So 2022 draws to a close marking the 19th year that I have collected weekly data on my patch. One more year and I can do a deep dive analysis on the data and develop a 20-year report. Even with 20 years of data some of the patterns that are beginning to emerge are so scant that maybe another 20 years of data will be needed!
I can sum up the year thus:
44 - the number of recording visits
42.7 - the total number of recording observation hours
57 - bird species
13 - butterfly species
11 - dragonfly species
4 - mammal species
1 - reptile species
August - the hottest month
December - the coldest month
February - the windiest month
Winners and Losers
This year populations of Chiffchaff, Jay, Skylark, and Nuthatch all increased. The Marsh Tits returned this year after last being seen in 2012. Sedge Warblers bred once again this year for the second year in a row and winter flocks of teal have increased.
Those species declining are notably the three common tit species and the Little Grebe has not been recorded since 2020.
Of the 61 species recorded this year and last 5 were not recorded this year with only 4 new species recorded.
Between 2021 and 2022 40% of species increased by more than 10%, 42% declined by more than 10% and 18% remained stable.
This is a very brief and cursory examination of the data, more is sure to follow although that may take some time. Tomorrow I will collect the memory cards from my trail cams and complete another year of that data collection, an annual update will follow once they have been analsyed.
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