Ivel Ringing Group Report No.5 - 1998-99

Contents Introduction Highlights of 1998 & 1999 Site Reports Annual Totals Recoveries and Controls Species reports CES sites in Bedfordshire The Natterjack Toad at Gamlingay (an extract from the Diaries of the Rev. Jennyns) Membership Acknowledgements

Cover: Corn Bunting by Andy Chick

INTRODUCTION This is the fifth biennial report of the Ivel Ringing Group. We hope that the information in the Report is informative and worthwhile for our readers. During the report period, the Group membership remained static with three 'A' permit holders and four 'C' permit holders. One of the 'C' ringers became inactive due to other commitments. The ringing totals for both years were very low indeed, barely surpassing the 1100 mark. In general, members were unable to go ringing for a variety of reasons but priority was given to completing the visits to both Constant Effort Sites to the best of our ability. April 1998 saw the worst flooding for "150 years", surpassing the "Great Flood" of Bedford in 1923. 46.5mm of rain fell in 24-hours during the 9th and 10th April, with flooding from the 11th. The CES at Priory Country Park was under 650mm of water at one end and 2.2m at the other. Waterloo Thorns CES, which is on "ridge and furrow" with little or no gradient, was completely waterlogged. Much of the early vegetation was completely swamped and it was some long while into the summer before it recovered.

HIGHLIGHTS 1998 The end of year total was 1103 new birds ringed, including 50 pulli, plus 371 retrap handlings. Ringing effort was well down this year. The species tally was 35. A total of … birds were either recovered or controlled. Little Grebe was added to the list with one at Priory CP. Our third ever Nuthatch was trapped at the Thorns. A brood of Spotted Flycatchers was ringed at Barton-le-Clay. The owners of Houghton Regis ChP sold it to another company who were unwilling to allow us to ring at the site. Perhaps they see it as a precedent that may harm possible development plans. However, we were ringing here even before the site was declared a SSSI by English Nature. Work was concentrated on Priory CP (358 birds ringed), Waterloo Thorns (320) and Warren Villas (190), the latter including an impressive 109 Reed Buntings. Our figures indicate that Blue and Great Tit had a poor breeding season this year. 1999  The end of year total was 1173 new birds ringed, including 41 pulli, plus …. Retrap handlings. Ringing effort was again well down this year. The species tally was 41. A total of … birds were either recovered or controlled. Additions??? Our figures for this year suggest that Blue and Great Tit fared much better than last with nearly twice as many (pro rata) being caught and ringed. Our

figures

SITE REPORTS Note: the numbers of birds given for each year represents newly ringed ones only. Approximately 25% of all birds handled already bear a ring (called retraps if ringed on or near the same site) All sites are in Bedfordshire unless otherwise stated. BARTON-LE-CLAY (TL0810) Large private garden beside the A6, close to the quarry 1998 - 32 birds of 8 spp.

BAR

1999 - 38 birds of 9 species

All nine Spotted Flycatchers ringed by us were done here. CHALTON STW (TL0327) Treatment works for the north of Luton (on the chalk spring line) 1998 - 143 birds of 20 spp.

CHA

1999 – 1 Reed Warbler

During 1998, 52 warblers of 6 species were ringed. GAMLINGAY CINQUES, CAMBS (TL2353) Mixed scrub and a pond (on the Greensand spring line) 1998 – none

GAC

1999 – 273 of 15 spp.

In 1999, the site was baited and it produced the only Sparrowhawk, a Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, three Coal Tits, 87 Blue and 54 Great Tits and 89 Greenfinch. THE EMPLINS, GAMLINGAY, CAMBS (TL2452) Fifteenth Century house next to the village church. Swift colony of 20-22 nests. 1998 – 24 Swifts

GAE

1999 – 36 Swifts

HOUGHTON REGIS (TL0324) New estate garden (on chalk)

HRH

1999 only – 28 birds of 9 spp. LITTLE OFFLEY FARM, HERTS (TL1328) 1998 – 8 birds of 3 spp The site was visited once and thought suitable for catching winter Chaffinches if baited. WARREN VILLAS NR. (MANOR FARM) (TL1847) MAN Collection of former gravel pits in the Ivel Valley between Biggleswade and Sandy. They now form part of a Wildlife Trust reserve and a private fishery. 1998 – 190 of 11 spp.

