Hi all,
Let me start by wishing you all a happy and healthy year ahead in 2022. This last year has been another most unusual one, both socially and environmentally. Although the recent tropical conditions have blocked any opportunities for ringing over the festive season, it has at least given me the time to input the last of our data and compile this report.
To give a high level summary of 2021, we operated 36 ringing sessions during the year, down 2 on the previous year, which is impressive considering I took an extended break from work during 2020 which meant I had much more time available to ring (lockdowns notwithstanding). In both 2020 and 2021, no ringing took place during January and February. In 2020 this was due to a combination of bad weather, ill-health and a two week ringing expedition to the Gambia, while in 2021, this was due to strict lockdown measures meaning that we could not travel without good reason.
Overall, we processed 1572 birds of 52 species, 1269 of which were newly ringed. This was down 183 on the previous year's processing totals but was our most species diverse year ever, up two on the 2020 tally of 50 species. We added several new species to the Linford ringing list including black-headed gull, green sandpiper, jackdaw, mute swan, oystercatcher, and tree pipit bringing the all-time total to 69 species ringed. Other new records of seldom ringed birds included 2 barn owls, a siberian chiffchaff, a common tern, 6 cuckoos, 3 lesser whitethroat, 2 marsh tits, a mistle thrush, 2 skylarks, 4 snipe, 3 sparrowhawks, 2 water rails and a yellow wagtail.
Species that had record breaking years in terms of newly ringed birds included blackcaps with 189 (+8.6% vs 2020), garden warblers with 42 (+110% vs 2019), great spotted woodpeckers with 9 (+28.6% vs 2014), kingfishers with 12 (+50% vs 2015), meadow pipits with 40 (+2.6% vs 2020) and reed warblers with a whopping 172 (+36.5% vs 2020).
Species that had noticeable declines in ringed numbers included blue tits with 151 (-34.3% vs 2018), bullfinches with just 1 (-92.9% vs 2015), great tits with 41 (-68.7 vs 2018), goldcrests with 9 (-76.3% vs 2017), long-tailed tits with 36 (-47.1% vs 2019) and wrens with 23 (-50% vs 2016). Greenfinches were just about hanging on with 8 ringed (-80% vs 2018) and this was the first year since we started ringing at Linford that we did not ring a single chaffinch (a max of 17 were ringed in 2017).
It should be noted that while this data is not based on a constant effort (ie placing the same amount of nets in the same places at the same times over the year) these trends do seem to reflect the national picture. It is clear that climate change is having a significant impact on our bird life with some species benefitting and other species struggling to adapt to these unpredictable conditions.
A couple of positive notes to end on, we had our first successful breeding pair of sand martins occupying the "Sand Castle." During 2021, they raised two broods of 5 and 3 chicks, all of which were ringed and will hopefully return to grow the colony in a couple of months from now. Regular readers will also know that I have a special interest in cuckoos, another species which is declining nationally but still seem to be doing well at Linford and the surrounding complex of lakes. During 2021 we ringed 6 new birds and retrapped 4, including the very first individual to be ringed at Linford back in 2017. This bird was hatched prior to 2016 making it at least 6 years old, while the record for the longest lived wild cuckoo (as proven by ringing) stands at 6 years, 11 months and 2 days. Obviously we are all wishing for his safe return in 2022!
2021 was another very succesful year in terms of the sheer volume of data we have been able to gather and this would not have been possible without the contributions of a great many people. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Martin, Carla and everyone at the Parks Trust for their continued support, for allowing us the privilege of ringing in some of MKs best wildlife sites and for all the work they do to preserve them.
Thanks are also due to Friends of Linford Lakes Nature Reserve for all their efforts to keep everything looking beautiful and welcoming for the benefit of all visitors. Special thanks go to Tony for his tireless efforts to protect the site from the ever present threat of encroaching development.
Thanks to all the Linford permit holders who contribute to the ongoing maintenance of the site and the crucially important task of recording all the flora and fauna.
I also have to thank Martin and Margaret for putting up with all the clattering and chattering at times when I am sure they would really rather be sleeping!
Of course it goes without saying (but I'm saying it anyway) a massive thank you is due to all of the ringers, trainees and helpers who have made the trip to Linford to support a session, sometimes from considerable distances, and almost always at truly irrational times of the morning, none of this would have been possible without your assistance. First and foremost I have to take my hat off to Keith who has suffered through hypothermia, heatstroke, numerous injuries and still somehow wants to keep coming back for more. Huge thanks also go to Helen for the many breakfast deliveries, excellent conversation and calming presence in stressful times. To Richard for always seeming to turn up just in the nick of time. To Sally for agreeing to be my first official trainee (I apologise in advance for what you have let yourself in for!). To Chris for all the encouragement and support. To all the Hilfield regulars who have made the trip up north, Jack, Simon, Verity, Josh, it's always lovely to see you, don't be a stranger! John W and John B, thanks for taking time out from Stortons! Sarah and Neil, thanks for the assistance at Nature Day! Elliott, I wish you every success in your future birding career!
And last but by no means least, thanks to everyone else who carried a pole, wound up a peg, took a great photo or just shared a good story, Michelle, Nick & Claire, Ann, Di, Langton, and anyone else I may have missed (don't hate me!)
Here's hoping for a 2022 that is somewhat closer to the old normal than the new normal.
Cheers and best wishes,
Kenny
