Tuesday 8 May 2012

Pied Flycatcher survery 2012 - 8th May 2012

I did my second Pied Flycatcher survey of the year today for the Nest Record Scheme with my mate Etienne. 14 active Pied Flycatcher nests were noted out of 49 boxes with extra birds singing by other boxes on the woodland hillside. It's very rewarding to look into boxes and see eggs being laid to produce one of the most beautiful British breeding birds. It's also a privilege to be able to be so close to the singing males and less so beautiful, however still lovely, females. We also noted 4 active Great Tit eggs and several singing Common Redstart, 1+ Common Cuckoo and a singing Tree Pipit. I was also lucky enough to find my very first Blackcap nest which was really rewarding after looking in endless bramble patches around Bangor.  
 
A male Pied Flycatcher guarding 1 of the 49 nest boxes in the woodland.
Pied Flycatcher nest with 2 eggs. (They usually have between 6-7 eggs, so this nest has only just started laying.)

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