1999 – 25 of 2 spp.

60 Sand Martins were caught in ’98 and 24 in ’99. There was a cliff collapse and the colony is likely to split and move to a new area or site. PRIORY COUNTRY PARK (TL0749) PCP A landscaped, very popular, public park, in a large bend of the R. Great Ouse. Habitat consists of two large, mature lakes, several meadows, waterside scrub and semi-mature, deciduous plantations. A Constant Effort Site has been operated here in dry scrub since 1992. 1998 - 358 birds of 23 spp.

1999 - 467 birds of 24 spp.

Blackcap topped the list in both years. Warblers consistently make up over 40% of the total catch.

SANTON DOWNHAM, NORFOLK (TL8087) A private garden bordering Thetford Forest.

SAN

1999 only - 84 birds of 6 spp. A visit on New Year's Day was rewarded with five species of tit plus one Robin. SOUTH MILLS NR. (TL1550) SMI A small, restored sand and gravel pit in private ownership adjacent to the R. Ivel. 1998 only - 20 birds of 7 spp. Three visits with the last, in June, producing eight Reed Warblers. Our last visit to the site under the current ownership. The site has degraded to such an extent, mainly due to the keeping of Pot-bellied Pigs, that the quality ringing that the site was known for is no longer possible. A pity. WATERLOO THORNS (TL1852) THO Part of a wartime airfield now largely covered in mature Hawthorn scrub. The site has been run as a Constant Effort Site since 1988 with a few visits outside the CES calendar period (May to August) 1998 - 320 birds of 26 spp.

1999 - 187 birds of 23 spp.

Our most likely site to catch Grasshopper Warbler, Nightingale, Marsh Tit and Yellowhammer on a regular basis. WILLINGTON GRAVEL PIT (TL0950) WGR A large sand and gravel pit still being worked. The current Sand Martin colony numbers over 400 nests. Some of the smaller pits are scheduled to be left as “bird habitat” in the future. 1999 only - 33 birds of 2spp. One trial visit in mid-July yielded 28 Sand Martins and 5 Pied Wagtails. There is potential here for ringing wader and tern chicks as well as some waterfowl.

ANNUAL TOTALS FOR 1998-1999 (New birds ringed) Year Species

1998 Beds Cambs

Great Crested Grebe Little Grebe Leach's Petrel Mute Swan Teal Mallard Pintail Shoveler Tufted Duck Sparrowhawk Kestrel Red-legged Partridge Water Rail Moorhen Coot Little Ringed Plover Ringed Plover Lapwing Dunlin Ruff Jack Snipe Snipe Woodcock Black-tailed Godwit Redshank Greenshank Green Sandpiper Common Sandpiper Turnstone Black-headed Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Woodpigeon Collared Dove Turtle Dove Cuckoo Barn Owl Little Owl Tawny Owl Long-eared Owl Swift Kingfisher Green Woodpecker Great Spotted Woodpecker Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Skylark Sand Martin Swallow House Martin Tree Pipit Meadow Pipit Water Pipit Yellow Wagtail Grey Wagtail Pied Wagtail Wren Dunnock Robin Nightingale

other

1999 Beds Cambs

1

1

24

36 1 1

60

52

31 36 40 3

5 36 36 48 2

1 1

1 4 9

other

GRAND TOTAL 3 1 1 320 15 12 1 1 2 47 8 1 4 24 4 19 72 132 8 1 21 114 1 1 37 1 1 7 1 1 2 28 15 8 13 12 5 3 2 553 83 20 27 4 23 983 852 734 2 111 1 33 9 121 1181 1519 1251 78

Redstart Whinchat Stonechat Wheatear Blackbird Fieldfare Song Thrush Redwing Mistle Thrush Grasshopper Warbler Sedge Warbler Reed Warbler Lesser Whitethroat Common Whitethroat Garden Warbler Blackcap Radde's Warbler Wood Warbler Yellow-browed Warbler Chiffchaff Willow Warbler Goldcrest Firecrest Spotted Flycatcher Pied Flycatcher Long-tailed Tit Marsh Tit Willow Tit Coal Tit Blue Tit Great Tit Nuthatch Treecreeper Jay Magpie Rook Carrion Crow Starling House Sparrow Tree Sparrow Chaffinch Brambling Greenfinch Goldfinch Siskin Linnet Redpoll Bullfinch Yellowhammer Reed Bunting Corn Bunting County totals

