Sunday 11th July 2010

These maps include all 2008 and 2009 SOS breeding records, as well as all TTV, Birdtrack and roving records from the first two Atlas breeding season periods. They do not include ANY records from the 2010 breeding season. No BTO Garden BirdWatch data are included, and whilst some WeBS data (those which are attributable to a 1-km square) and 2008 and 2009 BBS data are included, such data do not include breeding evidence. Therefore we would ask that you put in separate roving records, with breeding evidence, for any breeding species that you see whilst in your garden or during a BBS or WeBS count. These maps do not include any records from the nest record scheme or the ringing scheme (some of these records will be incorporated at a later date) and .

HOUSE MARTIN – First two breeding seasons provisional distribution map.

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House Martin has been recorded in 477 tetrads with breeding confirmed in 126, which is probably understated.  Now is an excellent time of the year to obtain breeding confirmation for House Martins (and for Swifts - see Map of the Week for 30 May). Look out for numbers of House Martins flying around buildings and for them flying up under the eaves of buildings. Nests are sometimes not that easy to see if the roof has a particularly large overhang, so you may have to look closely to spot them. Use the code ON if you find apparently occupied nests, and the code NY if you see or hear young in the nest. Also look out for nearby fledged young sitting on overhead wires being occasionally fed by adults (FL).  All these codes denote confirmed breeding.
 

SPARROWHAWK – First two breeding seasons provisional distribution map.

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Sparrowhawk has so far been recorded in 370 tetrads, but in only a tenth of these has breeding been confirmed, so there is plenty of scope to upgrade breeding evidence. Young should be fledging about now, and they can be pretty noisy when they are about to leave the nest (NY) and remain noisy when have left, often calling and following the mother around as she tries to hunt for food (FL).  Fledged young remain in family groups for up to 4 weeks so you should be able to gather evidence of confirmed breeding into early August.

REDSHANK – First two breeding seasons provisional distribution map.

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After two breeding seasons Redshank has been recorded in 66 tetrads, with breeding confirmed in 10 of them.  (At the end of the first breeding season the numbers were 54 and six, respectively, so fresh breeding evidence is still being collected.) Look out for young birds still dependent on adults (FL), but also look out for birds apparently heading into probable nests hidden in grass tussocks (N = probable breeding) and for distraction displays/feigning injury to lead you away from the nest site or young (DD).  Both FL and DD denote confirmed breeding.
 

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