Working this interim study up, it is highly likely there will be thousands of pairs of Tree Spugs in Old Durham, not just hundreds

This ought to come as no surprise to those keen fieldworkers & conservationists who have nurtured this species for decades🎯👍🏻

4/4

*NB* The last Durham population figure we read was an estimate of between 400 & 700 pairs in the County.

Whilst juvenile mortality can be as high as 85% in the first year, I think we can be a bit more optimistic about the numbers & extent of range.

3/4

Whilst there may be some duplication & movement of birds between locations, figures at selected sites were similar in both October & November.

Max day count in NZ34 was 214 & largest flock located 124.

2/4

We had one singing in town as soon as the snow stopped this morning.
Been the odd one tuning up since Oct - I think this is a reaction to marauding Scandinavians at this time isn’t it ? 🧐😊👍🏻

Great observation & information
Acer campestre wasn’t a common sight in our region, but there are 1,000’s busy maturing in amenity planting schemes & community woodlands.
It will be interesting to see how they develop
& will watch for Greenfinch taking advantage.
(Greenies doing quite well here)

As it stands 16/11/25 for Tree Spugs
x207 1km registrations
In x121 Tetrads
from x24 10km squares

5 months left to map the winter distribution as accurately as possible 🎯🤓👍🏻

Great bit of patching 🎯

Which moors do you study ?

Every bit of brightness is welcome in those short dark days 😊👍🏻
We’ve had a couple tuning up locally just in the last week.
Great to hear, really cheery & reminds us of brighter days to come

Just a pencilled in record for now then…
You can go over it in pen next time 😀
We’d get an unexpected high flying record between tributaries about every 2-3 years
It’s a “I know that call” but it takes a second or 2 for the penny to drop 😄
Looking for any info on a BTO Whitburn record 10/5/2003 🧐

Small roost in Phragmites at ElbaPark at the weekend- at least 1 of them mimicking the Water Rails that live there.

A great record !
Quite a distinctive call !

They can & will move overland away from any watercourses contrary to literature.

Since the last Atlas the Dipper in VC66 has come on tremendously, breeding in x7 new Hectads & at least x64 additional Tetrads (22% & 44% increases).
🙂

3/3
There were active nests at the back end of 2024 & into early part of this year, but not a particularly busy season.
We tend to start our breeding Crossbill searches in early December, so it’s not too long before the season starts over.
Collage by TonyMigwire 🪺

2/3
The vast majority have moved South 72 or South West 11, with 3 moving North, 21 heading West & 7 North West.
Not surprisingly none moving East.
October has been the best month with 26 birds on 10 days.

Well done
& get Lotto on 😀👍🏻

Found Another one ! 🎯👍🏻