April at Allestree

This marks the start of the second full year monitoring birds at Allestree Park in Derby. After setting
up the site with an improved area for netting, we undertook two ringing visits this month. A total of
35 birds were caught during these visits, including a wide variety of species and some valuable data
gained.

New species for the site included a Jay, a Magpie, and a Whitethroat (pictured). Other species of
interest included a Nuthatch and a Garden Warbler (also pictured), indicative of the scrub and
woodland habitats in which we operate. 

With it being the breeding season, we also found multiple pairs of birds actively breeding, including Coal Tits, Blackbirds, Great Tits, and Chiffchaffs.

Of the 35 birds encountered, 13 were retraps. Some of these included Blue Tits which were last
recorded on site in November 2024. Even more interesting were Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, and Willow
Warblers who we also encountered breeding on site last year. Some of these will have undertaken impressive migrations to southern Europe or even Africa since last year, and have returned to the same area of Allestree Park to breed once again.

Our monitoring work at Allestree will continue throughout the spring and summer to continue investigating the trends of birds on the site and look at how important these habitats are for breeding and migrant birds. 

Josh