Didn't expect all the negative response to this but interesting that some of you certainly feel that Warbler numbers are down. At least the last last few comments seem to suggest Blackcaps (which was the main species I mentioned in my original comment) are holding their own. The fact I've heard a fair number of them in various places recently could simply be a case of being in the right time at the right time to hear that particular bird singing.
poor year for as far as I can tell ,Willow Warblers well down on my patches, Chiffchaff I would say down slightly ,hardly any Grasshopper Warbler in fact 1 heard up to now ,Blackcaps about holding there own as are Garden Warbler ,Whitethroat well down ,Reed Warblers about average. I wouldn't say there's been any resurgence.
I've been doing breeding bird surveys all over the midlands and north west in recent weeks, and my impression is that it's been a very poor year especially for willow warblers. Blackcaps largely holding up but chiffchaffs also down. Maybe a few more garden warblers and a few less whitethroats. Lesser whitethroats about the same.
In your defence Rob, and without prompting him, my brother stated that blackcaps were everywhere this year. Also, picked up my first self-found garden warbler today . I really hope that it is just a question of some being very late.
Cheers,
Andy
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Well it's certainly not what I'm experiencing recently, they seem to be at lots of various places this last few weeks. It could well be that they have simply moved from some areas or I've just fell lucky being in the right place at the right time, although my job enables that.
Heard another 3 today...1 at the depot yard in Reddish, 1 at Ellen Wilkinson School near Devonshire Street bus station in Ardwick, and then another further down the road in the trees at the top of Pin Mill Brow near the electrical outlet.
Generally, I feel there about half what there should be at this time. We should have several chiffchaff & blackcap singing behind our house - today, nothing. Same goes for various places I've visited - far less singing from summer visitors, though residents are just fine.
I'd guess that April cold snap cut short part of the migration
Personally, I've not noticed any difference. I know the population tends to move about year in year out (I can remember some years where certain warblers would be in one spot and other years moved to another.) Or maybe we've just missed them so much after a rough winter and were just glad to listen out for them hence to notice them more??
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Honestly Rob, I would have to say that, so far, I have not seen (or heard)a case for a warbler resurgence. Personally, I would put blackcaps at about or slightly below the norm, willow warblers below, and chiffchaffs some way below. As for the usual casual finds of lesser whitethroat and garden warbler I expect, as things stand I have heard one garden warbler in my usual sites and no lesser whitethroats. I am glad that you have found where they might be but I rate this Spring as a bit of a shocker at present, and I worry things may never be the same again.
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My take on this spring is that arrivals and behaviour have stood out because it was late, and effectively we seemed to go from snow and cold to green trees and migrant songbirds in about 5 minutes, without a month or so of gradual change that we might have normally.
Personally I am much better on songs than I used to be, so I can recognise more songs routinely now. I couldn't tell you what I made of spring in previous years, as I wouldn't have known what was singing in the first place. In this respect I hear Dunnocks a lot now I have learned the song, and I have picked up Blackcap singing on my local patches, but I wasn't really checking last year or before
One thing I have noticed is lots of Orange-tip butterflies this year compared to last
Not sure about Willow Warblers, I went to a reliable site earlier this week and didn't hear a single bird singing? There was something in the news a few weeks ago, saying that Willow Warblers are continuing to decline in England, but increasing in Scotland (overall UK still declining).
I believe its fair to say that many long distance migrant passerines, including warblers are declining nationally; however Chiffchaff and Blackcap are short distance migrants, so are fairing betting and may be filling the void?
Is it just me or has anyone else witnessed a dramatic increase in sightings and hearing singing of some of the commoner Warblers this year, especially Blackcaps? Everywhere I've been recently I seem to be hearing Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, the odd Whitethroat here and there, a Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat singing behind works depot in Reddish the other day which was unexpected, but the one that stands out is Blackcap!!! I've not been in the city centre since Monday as I'm covering other routes due to holidays, and it seems virtually everywhere I've been I can hear a Blackcap with the odd brief sighting. Today alone I've heard around 9 including 1 in the depot yard, 2 in Hadfield, 1 at Denton roundabout and another at Stockport pyramid roundabout, 1 outside Peruga restaurant Marple Bridge and then another in the car park of the Dog and Partridge in Matley near Hobson Moor Rd to name a few. Is it just purely by chance that I've rocked up and stumbled on these birds singing at the right time or do they seem to be having a good year?
. I really hope that it is just a question of some being very late.