Club members consisting of Dave J, Brian P, Roger, John, Jane H, Martin W & Graham had a visit to Rectory Farm on Monday 22nd October to clean and replace the existing boxes as necessary.
We replaced 2 boxes, refurbished another and added 2 more including a superb little owl type box which we placed in the “middle spinney” away from the other 2 nest box areas. A big thank you to Brian who made all the boxes!
Out of the 25 existing separate boxes spread over 3 areas, 12 were used to varying degrees. The tree sparrow colony boxes do seem to show extensive use and successful breeding which we are all very pleased about.
Other boxes showed signs of activity with successful fledging, nest material, unhatched eggs, dead fledgling or partial/obvious use.
“Large” Spinney:-
Box 1 – used
Box 2 – used box was replaced with new box, same number
Box 3 – robin box – not used
Box 4 – robin box – not used
Box 5 – blue tit box – not used
Box 6 – robin box – not used
Box 7 – tit box – used by tree sparrow
Box 8 – robin box – not used
Box 9 – robin box – not used
Box 10 – blue tit box – not used
Box 10a – tree sparrow box – used
Box 10b – tree sparrow box – new box 2018 put up
Box 11a, b, c – original colony box – all compartments used
Box 11d and e – compartment d not used, compartment e – used
Box 11f and g – compartment f not used, compartment g – used
Box 12a, b, c – original colony box –used – nest material in all compartments but appeared unfinished/not used.
“Middle” Spinney – a little owl box newly erected 2018
“Small” Spinney
Box 12 – robin box – not used
Box 13 – used by tree sparrow – new box erected to replace, same number 2018
Box 13a – robin box – not used
Box 14 – blue tit box – used by tree sparrow, one unhatched egg in box
Box 15 – new box erected, old box on ground
Box 16 – not used
Box 17 – not used
Box 18 – blue tit box – used -nest material – one unhatched egg.
Oak Tree
Box 20 – blue tit box – used
Box 21 – robin box – not used
It was disappointing again to find that none of the robin/open fronted boxes have been used so we re-sited one and will look to re-site others so that they have more cover and see if that improves occupancy.