60

42

8 1

11 1

4 27 44 18 47 38 98

4 11 21 11 29 34 80

27 49 3

30 46 6

5

4

36 3

23 2

100 69 1 6

4

73 62

6

2

1

3 87 54

2 2 10 36 33

8 1

5 1

3 8

22

2

28 6

17

13

38 8

89

2 44 9 143

1 073

22 1 3

24

8

780

309

84

The grand total (of 109 species) covers the period from 1982 to 1999

Note: Sites in other counties were - LOF (Herts) in 1998 and SAD (Norfolk) in 1999.

9 5 3 7 2336 38 794 156 12 39 1676 1389 549 979 800 1644 1 1 1 623 2178 222 1 93 1 1347 36 46 89 4370 2092 3 147 20 12 1 2 542 128 16 1121 10 4266 292 31 248 142 928 334 2752 263 =41 377

RECOVERIES & CONTROLS Directions, distances and elapsed time are notified to us by the BTO. A recovery is where the bird is reported dead, not released, or released without its numbered ring; a control is where the bird is reported alive either by another ringer or a member of the public and released.  Age (Euring notation) 1 pullus (nestling or chick incapable of flight) 2 fully grown, year of hatching quite unknown 3 hatched during calendar year of ringing 4 hatched before calendar year of ringing, but exact year unknown 5 hatched during previous calendar year 6 hatched before previous calendar year, but exact year unknown 7 definitely hatched two calendar years before ringing 8 hatched more than two calendar years before ringing  Sex M sexed as male on plumage or cloaca F sexed as female on plumage, brood patch or cloaca J birds which are still in recognisable juvenile plumage = sexed on recovery   Manner of recovery X found dead XF found dying or freshly dead XL found long dead + shot , intentionally taken or killed by man S sick or injured - not known to have been released SR sick or injured, released with ring A alive and probably healthy - fate unknown V alive, caught & released with ring but not by ringer VV alive, ring or colour mark read in the field but not by ringer R caught and released by ringer RR alive, ring or colour mark read in field by ringer // condition on finding wholly unknown local = within 5km of the ringing site  This list is not exhaustive - it contains those records likely to be of interest to local ringers and land managers. Selection has been for the distance travelled, the time interval between trappings and the date or place of ringing or recovery. . Mute Swan Z79088 [Or309]

1 VV

Priory CP Edgebaston, W.Midlands

14-07-96 09-02-98

108km WNW, 575days

Z75656 [Or201]

7F XF

Bedford Priory CP, Bedford

02-02-92 21-07-98

local, 2361days

Orange200’s mate, taken on the nest by a fox a few days before the eggs were due to hatch. Z78807 [Or236]

3 VV

Bedford Haddenham, Cambs

04-10-96 15-09-98

48km ENE, 711days

Z76482

6F XF

Bedford Hitchingbrooke, Cambs

09-08-92 01-02-99

26km NE, 2367days

1M RR

nr. Wellesbourne, Warks Harrold-Odell CP

11-09-94 03-02-99

68km E, 1606days

5F RR RR

nr. Bromyard, Hereford & Worcs25-04-91 Bedford 04-04-92 Stratford-on-Avon, Warks 30-08-99

136km E, 345days 49km E, 3049days

U2699

Z73545 [OrULY]

Z85429 [Or263]

