9 hrs today to check 190 boxes, end result another 11 nest records. 1 Nuthatch with two eggs, all others were Tits ranging from 1 to 6 eggs. The earliest egg date for a box was 15th April gained last year so the clutch of 6 smashes this - 9th April. Last years record was also the extreme end of the scale with nothing laying for a further week so to have 11 boxes with eggs today is extraordinary - I haven't done the maths yet but a swift look at last years data hints that this level of action is around 10 days early, it took until 24th April last year to get 11 nest box records .
Other box totals were -
NL - 37
N4 - 19
N3 - 7
N2 - 10
N1 - 7
building started - 8
The N codes are down the right hand side for an explanation
With two boxes containing birds refusing to budge, probably still building their nests, this gives a total of 101 boxes showing signs of use against 75 that actually had eggs last year
Open nests were not on the agenda today although I did find a Song Thrush incubating 4 to equal last years tally and a LT Tit about 1m high in bramble that had to go unrecorded today. Despite my best efforts the pain of war scars from only wearing a tee shirt in bramble proved too much and a tactical withdrawal was forced. My arms are still stinging some 7 hrs later. One for tomorrow/Sunday I think.....
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