Whilst it is inevitable that there will be a decline in numbers of long tailed tits between the end of one breeding season and the start of he next, they still seem quit numerous in the Lampeter Vale area. If finding food was becoming a serious issue then the weights of captured birds should decrease. 29 birds caught in early November had an average weight of 7.57g (range 6.7 to 8.6) and of 11 birds caught yesterday the average was 7.69g (range 7.2 o 8.2) a slight increase implying feeding conditions are still reasonably good.
Assuming that the Blue Tits visiting the feeders in the garden are mainly of local origin, then the breeding season in this area appears to have been very poor. Of 78 caught during the last fortnight 54 are adults and 24 1st winters, whereas typically at this time of year, 1st winters would considerbly outnumber adults.
Thoughts of Summer are now distant but the ringing details of a male Willow Warbler caught at Ty Rhyg in early July have just arrived. It was ringed on 20th March 2005 in Morocco. Even though this is not unusual for a Willow Warbler, (they tend to refuel in N Africa after crossing the Sahara) I still find it amazing that a bird less than 10grams has made a return journey to Central Africa at least 4 times. I hope he made it back OK this autumn.
