Category Archives: Birds

The Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) is a rather dumpy and short-tailed woodland bird. The Nuthatch has the habit of descending tree trunks head-downwards in a jerky manner, a trait that, in the UK, is unique to the species. Its chisel like bill … Continue reading →

The final of my three survey sites was High Wood behind Bulmershe campus. It total, 25 bird species were identified in the 29 acre site. Surveying will start tomorrow on the two new field sites just added, before bird to … Continue reading →

As the same with the campus woodland, I have undertaken my 4 field study times for Maiden Erlegh, with a total of  28 bird species being identified in the 14 acre wooded site. The full list is below. 

I have completed my bird survey on all three of my original field study sites – Campus Woodland, Maiden Erlegh and High Wood – and have decided to add two more for more comparisons on bird species richness.  These are … Continue reading →

Female Magpie quality can be used to explain over 60% of the variance in clutch-size and size of eggs laid during the breeding season. Male quality accounts for over 70% of a pair’s breeding success within each breeding season. The … Continue reading →

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.