Went for my annual May circuit earlier this morning, which I've been walking for nearly twenty years, I think. As I have mentioned on the blog previously, clearance of mature conifers at both ends of the forest has created large clearings which are now maturing fast. This has presumably benefited some species but not others.
Singing males with last year in brackets.
Blackcap 22(19) Garden Warbler 17(5) Willow Warbler 23(19) Chiffchaff 39(32) Pied Flycatcher 6(7) Tree Pipit 1(1) Spotted Flycatcher 1(0)
The counts for Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Garden Warbler were all site records for me personally. The Spotted Fly was a nice bonus.
There was a report of several Wood Warblers yesterday but I only heard 3 this morning. This compares to 6 last year and a low of only 1 in 2020. Prior to the conifer clearances there was a high of 11 in 2017.