6F X

Priory CP, Bedford Wellingborough, Northants

21-01-96 06-11-99

26km NW, 1385days

Priory CP, Bedford Priory CP, Bedford

30-03-95 27-06-99

local, 1550days

Great Spotted Woodpecker RK32782 6M Priory CP, Bedford R Priory CP, Bedford

22-04-96 23-05-98

local, 761days

Green Woodpecker DK81271 5M R

RK32904

Sand Martin J807645

K219388

K287049

K547251

K553459

K664534

3M R

Priory CP, Bedford Priory CP, Bedford

18-12-96 03-04-99

local, 836days

3 R =F

Icklesham, Sussex Seddington

17-08-95 28-06-98

149km NNW, 1046days

3 R =F

Icklesham, Sussex Seddington

31-08-96 28-06-98

149km NNW, 666days

3 R =F

Tallington Lakes, Lincs Seddington

18-06-95 28-06-98

63km S, 1106days

3 R =M

Icklesham, Sussex Seddington

07-09-96 28-06-98

149km NNW, 659days

3 R =M

Icklesham, Sussex Seddington

26-08-97 28-06-98

149km NNW, 306days

4 R =M

Godmanchester, Cambs Seddington

23-07-97 28-06-98

26km SSW, 340days

The above are all from one session at Manor Farm Wren 4J4710

Dunnock J030044

3J R =M

South Mills South Mills

12-08-95 14-06-98

local, 1037days

3 R =F

Priory CP, Bedford Priory CP, Bedford

27-03-93 16-06-99

local, 2272days

Now another two years older; see the previous Report. Robin J272621

K240111

K240116

Blackbird RK32590

RJ70167

3 Gamlingay Cinques R (=M) Gamlingay Cinques

21-11-94 13-02-99

local, 1545days

3 R=M

Priory CP Bedford Priory CP, Bedford

27-11-96 15-03-99

local, 838days

3 R=M

Priory CP, Bedford Priory CP, Bedford

27-11-96 15-05-99

local, 899days

3JF X

Priory CP Goldington

07-08-94 07-03-98

local, 1308days

3M X

Houghton Regis ChP Dunstable

08-12-92 15-04-98

local, 1954days

RK32502

RJ70090

3JM R

Priory CP, Bedford Priory CP, Bedford

25-08-93 16-07-98

local, 1786days

3JM R

Priory CP, Bedford Priory CP, Bedford

13-07-93 29-07-99

local, 2207days

RJ70090 now holds the Group's longevity record for Blackbird. Song Thrush RS29841

RS29911

5M R

Waterloo Thorns Waterloo Thorns

15-06-96 12-06-99

local, 1092days

5M R

Priory CP, Bedford Priory CP, Bedford

13-03-93 17-08-98

local, 1983days

RV56085 remains the "oldest" at 2545 days; see previous report. Sedge Warbler J272462 3F R =M

South Mills, Blunham South Mills, Blunham

25-09-94 26-04-98

local, 1309days

Reed Warbler H871423 4M R

Henlow Hitchin STW, Herts

16-07-94 20-06-98

7km S, 1435days

Also controlled at Hitchin STW on 11-05-95 and 18-05-97 K695966

4F R

Tewin Bury, Herts. Priory CP, Bedford

05-06-98 16-08-98

40km NNW, 72days

Lesser Whitethroat J600564 5F R

Priory CP, Bedford Priory CP, Bedford

20-05-95 17-05-98

local, 1093days

FRP 4080902

[FRANCE] Waterloo Thorns

unknown 15-05-99

????

(2) R =M

Original ringing details still awaited from the French ringing scheme (at May 2002) Our fifth recovery/control but the first from abroad (one to Belgium ('93), others within UK) Whitethroat J511946

5M R

Waterloo Thorns Waterloo Thorns

15-06-96 25-07-99

local, 1135days

Priory CP, Bedford Priory CP, Bedford

08-07-94 23-05-98

local, 1415days

4 R

Waterloo Thorns Waterloo Thorns

02-06-95 30-05-98

local, 1093days

4 R=F

Priory CP, Bedford Priory CP, Bedford

16-06-95 23-05-98

local, 1072days

3F R

Kintbury, Berks Priory CP

26-08-95 08-05-98

108km NE, 986days

3M R R R

Lackford Pits, Suffolk Priory CP Priory CP Priory CP

18-09-97 08-05-98 02-07-98 01-05-99

75 km WSW, 232days 287days 590days

Garden Warbler J600201 3J R J600591

J600611

Blackcap J889703

K777384

K240233

3F R

Priory CP Bainton GPs, Cambs

03-09-97 22-06-98

56km N, 292days

5M R

Wendy, Cambs Priory CP

04-05-98 02-07-98

25km W, 59days

3JM XF

Priory CP, Bedford Bedford

11-07-97 19-04-98

local, 282days

Willow Warbler 5W7614 3JM R

Waterloo Thorns Waterloo Thorns

17-07-94 30-05-98

local, 1413days

Long-tailed Tit 3S8663 3J R =F

Waterloo Thorns Waterloo Thorns

02-06-93 02-05-98

local, 1795days

N380253

Chiffchaff 4J4995

Temporarily took over from another long-lived female, 5F8024, as the 'oldest'. 5F8982

