Woodland Birds In Decline
August 7, 2008
Latest results from the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) puts woodland birds at the top of the list of declining species.
The BBS - which is the primary source of information about countryside birds, and now shows that wood warbler, spotted flycatcher, pied flycatcher and willow tit have all declined by over half since the start of the survey in 1994.
The bad news
Since 1994 the Breeding Bird Survey has revealed a major decline in the numbers of some woodland birds but those with the most specialist habitat requirements (some of which are also long-distance migrants), have shown the most dramatic declines, notably willow tit (down 77 per cent), spotted flycatcher (down 59 per cent), wood warbler (down 57 per cent) and pied flycatcher (down 54 per cent).
This is not due to loss of habitat, as overall we probably have more woodland than ever, but the tree composition and age structure of our woods have changed. Deer have increased in numbers, browsing away the forest under-story on which the birds depend, and forest management practices are changing the structure of our woodlands.
The good news
It’s not all bad news, and some species are increasing in numbers. Many of the species showing the biggest increases are also expanding across the UK, notably stonechat (up 278 per cent), nuthatch (up 71 per cent) and buzzard (up 56 per cent). Buzzards are spreading from their western strongholds, thanks to a reduction in persecution and the recovery of rabbit populations from the effects of myxomatosis.
‘Since 1994 the Breeding Bird Survey has revealed a major decline in the numbers of some woodland birds.’
Stonechats are also spreading back eastwards from the temperate western coastal areas, and nuthatches, previously found only in England and Wales, are increasingly breeding in Scotland.
More often heard than seen, the secretive grasshopper warbler had been lost from many areas by the 1980s, and the species is red-listed due to population declines.
However, BBS results now show that life is looking up for grasshopper warblers, which have increased by 68 per cent since the survey started in 1994, and also increased by 24 per cent between 2006 and 2007.
Nearly 3,000 volunteer birdwatchers took part in the annual Breeding Bird Survey during 2007, and counted over a million individual birds of 220 species throughout the UK.
UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert Monday 4th August
August 4, 2008
This is the UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert for Monday 4th August 2008, issued at 1500 hours and published in association with Rare Bird Alert Pagers (come and see us at Stands 53 & 54 at the Birdfair www.birdfair,org.uk) whilst utilising information gleaned from the Regional Birdlines, BirdGuides, local email groups & websites and individual observers.
The star bird throughout the weekend and today is an adult female LESSER GREY SHRIKE which is frequenting some Oak trees, brookside scrub, gorse clumps and fenceposts on Middlebere Heath in the valley just west of Wych Heath, by the Corfe River (at cSY 966 843). It represents only the 5th Dorset record, following singles near Hurn (shot) in September 1842, in Wareham Forest on 23 August 1965, briefly at The Nothe, Weymouth, on 18 October 1987 and at Stoford on 20 May 1989.
DETAILED DIRECTIONS
Leave the A351 just north of Corfe Castle at the Norden roundabout and follow the minor road to the left for 1.5 miles to Scotland Farm. Just beyond there, park sensibly and courteously at the entrance to the public bridleway at SY 961 841 and continue past the gate to the first stile. From here, follow the new fenceline NE and after 200 yards, start searching the fenceposts for the shrike. From the far end of the fence, a line of gorse goes away from you and on the dead gorse protruding is another favoured hunting post. If not here, the bird can be found in the bushes and Oak trees bordering the Corfe River, particularly where a new ditch is being dug out (eg in the area with the yellow mechanical digger). The bird is typically mobile and wide-ranging.
Nearby, the 7 immature Spoonbills remain at Middlebere, Poole Harbour, with 2 adult Roseate Terns on Brownsea Island and the eclipse drake Hooded Merganser at Radipole Lake RSPB (the latter now favouring the west side of the channel with roosting Tufted Ducks, viewable distantly from the Gurkha Restaurant car park - 40p for half-hour parking). Balearic Shearwaters continue to daily pass Portland Bill, and a Wood Sandpiper is present on the Tip Scrape at Lodmoor NR.
In Orkney, we had a ‘new’ TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL on Stronsay on 2nd (with just the adult male remaining on Fair Isle and female at Esha Ness Lighthouse) and an eclipse drake AMERICAN WIGEON at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire) (on 2nd-3rd).
A handful of CORY’S and GREAT SHEARWATERS were noted off Cornwall and Scilly at the weekend, with a WILSON’S PETREL identified amongst 250 Storm Petrels from a short pelagic (3rd) and 61 ROSEATE TERNS counted from Long Nanny Burn in Northumberland.
The SHORELARK remains at Spurn Point (East Yorks), with a male RED-BACKED SHRIKE in Richmond Park (Gtr London) on 2nd.
The adult summer WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER appeared again at Cresswell Pond (Northumberland), with adult summer PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVERS on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) and at Havergate Island (Suffolk) briefly. Adult PECTORAL SANDPIPERS remain at Gibraltar Point NR (Lincs) and Titchwell RSPB (Norfolk).
The pair of COMMON CRANES remain at Sleap Moor (Salop), with another two at Welney WWT (Norfolk), whilst in Avon the drake FERRUGINOUS DUCK continues at Chew Valley Lake.
A CASPIAN TERN flew north past Formby Point (Merseyside) at 1355 on 4th.
In IRELAND, the first BAIRD’S SANDPIPER of 2008 was discovered at Shanagarry Pools (Co. Cork), NNW of Ballycotton (2nd), whilst the first-summer drake KING EIDER remains at Lady’s Island Lake (Co. Wexford).
Members Area Updates
August 2, 2008
The following Uk 400 Club lists have been updated,
- Life lists
- Year Lists
- County Lists
members can also read our latest article detailing the 2008 Two barred Crossbil invasion, please log in for details.
Non members please contact lee for more information.
UK400 Club Rare Bird Alerts
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