West Midland Bird Club

The 43 of the 50 'Constantly Monitored Boxes' which were occupied equates to 86%; slightly down on last year. However, steady progress was made in the hatching rate of 88% and in the fledging rate of 85.2%. In general breeding took place 7–10 days later this year with egg laying appearing to be interrupted due to cold night time temperatures in late April and early May.

This year a pair of Marsh Tits and a pair of Grey Wagtails used two of our experimental boxes for the first time. We will definitely be experimenting again next year in the hope that we can persuade the Willow Tits to nest at Bodenham.

In addition to the birds breeding in our boxes a large number of birds bred successfully within the 156 acres. They were as follows:

• 4 pairs of Blackbirds
• 1 pair of Blackcaps
• 1 pair of Bullfinches
• 1 pair of Buzzards (first time)
• 2 pairs of Coots
• 5 pairs of Chaffinches
• 2 pairs of Dunnocks
• 5 pairs of Greenfinches
• 1 pair of Goldinches
• 2 pairs of House Martins
• 1 pair of Long-tailed Tits
• 1 pair of Little Owls
• 3 pairs of Mallards
• 2 pairs of Mistle Thrushes
• 2 pairs of Pheasants
• 2 pairs of Pied Wagtails (making a total of 3 pairs)
• 2 pairs of Red Legged Partridge
• 2 pairs of Song Thrushes
• 1 pair of Spotted Flycatchers (making a total of 2 pairs)
• 1 pair of Whitethroats
• 2 pairs of Wrens

We would like to thank all those people — staff, visitors and West Midland Bird Club head counters — for the help they gave during the 2005 breeding season.

Brian Rickett
Project Manager, West Midland Bird Club, Kidderminster Branch.