2 Priory CP, Bedford R (=M) Priory CP, Bedford

13-09-92 15-03-99

local, 2374days

Only 19 months short of the national record; now our 'oldest' Blue Tit K241823

3J R =F

Waterloo Thorns Codicote, Herts

02-08-97 14-02-98

35km S, 196days

Quite a good record; a dispersing young female in search of better companionship? J511399

J511775

J600554

Great Tit J600116

H010733

3 R =M

Gamlingay Cinques Gamlingay Cinques

29-11-95 17-01-99

local, 1145days

6M R

Priory CP, Bedford Priory CP, Bedford

26-02-96 15-03-99

local, 1113days

5M R

Priory CP, Bedford Priory CP, Bedford

14-05-95 15-05-99

local, 1462days

6M R

Waterloo Thorns Waterloo Thorns

02-06-94 01-02-98

local, 1339days

3JM R

Priory CP Priory CP

24-08-91 12-10-99

local, 2971days

This one has to be our oldest surviving Great Tit to date. [see also Report No.4] Starling RJ70067

Chaffinch J271148

H460919

5F XF

Gamlingay Cinques Gamlingay Cinques

05-02-93 30-05-99

local, 2305days

3F R

Chalton STW Chalton STW

30-10-93 28-04-98

local, 1641days

3JM R

Waterloo Thorns Waterloo Thorns

31-08-92 20-06-98

local, 2119days

An improvement on our previous longevity record

KK09061

Greenfinch VN20073

VK17439

VX36021

Linnet J511108

3F XF

Priory CP Brickhill, Bedford

05-10-94 07-11-98

local, 1494days

5M XF

Gamlingay Cinques Abbotsley, Cambs

18-03-94 06-05-98

4km N, 1510days

5M XF

Gamlingay Cinques Gamlingay

19-03-95 22-07-99

local, 1586days

6M //

Priory CP Walgrave, Northants

13-02-98 04-05-98

35km NW, 80days

5M XF

South Mills, Blunham Everton

05-08-95 30-05-98

5km ENE, 1029days

Our second Linnet recovery ever. The first went to Tyne & Wear. [see Report No.1] Bullfinch J600535

J030985

K240046

5M R

Waterloo Thorns Waterloo Thorns

30-04-95 11-07-98

local, 1168days

5F R

Waterloo Thorns Waterloo Thorns

23-04-94 22-08-98

local, 1582days

5F R

Priory CP, Bedford Priory CP, Bedford

25-05-96 20-08-99

local, 1182days

J030985 is an 'old lady' at five years old. The other two were four, which is a more typical age. Yellowhammer K241995 3M XF

