Sunday 5th July 2009

These maps include all 2008 SOS records, as well as 2008 TTV, Birdtrack and roving records. The maps do not include ANY records from Garden Birdwatch, the BBS, the nest record scheme or the ringing scheme. These records will be incorporated at a later date.

GOLDFINCH – First breeding season (Apr – Jul 2008) provisional distribution map.

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Goldfinch is one of the later nesting small birds, locating its nest high up in deciduous trees and therefore waiting until early May when leaves are fully opened out before starting to nest. By now family groups of Goldfinches with young still dependent on adults should be about (FL = confirmed breeding). In 2008 Goldfinch was recorded in 44% of Sussex tetrads, but confirmed breeding was only recorded in 7% of tetrads, so do look out for family groups over the coming couple of weeks.

SHOVELER – First breeding season (Apr – Jul 2008) provisional distribution map.

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Shovelers lay their eggs from mid-April to early June, so look out for ducklings with their mothers over the coming weeks (FL = confirmed breeding). The majority of Shoveler records so far are of presence only, with records from only 0.8% of tetrads showing any breeding status, and breeding confirmed in only one tetrad.

DARTFORD WARBLER – First breeding season (Apr – Jul 2008) provisional distribution map.

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First clutches of Dartford Warbler eggs are usually laid in May, and birds are probably now on second clutches. Look out for young birds still dependent on adults (FL = confirmed breeding), and for birds entering apparent nest sites low in heather or gorse (N = probable breeding), or in the coming weeks collecting food for young (FF= confirmed breeding). So far breeding has only been confirmed in 25% of the tetrads where Dartford Warbler has been recorded.

Not sure of what the various breeding status codes are? Click here:
www.bto.org/birdatlas/taking_part/bevidence.htm