Completed my round of second BBS and WBBS visits yesterday. A few musings.
Good to see
Goosander with c10 young at Pont Llanio and also Mute Swans with young on the
WBBS. Both species' nests were washed away a couple of years ago in
floods.
But
Sandmartins absent again. I was curious to see exactly when the last records
were - the data revealed that they were last seen seen June 2020 (13) and prior
to that 2019 (6), 2018 (7), 2017 (7), 2014 (6).
I had two
Willow Tits (calling) 29 Apr 2021 but none in 2022 or 2023 (and none prior to
that by myself or previous recorders).
But I did note
that Sedge Warbler had been recorded in 2015, a Dipper in 2014 and a Common
Sandpiper in 2016 (April) - none of which I've recorded since I took over in
2019!
But given that
other more regular observers have found, eg, Willow Tit and Marsh Tit, it does
show how comparatively short twice yearly survey visits do not necessarily
provide a complete picture. Although statistically sound obviously.
Ian
Harrison