The willow tit population in Great Britain is estimated at nearly 5,700 breeding pairs of which 76% were in England, 21% in Wales and 3% in Scotland. This equates to 4332 breeding pairs in England (National Willow Tit Survey 2019-2021). Willow tit is regarded as the fastest declining UK resident bird.
Surveys have been taking place in Shropshire using the recommended playback methodology since 2016, coordinated by Jonathan Groom (Shropshire Willow Tit Species Champion & survey coordinator). In 2024, RVCWG members attended two training sessions led by Jonathan Groom, an online session to introduce the project and the methodology, followed by a practical session in the field to learn and practice the playback methodology. RVCWG members contributed to the 413 playback points that were recorded on the Qfield app and the estimated 68 hours of survey work. Surveys resulted in 14 records of willow tit in the stepping stones project area, 12 of these were in response to playback. There were a minimum of 6 territories and 2 of these were in the Rea Valley area in Eastridge Woods.
Past survey efforts in the Stepping Stones area identified an additional 9 willow tit territories which were not located in 2024 and 5 of these were in the Rea Valley. As such, the willow tit surveyors who are members of the RVCWG have decided to continue surveying in 2025 to try and confirm these territories.
Nine of us met on wet Sunday morning at Eastridge Woods where surveyors from the previous year trained new surveyors for 2025. Spending some time together to familiarise ourselves with the Qfield app – how to mark survey points and how to add and delete data and feeling confident using it in the field. We also practiced using the standardised playback call on a small walk, recording species as we went.
We are confident that our group of 10 – 12 recorders within the Rea Valley will survey quite a lot of suitable habitat and hopefully produce more records of willow tit in the area.
