Over the last few years many farmers have taken advantage of ‘nature friendly farming’ incentives in order to try and reverse some of the damaging effects that years of intensive farming has had on our wildlife and biodiversity. These include measures to restore lost habitat like planting trees, restoring lost hedgerows and implementing margins on arable fields.
Many of our farmland birds are currently on the red list of endangered species which means that they have declined by more than 50% over the last 25 years. For many species it is far worse than that. Grey Partridge by 87%, Tree Sparrow by 94%, Linnet by 58%, Yellowhammer by 54% and Corn Bunting by 90%.
My regular ‘birding’ here since 1993 takes me around our local farms, particularly Rainbarrow, Clandon and Maiden Castle, and I have certainly noticed the decline in the numbers of Grey Partridge and Yellowhammer. However we are fortunate here in having strong breeding populations of Corn Bunting and Skylark. Hopefully I will soon be able to report increases in numbers of other species. ‘Set aside areas’ planted with a bird mix can attract large flocks in the winter taking advantage of plentiful seeds and insects. An area on Rain barrow Farm in recent years has seen up to 300 Chaffinch and 400 Linnet. Other species seen here have included wintering thrushes like Redwing and Fieldfare and also Reed Bunting and Brambling.
Of course if you watch a ‘patch’ regularly, there will always be occasions when a rarer or more unusual bird appears, and this will normally be during the migration periods of spring and autumn when species like Wheatears, Whinchats, Redstarts and Pied Flycatchers regularly turn up, stopping off for a quick rest and feed. Over these last 30 years I have been fortunate enough to see Wryneck, Red-backed and Woodchat Shrike, Snow and Ortolan Bunting as well as lesser ‘rarities’ like Ring Ouzel and Firecrest.
I am more than happy to have the occasional companion if anyone out there wants a local and gentle amble to improve their bird identification skills.
Nigel Tooth
19 September 2023
Email nigeltooth@hotmail.co.uk
