Atlas in SE63

SE63 is the 10km square that includes Skipwith Common and North Duffield Carrs. We're doing pretty well in this square.

These species have been recorded but have not had breeding confirmed, some of these should be breeding here. I have highlighted a few that would be worth looking for:

Pintail
Pochard
Ruddy Duck
Red-legged Partridge
Quail
Great Crested Grebe
Grey Heron
Sparrowhawk
Hobby
Water Rail
Spotted Crake
Corncrake
Oystercatcher
Black-headed Gull
Turtle Dove
Cuckoo
Long-eared Owl
Nightjar
Tree Pipit
Pied Wagtail (yarrellii)
Fieldfare
Grasshopper Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Lesser Redpoll
Bullfinch
Yellowhammer
Black Swan

And these have no breeding evidence at all:

Green-winged Teal
Red-breasted Merganser
Cormorant
Little Egret
Peregrine
Avocet
Little Ringed Plover
Dunlin
Common Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Common Tern
Short-eared Owl
Kingfisher
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Redstart
Marsh Tit
Siskin
Common Crossbill

Atlas in SE53

SE53 is the 10km square that includes Bishop Wood.

These species have been recorded but have not had breeding confirmed, some of these should be breeding here. I have highlighted a few that would be worth looking for:

Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Tufted Duck
Red-legged Partridge
Grey Partridge
Pheasant
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Kestrel
Oystercatcher
Lapwing
Woodcock
Curlew
Collared Dove
Cuckoo
Little Owl
Swift
Green Woodpecker
Skylark
Grey Wagtail
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warbler
Garden Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
Treecreeper
Magpie
Jackdaw
Greenfinch
Bullfinch
Reed Bunting
Corn Bunting

And these have no breeding evidence at all:

Cormorant
Black-headed Gull
Feral Pigeon
Kingfisher
Nuthatch
Siskin
Lesser Redpoll
Common Crossbill

More postings to come for the other 10km squares.

Atlas news - Turtle Dove range contraction

In today's Independent, there is an item on the range contraction of the Turtle Dove that is showing up from the analysis of the data in the Bird Atlas. This item is also published on that paper's website at http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/why-an-ancient-symbol-of-love-is-heading-for-an-unhappy-ending-2276850.html. Seeing some of the media pay attention to what BTO surveys are showing demonstrates to me the value of the work we do.

As a slight aside, I usually get an email prompt about BTO press releases but didn't recall this one and I haven't found it on the web site. However, I thought it may be of interest for supporters to know that press releases are published on the new website at http://www.bto.org/news-events/press-releases. It's interesting to see some of them taken up by the national media; for instance, I have heard about several of these on The Today Programme on Radio 4.

Atlas gaps - Final Breeding Season

There's a new map that can be seen on the Bird Atlas website at: http://blx1.bto.org/atlas-results/rich_gaps_map_b.html

This shows that SE53 and SE73 need Roving Records visits to boost the species lists as well as the number of confirmed breeding records.

The Atlas restarts April 1st.

Atlas Breeding Season - the 10km square view

Current view of the 10km squares: square - number of species so far - percentage of these not yet confirmed breeding.

SE53 - 81 - 49.4%
SE54 - 96 - 49.0%
SE55 - 94 - 43.6%
SE56 - 79 - 45.6%
SE57 - 93 - 54.8%
SE63 - 130 - 36.2%
SE64 - 112 - 44.6%
SE65 - 115 - 35.7%
SE66 - 93 - 49.5%
SE67 - 87 - 46.0%
SE73 - 95 - 47.4%
SE74 - 127 - 32.3%
SE75 - 91 - 48.4%
SE76 - 100 - 54.0%
SE77 - 108 - 53.7%

You will be able to see the latest figures as we go through the season on the 'My Local Gaps' tool on the website. Look for those confirmed breeding evidences such as recently fledged young, nest with eggs or chicks, faecal sac or food carrying. But care is need for the recently fledged code (FL) - see the note on the Atlas website:

Careful consideration should be given to the likely provenance of any fledged juvenile capable of significant geographical movement. Evidence of dependency on adults (e.g. feeding) is helpful. Be cautious, even if the record comes from suitable habitat.

Atlas Breeding Season starts on Friday

In the York region we are well covered for tetrad visits already although one focus for the atlas is to complete those that are still outstanding.

However, the key focus is to capture breeding evidence for most species across the region; it is especially important to get the confirmed breeding evidence. It is easier to say what has been covered rather than where the gaps are.

The following species have confirmed breeding in all of the 10km squares in the region: Moorhen, Woodpigeon, Swallow, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow.

And here's a list of species that are almost complete across the region: Mallard - needs evidence in SE53, SE66; Lapwing - SE53, SE73; Barn Owl - SE56, SE57; Wren - SE73; Coal Tit - SE56, SE64; Jackdaw - SE53, SE66; Chaffinch - SE77.

All other species need breeding evidence in at least three 10km squares.

There are some tools on the website that will also help you to target the species which are missing from the squares or need a higher level of evidence: see previous posting about 'My Local Gaps' and 'Priority Squares'. 'Any square summary' is also a useful resource.

Bird Atlas final breeding season

The focus for the final breeding season is to get confirmed breeding evidence for many species across the region. There are some useful tools on the Atlas website:

• My Local Gaps will show you species that have been recorded but have not had breeding confirmed for each 10 km square.
• Priority squares will show species that have been recorded in neighbouring 10 km squares but not the square in question.

Both will open on the square in which you live, but you can move around to other squares to check them out.

A quick check shows that squares in the north need work on a greater proportion of species than some others.

In addition to this, there are some TTVs that need their breeding season visits.

Have great fun atlasing, let's get those breeding records.