Worcestershire Record No. 26 April 2009 pp. 44-45

Steve Davies & Peter Holmes

Repeating the methodology employed in the winter of 2007/8 walks making counts of birds using the habitat at these two farms were made between October and March. The winter ringing scheme commenced earlier than 2007/8 in October. Table 1 shows the results of this winter’s efforts.

A total of nine farmland walks were made to count birds over the winter period 2008/9. The duration of visits ranged from one hour to four hours, giving a total observer effort of 18 hours and 20 minutes.

Table 1. Maximum counts of birds derived from winter farmland walks in 2008/9. Maximum counts of individuals from ringing data bold in parentheses. “Retraps” indicate the number of birds previously ringed in 2007/8 and recaptured.

Total species seen - 66     Total species ringed - 22

High counts of swans, ducks and geese were recorded on 03/01/2009. These were typical cold weather movements as waterbirds sought waterbodies that were free from ice which affected still waters such as those at Lower Moor on the other side of the river. Swans and geese grazed on the riverside grassland and ducks loafed on the riverbank or dabbled at the waters edge.

Barn Owl was included because of the presence of freshly deposited pellets below a known roost site. PH was fortunate enough to see the Hen Harrier that had stayed in the area for a short time on one of his ringing visits, this scarce species hunting at the study site was duly added to the list.

Huge numbers of Linnets and Chaffinches (see Table 1) were recorded chiefly in the area of game crop next to Glenmore Farm house but these numbers decreased towards the end of the recording period. Yellowhammers continued to find the hedgerows on Wick Grange Farm to their liking, but Corn Bunting proved to be elusive only showing twice during survey visits.

To summarise, another winter of healthy numbers of farmland indicator bird species must surely bode well for them at Wick Grange Farm and Glenmore Farm.