Seddington Biggleswade

18-10-97 27-07-98

local, 282days

18-01-97 26-07-98

11km S, 554days

Retraps @ THO ?? Reed Bunting K241198 5F XF

South Mills, Blunham Henlow

SPECIES REPORTS THE CONSTANT EFFORT SITES SCHEME IN BEDFORDSHIRE The CES Scheme uses bird-ringing as a tool to monitor the populations of some of our common breeding songbirds. At 120 sites throughout Britain licensed ringers erect a series of mistnets in the same positions and for the same length of time during twelve visits between May and August. Year-to-year changes in the numbers of adults caught provide a measure of changing population size and we use the proportion of young birds in the catch as an index of breeding success. When the BTO "went national" with the CES scheme for ringers, EN arranged for the site at Waterloo Thorns, near Everton village, to become one of the new sites. Ringing had taken place here intermittently since 1984. A series of five net rides was constructed that ranged from open grassland with emergent scrub, through mixed and relatively open scrub containing a lot of Dog Rose and through Blackthorn to mature (40year old) Hawthorn. The area is bordered by grassland on two sides (one of which leads to another area of mature 'thorn), arable farmland and mature Hawthorn. The Thorns (as it is known locally) is well known for its Nightingales, one of the things that made the site attractive for ringing long-term. Our study of Whitethroat is also undertaken here and the site has good populations of Dunnock, Robin, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Blue and Great Tits - and a few Marsh and Willow - Chaffinch and Bullfinch. During the four summer months of the CES, this site can produce 30 species, a useful and varied selection that enables new ringers to be trained here. The site has been worked continuously since it started in 1988. In 1990, a second site was started at Wyboston on the Begary Brook nature reserve after RW obtained his 'C' permit. This CES site was in an area of wet, marshy grassland with clumps of mature Willow that lies between the old gravel workings and the riverbank. This was given complete coverage for the first two years and then, during the subsequent two years, it only received coverage in the first period i.e. visits 1-6. The site was discontinued from 1994 due to other commitments at the time. It is hoped to resurrect this site at some time in the future, since it produced a lot of Sedge Warblers and Treecreepers. Another site was selected in 1992 for NF to operate. This was at an old chalk quarry cum rubbish tip that had been planted up with trees and shrubs. Unbeknown to us at the time, some of the 'rubbish' that had been tipped was classified as hazardous waste and the site would be shut off in the near future. A couple of net rides were cut through the northern plantation, which had a high number of Grey Alder in it. Netting here produced good numbers of Wren and Willow Warbler. NF managed to get in two seasons before a disastrous fire made the site 'unringable' in the third year; it was only then that the hazard to human health was discerned. In 1991, a permanent net ride was constructed in 'the Rough' at Priory Country Park. Until then various sites around the park had been used in order to catch a variety of species over the seasons. The following year it was decided to register this 240' net ride as a CES site. It proved very productive and still rates as one of the most efficient CES sites in the country to this day. Usually 24 species are trapped during the season with the main species being Blackcap along with Reed and Garden Warbler, Long-tailed Tit and Bullfinch. We are well aware and greatly concerned, are we not, about the large declines in bird populations both nationally and in the county. The published figures do not always reflect the sudden declines that can occur within a species. Between 1989-96, both here and across the south-east, there was a halving in the total numbers of Willow Warblers caught that still shows no sign of being reversed. It resulted mainly from poor adult and juvenile survival on migration to or from Africa, but there has also been an increasing rate of nest failure which may be related to the adult birds' possible lack of fitness on their return to the UK. [CES News Nos. 10, 11 & 13] Goldfinch and Reed Bunting also lost numbers over the decade; analysis of national data has been shown that changes in their first-year survival were sufficient to have caused their decline. [CES News No. 12] One thing that is apparent from our figures is the poorer post-fledging survival of both Blue and Great Tit since 1994 (due to hotter, drier summers) which is being compensated for by lower losses after the juvenile moult period (due to milder, wetter winters). Wren, Dunnock and Robin remain fairly stable from year to year, even though their productivity can vary three-fold. The run of mild winters and warm, damp springs must feature in the maintenance of good numbers. During 1998 &1999, all three increased both adult and juvenile numbers [CES News No. 13].

The warbler group, on the other hand, can fluctuate because the local climatic conditions play a large part in their ability at the time to find sufficient food to survive. As a consequence of poor conditions encountered on migration (different species use differing routes and strategies), the numbers of adults returning may be lowered. If it happens to be a 'rough' year here, so does the production of fully-fledged young suffer a loss on previous years. Adult survival across the group was very good in 1993-94, 1994-95 and 1996-97, whilst a greater number of young were produced in 1992 as well as in 1994 and 1997. In 1995, however, seven out of the eight species of warbler seem to have had a poor breeding season, all that is except Lesser Whitethroat. Productivity in 1996, a wet summer, cannot be estimated from our figures (see note) but the percentage of juveniles caught nationally was the lowest since the CES scheme started. Out of the 29 species monitored by the BTO, 11 species showed significant declines and only Song Thrush showed an increase [CES News No. 10]. Under normal circumstances most species would be expected to recover within 2 or 3 years. However, birds like Linnet, Reed Bunting and Willow Warbler have been declining locally for several years and a season like this one can only make matters worse. Long-term declines in catches are of far greater conservation concern than annual fluctuations linked to weather patterns. The heavy rains and floods of 1998 destroyed early nests and delayed others, which led to low productivity akin to 1995 (and 1996). 1999 was a "modest" year, showing little individual change on recent years, even though there was a period of unsettled weather from late May through to the end of June. Certain species have not been caught in the later years.

