July & August 2007
This has been the worst breeding season I can remember for Reed and Sedge Warblers. The incredibly heavy and sustained
rains created havoc, drowning most of the young warblers in their nests. Nestboxes fared no better as cold wet weather
set in as the parents were attempting to feed their broods, Bluetits and Great Tits were badly effected.
Those who live in this area can appreciate how bad the rains were. If you are from outside the area, perhaps the damage
done to the nearby Severn Valley Railway will illustrate the disaster. Miles of the railway track were washed away, leaving
the track suspended in mid air in places. Over £2 million damage was caused and it will be at least Eastertime before a service
will be able to travel from Highley to Bridgnorth, just 8 miles.
September & October 2007
On a positive note, more swallows used the phragmites reedbed at Chelmarsh to roost before making their southward journey.
This may however be due to the poor growth in the surrounding Sweetcorn crops, where the swallows have favoured the last few
years.
As the weather is turning colder, good numbers of Reed Buntings and Starlings have started to roost in the phragmites beds,
together with small numbers of wagtails.
On the 27th.October we caught and ringed 2 Jacksnipe, one of my favourite species.
November & December 2007
The feeding station was set up as the roosts diminished. Catches were well below normal with tit species being the worst,
reflecting their poor breeding season. Normally, the majority of tit species caught and ringed at this time of the
year are juveniles. During these two months this year, 65% of Blue Tits, and 68% of Great Tits, were adults which shows the
effect on their breeding success the devastating local weather had.
Towards the end of the year, the weather became colder and the Water Rails took advantage of the feeding stations, 6 being
trapped and ringed during the last 2 weeks of the year. Siskin and redpoll also started to use the feeding station behind
the 'old' hide.
