Sunday 21st February 2010

These maps include all SOS, TTV, Birdtrack and roving records from the first two winter Atlas periods, November 2007-February 2008 and November 2008-February 2009, with the exception of most SOS records for 2009. Garden BirdWatch records only from the period November/December 2007 are included. These maps do not incorporate any records from this winter (November 2009 to date).

COAL TIT – First two winter seasons provisional distribution map.

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In the first two winter seasons Coal Tit was recorded in 52% of the county’s tetrads, but there are still quite a few gaps that we would expect to see filled on the map above. This is a good time of the year to record Coal Tits as they are now becoming quite vocal. Listen out for their distinctive seechu-seechu call in suburban gardens and in all types of woodland.

MARSH TIT – First two winter seasons provisional distribution map.

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Marsh Tit was recorded in 29.8% of the county’s tetrads in the first two winter seasons. This is another tit that is calling well now – it has a distinctive pitchew pitchew call (but beware Great Tits and even Coal Tits imitating this call!). It is found in broad-leaved woods (particularly oak or beech woods), parkland, well-wooded farms and rural gardens.

LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER – First two winter seasons provisional distribution map.

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Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was recorded in 2.7% of the county’s tetrads during the first two winter seasons. This is an easily overlooked species, little bigger than a Nuthatch. Look out for it in any broad-leaved wood, and especially listen out for it drumming. It drums frequently, and with a slower and longer drum (1.2 to 1.8 seconds versus 0.4 to 0.8 seconds) than the Great Spotted Woodpecker.