Poor breeding season in 2016
13 Jan 2017
Based on records compiled from the Nest Record Scheme and Constant Effort Sites Scheme, the preliminary report on the 2016 breeding season shows a late and poor breeding season. Great Tit, Chaffinch and Blackcap were particularly affected by cool and damp weather in April, with many laying eggs a week later on average. Species nesting in June, such as Reed Warbler, were also affected by heavy rainfall.
On a more positive note, there was a higher adult abundance of short and long-distance migrants at the start of the season. Chiffchaff in particular were noted in the greatest numbers since 1983. Survival rates may have been helped by warmer than average conditions in their wintering grounds. Similarly, the survival rate of cold sensitive species such as Wren and Cetti's Warbler was up on previous years, no doubt helped by the milder winter in 2015–16.
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