Another month - but mist netting captures very low and nothing at all on the 7th!

Most of our efforts for the last two months have been monitoring nest boxes and seeking open nests. We found a Meadow Pipit's nest with 5 young but unfortunately it was predated either by corvids or weasel. Blackbirds have successfully raised young and 8 pullli (chicks yet to fledge) have been ringed this month also 3 young Lapwing on Restharrow Scrape. As the weather has been fairly kind this season with no prolonged wet weather - nestboxes that have been occupied with Blue and Great Tits are doing well, though not so for House Sparrow. Two boxes were taken up with beautiful nests and four/three eggs laid in each, one clutch was predated at egg stage, more than likely to be weasel as its been sighted numerous times from the obs, the other clutch hatched - 1 died soon after and the other two were just beginning to grow their feathers when they also died. Fortunately House Sparrows have more than one brood in a season so I'm hoping the next attempt will be successful. On a happier note all five Starling broods have successfully fledged.