Bird Atlas breeding evidence gaps


I have been asked by several roving recorders where we should focus our efforts during the breeding season, so I have reviewed which birds have been recorded as confirmed breeding. Here's a summary for a number of commoner species, I have excluded those that have been confirmed in all hectads (10km squares):

Mute Swan SE53, SE55, SE56, SE64, SE66, SE67, SE73, SE75
Greylag SE53, SE56, SE64, SE67, SE73
Canada Goose SE53, SE55, SE56, SE57, SE64, SE67, SE73, SE75, SE76
Mallard SE53, SE57, SE66
Other ducks Most species in most hectads (only the occasional one confirmed)
Red-legged Partridge All hectads
Grey Partridge SE53 to SE55, SE57, SE64, SE66, SE67, SE74 to SE77
Pheasant SE53 to SE55, SE57, SE75, SE77
Little Grebe SE54 to SE56, SE65, SE66, SE73, SE75 to SE77
Great-crested Grebe SE53, SE56, SE63, SE64, SE66, SE67, SE74 to SE76
Sparrowhawk SE53, SE57, SE63 to SE67, SE75 to SE77
Buzzard Most hectads
Kestrel Most hectads
Moorhen SE75
Coot SE56, SE64, SE67, SE75
Lapwing SE53, SE55, SE57, SE73, SE75
Other waders Most hectads
Feral pigeon SE53 to SE57, SE66, SE67, SE73 to SE77
Stock Dove SE53, SE56, SE57, SE64, SE66, SE67, SE73 to SE77
Woodpigeon SE76
Collared Dove SE53, SE54, SE56, SE64, SE66, SE67, SE73 to SE77
Turtle Dove Everywhere
Cuckoo Most hectads
Barn Owl SE53, Se54, SE56, SE57, SE75
Little Owl Most hectads
Tawny Owl SE53 to SE55, SE64, SE66, SE67, SE73, SE75 to SE77
Swift SE53, SE64, SE66, SE67, SE73
Kingfisher Everywhere
Green Woodpecker Most hectads
Great Spotted Woodpecker SE57, SE64, SE67, Se73, SE75, SE77
Skylark SE53 to SE55, SE57, SE66, SE67, SE73 to SE75, SE77
Sand Martin SE53, SE56, SE57, SE63, Se64, SE66, SE67, SE75, SE76
Tree Pipit Everywhere
Meadow Pipit Most hectads
Yellow Wagtail SE54 to SE57, SE64, SE67, SE73, SE75 to SE77
Grey Wagtail SE53, SE54, SE56, SE57, SE66, SE73, SE77
Pied Wagtail SE57
Wren SE53, SE73, SE75, SE77
Dunnock SE75
Mistle Thrush S53, SE56, SE57, SE64, SE66, SE73, SE75, SE77
Sedge Warbler Most hectads
Lesser Whitethroat Everywhere
Whitethroat SE54, SE57, SE73, SE75, SE77
Garden Warbler Most hectads
Blackcap SE54 to SE57, SE63, SE65, SE66, SE73, SE76
Chiffchaff SE56, SE57, SE63, SE64, SE66, SE67, SE73, SE75, SE77
Willow Warbler SE56, SE57, SE65, SE66, SE73, SE76, SE77
Goldcrest Most hectads
Spotted Flycatcher SE54, SE55, SE57, SE65, SE73, SE75, SE77
Long-tailed Tit SE54, SE56, SE57
Marsh & Willow Tit Most hectads
Coal Tit SE56, SE64, SE75
Treecreeper SE53 to SE57, SE64, SE67, SE73, SE75, SE77
Jay Most hectads
Magpie SE53, SE54, SE57, SE66, SE73, SE75 to SE77
Jackdaw SE53, SE66, SE73
Chaffinch SE73, SE77
Greenfinch SE53, SE56, SE67, SE73, SE76
Goldfinch SE54, SE56, SE73, SE76
Linnet SE54, SE56, SE57, SE65, SE66, SE73, SE74, SE76, SE77
Lesser Redpoll Everywhere
Bullfinch Most hectads
Yellowhammer SE53, SE54, SE56, SE57, SE63, SE66, SE67, SE73, SE76, SE77
Reed Bunting SE53 to SE57, SE65, SE67, SE73, SE75
Corn Bunting Most hectads

Please look for evidence to confirm breeding for these species in the hectads as shown in the list. Evidence is also needed for scarce breeders, which I haven't put in the list.


Note about breeding evidence - FL

Remember that one of the main aims this breeding season for the Bird Atlas is to get confirmed breeding evidence for as many species as possible.

FF - 'Adult carrying faecal sac or food for young' is very useful

FL - Recently fledged or downy young is also good evidence. But beware when you are using this code, as young birds can move some distance from where they were bred, even several 100km within a couple of weeks. Evidence of some dependency on the adults is a useful indicator.

Bird Atlas third breeding season


The third breeding season of the Bird Atlas has now started. The main areas of focus are to:
  1. Increase the breeding evidence where possible.

  2. Complete allocated tetrads.

  3. Fill gaps in species distribution through roving records.

Nationally the following are under-recorded so it would be great to get some searches done for these: owls of all species, Woodcock, Nightingale (not so likely here in York), Grasshopper Warbler, Spotted Crake, Nightjar and Water Rail. Evening Roving Records visits would greatly increase the chances of hearing or seeing some of these.

Within the York region, the following have a lesser level of breeding evidence than what we could get: wildfowl, gamebirds, raptors, waders, doves, owls, Swift, warblers, Treecreeper, Magpie and Jay, some finches, buntings. Certain species have confirmed breeding evidence gaps in the odd 10km square too; e.g. Woodpigeon is only a 'probably breeding' in SE76 and Moorhen in SE75. Please look out for evidence of carrying food, occupied nests, recently fledged or downy young for these, or indeed any species - you may be able to fill in a gap.

The Bird Atlas website has a wealth of information on the progess of coverage. You can see species lists and maximum breeding evidence or each square within the region by clicking the Any Square Summary button or going to http://blx1.bto.org/atlas/square-access/num-square-choice.jsp

Please make every effort to complete tetrads allocated to you. Or, if you can take on a tetrad for TTV counts, please let me know.

It's great fun and you can learn a lot.

Good Atlasing.