Worcestershire Record No. 27 November 2009 pp. 31-32

Harry Green

BTO Regional Representative Worcestershire. Tel: 01386 710377 or email zen130501@zen.co.uk

The collection of data for this project is going well. By 13th November 2009 88533 records had been entered on the BTO Atlas web site for Worcestershire: 46970 Breeding season records and 41563 winter records. 267 observers have contributed towards these excellent totals averaging 331 records each, ranging from literally one record to 6004! 10 observers contributed over 1000 records.

As a reminder, the atlas records are collected for the Breeding season (beginning April to end July) and winter season (beginning November to end February) in two ways. Roving Records are literally observations made anywhere and the main aim is to build a complete list of species in each 10x10 km square of the National Grid for both winter and summer. Timed Tetrad Visits (TTVs) are recording visits to 2x2 km squares within a 10x10 km square, according to the standard grid, and counting the birds seen during either a one hour or a two hour visit. . The TTVs entail two visits to each tetrad in winter (early November & December, late January & February) and two in summer (early April & May, late June & July). These records are of course added to the 10x10 km species list but they also enable BTO to make population estimates for each species. The aim is to cover all 450 tetrads in BTO Worcestershire if possible, both winter and summer.

In addition, observers are encouraged to make evening or nocturnal visits in the breeding season to records owls, nightingales, water rails and maybe nightjars and quail)

Observers can submit records either on paper forms or on the Atlas web site (http://www.bto.org/birdatlas/). The use of the internet is making this an outstandingly efficient project as it is easy to submit records through the web site so they go directly on to the database. Paper records are still of course essential and valuable but these take longer to be entered. The web site also shows which tetrads are not surveyed and enables an observer to select those they would like to survey. As Regional Representative this information is sent to me so I can allocate the tetrads and confirm this with the observer.

One important part of the Breeding summer survey is to confirm breeding. Observations are allocated as either present with no evidence of breeding, or possible, or probable, or confirmed breeding. As the survey progresses the aim is to continually upgrade these categories, preferably to reach “confirmed” status. Instructions are given on the recording forms or the web site on the rules for allocating each category. These categories are of most interest on a 10x10 km square basis. As a plea can any reader who confirms breeding (nest, eggs, newly fledged young etc) please enter this as Roving Record on the web or paper form. Please don’t assume that somebody else has confirmed breeding of a common species

This species is declining rapidly both in Worcestershire and nationally. So far breeding has been suspected in six 10x10km squares, five with evidence of breeding: SO76 probable, SO86 probable, SO77 possible, SO87 possible, SO93 possible, none confirmed

Another declining species. Breeding suspected in only four 10x10 km squareS: SO77 confirmed, SO75 confirmed, SO84 confirmed, SP04 probable.

Turtle Doves are in serious decline nationally and locally. So far they have been recorded in summer in seven 10x10 km squares with possible breeding in SO84, SP04 and SP05 but no higher breeding status confirmed

This species is slowly increasing and spreading in England. So far it has been recorded in winter in four 10x10km squares: SO94, SO95, SO96 and SO83, and as probably breeding in SO83, SO94 and SO96. Full confirmation of breeding would be useful eg newly fledged young?

I know this species occurs regularly in winter on the Malvern Hills but so far only one winter record has been entered on the database for SO74, Malvern Hills, in November 2007. Additional records throughout the winter at tetrad level Could be usefully be entered as Roving Records.

Meadow Pipit

In winter this species has been recorded in all Worcestershire 10x10km squares. There are few breeding records and only in three 10x10km squares as might be expected with confirmed breeding only in SO74.

The table shows the numbers of both species and of records for each 10x10km square. The highest figures for both are in SO96 which of course contains Upton Warren Wetland Reserve. This is a well-watched site and I am most grateful to see all the records logged. Because the site attracts early and late passage migrants within the Atlas recording months the species numbers are high. Interestingly the adjacent square to the north SO97 is one of the poorly covered squares along with SO66 way out west! Records from these two squares would be particularly useful. The final number of species eventually recorded per square will of course be boosted if there are good wetland habitats..

Owl recording at 10x10km square level is surprisingly good (see table) although breeding confirmation is scarce. Please consider dusk or night visits. Nightingales have nearly vanished from Worcestershire (14 records in two southern squares so far) so any records will be useful. And we may have a Quail year – 11 records so far at opposite ends of the county in SO83 &SO87 - and these are often heard most clearly in late evening.

Help is still needed to complete Atlas work in Worcestershire. Filling in gaps in less well-covered squares is useful. Boosting breeding status is important. If you are web-savvy the species lists for each 10x10km square and each tetrad can be viewed on the Atlas web site together with breeding status for summer records. If you look at these you can see where records are missing and hopefully help plug the gaps by taking on a TTV or adding records through Roving Records. Please try to help make Atlas coverage for Worcestershire as complete as possible.