Table 2:

COMBINED NUMBERS OF ADULT & JUVENILE PASSERINES CAUGHT AT CONSTANT EFFORT SITES 223 & 303 BETWEEN 1988 AND 1999 (see note)

Species Wren Dunno Robin Nigal Blabi Sonth Grawa Sedwa Reewa Leswh White Garwa Blaca Chiff Wilwa Goldc

4+ 3J 4+ 3J 4+ 3J 4+ 3J 4+ 3J 4+ 3J 4+ 3J 4+ 3J 4+ 3J 4+ 3J 4+ 3J 4+ 3J 4+ 3J 4+ 3J 4+ 3J 4+ 3J

88 6 7 15 18 3 16 7 3 17 7 4 8 0 0 1 3 1 0 19 8 20 24 12 8 21 10 1 2 50 59 0 0

89 11 13 12 30 4 12 5 2 8 6 9 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 18 9 21 31 12 6 19 18 2 5 46 21 0 1

90 9 11 11 19 7 14 6 1 12 2 3 1 2 2 1 2 3 0 15 4 22 36 15 4 14 4 3 3 28 10 0 0

91 3 13 6 15 4 23 7 5 5 13 1 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 12 14 10 20 5 3 8 12 1 6 33 51 0 0

92 8 17 13 48 5 17 9 1 9 17 2 6 0 0 32 30 23 22 17 26 7 70 25 39 28 85 2 2 52 72 0 0

93 8 20 16 26 4 33 6 4 16 15 2 4 0 0 24 34 4 21 17 37 17 47 28 57 27 76 2 14 53 83 0 0

94 9 28 15 31 12 21 6 1 14 25 10 9 0 0 21 8 16 28 14 11 20 62 21 41 44 82 6 10 39 28 0 0

95 8 7 17 24 8 7 4 1 13 6 3 2 1 0 15 1 6 6 11 17 21 25 15 16 20 11 1 1 26 8 0 0

96* 5 1 12 5 7 16 8 1 15 2 8 2 0 0 19 2 9 3 13 1 21 4 22 6 16 8 3 0 28 8 0 0

97 5 22 14 38 6 31 5 0 18 10 6 1 0 0 7 7 8 18 7 11 28 56 25 15 32 66 3 13 37 36 0 0

98 8 13 4 22 4 26 3 0 15 24 4 3 2 2 10 1 15 8 16 8 19 33 26 2 36 52 9 9 32 30 0 0

99 12 21 11 22 9 33 2 0 15 12 5 5 2 2 11 0 8 11 8 4 24 8 15 21 29 38 5 19 30 20 0 0

88 Spofl

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

96

97

98

99 0 0 2 15

4+ 3J Lotti 4+ 3J Marti 4+ 3J Wilti 4+ 3J Coati 4+ 3J Bluti 4+ 3J Greti 4+ 3J Nuthatch 4+ 3J Treec 4+ 3J Jay 4+ 3J Chaff 4+ 3J Grefi 4+ 3J Goldf 4+ 3J Bullf 4+ 3J Yelha 4+ 3J Reebu 4+ 3J

0 1 9 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 15 34 13 19 0 0 0 3 1 0 10 1 9 8 0 0 18 7 9 12 0 3

Notes: (i)

Site 223 (Waterloo Thorns) has been operated as a Constant Effort Site since 1988. Site 303 (Priory CP) has only been operated as such from 1992. The combined yearly totals are given for each species. Figures in italics refer to site 223 (Waterloo Thorns) only *The figures for juvenile birds in 1996 are lower than they should be because ringing was curtailed at both sites during the second half of the season (a) because of the bad weather and (b) for domestic reasons (SS and EN)

(ii) (iii)

