Author Archives: Thomas Whitlock

The Magpie (Pica pica), is a familiar and unmistakable black and white, long-tailed bird. Their nests are large, twiggy and long-lasting structures, usually built among dense tree branches. The Magpie is an opportunistic omnivore, its diet including fruit, insects, roadkill and the eggs/young of … Continue reading →

Today was the final of my data collection points at High Wood in Wokingham behind Bulmershe Campus. Because last week I was unable to undertake a dawn sample, that was done this morning from 05:45 onwards. In total, 8 species … Continue reading →

Today was the final of my samples at Maiden Erlegh nature reserve and the final of my dusk samples for this habitat. In total, 15 species were witnessed and a further 5 were identified using the recorder, with the only … Continue reading →

The dunnock song repertoire comprises of multiple song types, and during bouts of singing males repeats a song type several times before switching. Several hypotheses suggest that the rate at which males switch song types may function in male–male aggression, … Continue reading →

A rather House-sparrow like bird, the Dunnock (Prunella modularis) has a thin, warbler like bill. Generally rather skulking, but males are comparatively bold and conspicuous in spring. The sexes are similar throughout the entire year.

It was the turn of my final data collection session on campus woodland today, and it was the final of my dusk samples. In total, only 9 species were witnessed, but a further 7 were identified using the voice recorder. … Continue reading →

In nature, the growth of nestlings can be affected by; environmental conditions out of parental control, the age and physical condition of the parents and the factors which are, to a varied degree, under parental control, such as choice of … Continue reading →

Confusingly, the species Corvus corone is represented in the UK by two, geographically separate sub-species with entirely distinct plumages. Carrion and Hooded Crows are, however, structurally identical and are not considered to be separate species because, where the two sub-species overlap, they interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

The Great Tit (Parus major) is a bold and familiar woodland bird that is also a frequent visitor to gardens. The Great Tit is well-marked and colourful, with a song that is not less distinctive than its appearance. The sexes … Continue reading →

The numbers of Great Tit populations tend to fluctuate in parallel with Blue Tit populations and with the numbers in other populations of other passerine species. The breeding season is short for this species, with the majority of the birds … Continue reading →