The timing of departure of Reed Warblers from northern England

Abstract

ABSTRACT Using ringing data, we examine the timing of post-breeding departure of adults and juvenile Reed Warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus from two sites with minimal migrant influx in the northern edge of its distributional range in Britain. Results are in line with findings from a study in the south of England. However, a key difference was a double peak of juveniles in August: this suggested that by mid August the number of juveniles from first broods departing Leighton Moss outnumbers new birds from late first broods and that new birds from second broods contribute to a second peak in capture totals of juveniles by the end of August.