0 0 10 25 0 1 2 2 0 2 16 61 11 15 0 0 1 3 0 0 12 2 9 8 0 0 16 7 4 13 3 1

0 0 6 3 0 1 1 1 1 1 10 29 9 17 0 0 1 2 1 0 13 26 7 17 0 0 17 3 2 1 1 2

0 0 11 14 0 0 1 3 0 1 8 38 5 33 0 0 1 1 1 0 18 16 6 17 0 0 9 20 1 5 0 0

0 0 7 35 0 0 0 2 0 0 13 63 7 33 0 0 1 5 0 0 6 19 9 2 4 3 18 11 2 3 5 6

0 0 20 51 1 2 0 0 0 0 7 56 8 43 0 0 2 5 2 0 15 15 5 5 2 3 18 2 6 2 4 2

0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 8 37 8 10 0 0 0 1 0 0 10 4 12 20 1 2 21 15 1 0 2 0

0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 13 17 8 13 0 0 1 0 0 0 7 10 10 34 1 4 15 10 2 0 1 1

0 0 7 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 5 9 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 11 0 0 0 0 1 18 0 2 0 3 0

0 0 13 44 0 3 0 0 0 0 15 95 7 36 0 0 3 8 1 0 16 13 6 1 0 4 23 13 5 1 3 2

0 0 8 18 3 0 0 0 0 0 6 20 6 22 0 1 2 4 0 0 12 5 4 0 2 3 17 20 2 6 2 0

0 0 0 0 11 27 11 30 0 0 1 5 0 0 13 3 11 3 3 4 18 6 1 0 1 2

An extract from "the Events in the life of the Rev. Leonard Jennyns of Swaffham Bulbeck, Cambs. In 1830" by Roger F Vaughan BA BSc(Hons) of Bristol Museum. This refers to the discovery of the Natterjack Toad on Gamlingay Heath at an area known as "the bogs". "The Bogs" is a specific place in Gamlingay, where the IRG has its ringing site on Gamlingay Heath close to the Wildlife Trust reserve at Gamlingay Cinques. The Heath covered much of the land west of the village where there are numerous springs and was more extensive than shown on present day maps. The Rev. Jennyns was accompanied by his brother-in-law Professor John Stevens Henslow.

Saturday February 20th, 1830 "Thermometer this morning at a quarter before seven - only 25.5o (Fahrenheit)”. He had made good use of being indoors to complete his paper for the Transactions of the Cambridge Philosophical Society "Some Observations on the Character of the Natter-jack of Pennant with a List of Reptiles found in Cambridgeshire", [amphibians seem not to have been differentiated from reptiles at this time] He wrote "The first instance in which this reptile occurred to my notice was in August 1824, when it was discovered by Professor Henslow and myself in considerable abundance, in the bogs upon Gamlingay Heath. Soon after our visit to that spot, a single individual was found by myself at Bottisham, and a second has since been met with by Professor Henslow in the Botanic Garden. I am inclined to the opinion, that it is not so very local a species as was formerly supposed, but from its general resemblance to the common Toad, it has been overlooked". After descriptions of the Natterjack's "shuffling run" and body details the local list of "reptiles" is given. Common Lizard, Common Blind-Worm, Ringed Snake, Common Viper, Warty Eft, Water Eft, Common or Land Eft, Common Frog, Common Toad, and Natter-jack. Each of the above was accorded its scientific name and something of its habits.

Extracted from the website:

www.rogerco.freeserve.co.uk

MEMBERSHIP The Group is registered with the British Trust for Ornithology (group number 9147) which administers the British and Irish Ringing Schemes. The Group is a corporate member of the Bedfordshire Natural History Society. At the end of the period the following were subscribing members of IRG: Dr E Brindley, N R Finan, E C Newman, A Proud, J M Reed, S Spick and R Wooding. E Newman and S Spick are Full Trainers and members of the Trainers Panel; M Reed is an Initial Trainer. The other members all hold ‘C’ licences.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank the following for permission to ring on their land: Anglian Water Services, Bedford Borough Council, The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Redland Aggregates, Mr & Mrs P Gorton, Mr & Mrs G Hill, & A Pym Esq

Address for correspondence: *REMOVED.

Report compiled October 2001 Published February 2002

Copyright reserved Ivel Ringing Group December 2001