Only just got round to putting a bird survey up on here done by CropShare volunteer Iain in Summer 2011. Glad to hear the farm supports many rare red list birds. 

Also a good place to note there is a new album out by all of the birds listed below, and more. Let’s get it to Xmas no. 1 guys! (Album is actually great for learning bird calls! I got it from RSPB!)

Read on for Iain’s report!


Grey Partridge by David Galavan, flickr

” I visited Willow Farm, Lode 11 times from late April to August 2011 to record bird species found throughout the farm. I wanted to discover what species were found breeding on the farm and in what numbers. I visited the farm early in the morning (6.30am -7.00am) to catch the greatest activity of singing males. I recorded all  birds seen or heard  on maps of the farm. To discern the number of breeding pairs certain activity was also noted. Singing males in 6 out of 11 records indicates a territory with potential nesting. The presence of birds carrying food, or juvenile birds themselves, is an indication that a nest or young are present and that breeding has been successful. 

“I’ve not counted gull or crow species other than Jay, as they were either migrating through or fairly ubiquitous.”

Species recorded:

Red list species– national population have declined by at least 50% in the last 25 years

Lapwing, sootyskye, flickr

Grey Partridge- 2-3 pairs but no confirmed breeding 
Lapwing- at least one breeding pair, with up to 4 young chicks seen
Linnet- flocks of up to 20 seen throughout the farm, though no evidence of breeding 
Cuckoo- 1-2 males heard calling from adjacent land in May June
Skylark- a commonly encountered species with 5 probable territories
Starling- post-breeding flocks noted feeding on farm, max 120, the majority being juvenilles
Yellow wagtail- post-breeding migration, a flock of approx 12 seen in early August
Yellow hammer – 5 territories noted

Amber list species– national populations have declined by 25-50% in the last 25 years

Kestrel, Sergey Yeliseev, flickr

Kestrel- occasionally individual seen hunting on the farm, presumed breeding nearby
Marsh Harrier- individual seen in early May. Breeding at sites north and south of the farm
Oystercatcher- up to 2 pairs seen in the spring, but only seen for a couple of weeks
Stock Dove- regularly seen particularly towards northern end of farm, breeding nearby
Green Woodpecker- occasionally seen and heard along the tree belts at the southern end of the farm, breeding nearby, with a juvenile seen in July
Swallow- at least one breeding pair, post-breeding congregations with 60+ individuals seen in August
Meadow Pipit- one territory just to the north of the farm in grassland
Dunnock- occasionally seen and heard at the southern end of the farm,two territories noted
Wheatear- 1-2 individuals seen with the sheep in April/May
Mistle Thrush- occasionally heard at the southern end of the farm, presence of a flock of 29 in early August indicated local breeding
Common Whitethroat- common throughout the farm with 7 territories recorded
Bullfinch- occasionally recorded at southern end of farm
Reed Bunting- heard singing from adjacent farm land

Green list species– national populations have not shown a decline greater than 25% in the last 25 years

Buzzard
Red-legged Partridge
Little Owl
Woodpigeon
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Blackbird
Robin
Blackcap
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warbler
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Jay
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch