When we did the CAWOS atlas work ,most people managed more than 50% confirmed breeders i.e double letters
I guess it comes down to how long you spend in the field - on the actual TTV walk I only managed about 10 - the other 12 came from various Roving Records
I too have just completed my second breeding season TTV's in the first week of July and tend to agree with you that it might be getting a fraction late for the majority of breeding activity. Next year - if I'm asked again! - I might consider bringing my second visit a week or so forward into mid to late June. Having said that - you don't actually have to make a visit in July! From my understanding the BTO gives a window from 1st June to 31st July (left to the discretion of the surveyor) as to when they make that second breeding season visit. This I would guess allow those in the north of England and especially bonny Scotland a degree of flexibility to record those birds taking advantage of the slightly later breeding season than that experienced in the south of the UK.
Still you never know you could be missing out on that rare (very!) Quail breeding record by doing the second breeding season TTV visit too early!!
Still, 22 confirmed breeding species seems to be an excellent return!
Not sure why we need to do a July visit as everything was keeping its head down. Tree Sparrows were feeding young and Blackbirds with second (or third ?) broods.
Post-breeding flocks of 50+ Woodpigeon and 30+ Jackdaws but nothing really exciting to report.
Female Wheatear perched on some pallets but don't think it'll stay around. Mute Swan's have gone, replaced by a pair of Coots sat on eggs. Moorhens have hatched already
Oystercatcher seems to be nesting or have a long rest in the same spot :)
