well spread, with delayed chick development and relatively poor productivity. Several nesting attempts failed, and other broods lost some of the chicks, possibly a result of the very hot May weather affecting food availability. Occupancy of boxes with wasp nests was higher than usual.

Occupancy of the various box "colonies" as follows -

Reed bed 2 - just 2 boxes occupied (Blue Tit and Great Tit), but with high water levels, and cattle trampling (limited grass growth in the adjacent field left the cows relying on the sedge bed), access to the boxes became increasingly problematic, and visits had to be abandoned before any ringing was possible.

Shelterbelt - 6 boxes occupied (Pied Flycatcher 2, Redstart 1, Blue Tit 1, Great Tit 2.

Cathedine - 11 boxes occupied (Pied Flycatcher 4, Redstart 1, Blue Tit 3, Great Tit 2, Treecreeper 1 - this is the first time that this species has used one of our boxes, so it is disappointing that it was probably robbed of its eggs.

Sorgwm - 10 boxes occupied (Pied Flycatcher 3, Blue Tit 2, Great Tit 3, Nuthatch 2. Only one visit to these boxes was possible, by when some broods had already fledged, but several others were too small to ring. Because of bramble growth during the last two years (in the "woodland" part of the site), some boxes could not be located.

The nest box ringing totals were amongst the lowest we have ever had, with only 50 rings used (5 Pied Flycatcher adults were recaptures of birds ringed in previous years, though one was a control). Summary - Pied Flycatcher 4 + (5) adults plus 20 pulli, Redstart 7 pulli, Blue Tit 2 adult and 16 pulli, Great Tit 1 adult.