I had managed to get some information on a site in the north west of Hampshire where there were Stone-curlew. These are extremely rare breeding birds in Britain, let alone Hampshire so I am not giving any locations in this part of the blog.
And so it was that Ian arrived at the site just after sunrise on an overcast, windy and cold morning. Needless to say the habitat was agricultural chalk down with fields with crops just beginning to show. A footpath led between the fields and as we came out of the cover of trees and hedgerow we started to scan the area. We had been advised to bring 'scopes as the views were likely to be distant.
Scanning the fields there were plenty of Rook, a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls and of course Woodpigeon. Along the edge of the fields rectangular patches had been left and we gave these some careful attention without out any luck, the only thing of note present being a couple of Roe Deer.
Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting sang from the hedgerow, the latter a welcome year tick and the opportunity to get up close.
The Corn Bunting population fell by just under 90 percent between 1970 and 2003 mainly due to the lack of seed and insects on the farmland that they would normally inhabit. In addition they are a late nesting species so many nests were destroyed during the harvest of by cutting.
The Corn Bunting desperately needs the following management to ensure the right habitat for it to recover:
1. A nesting habitat which remains available until the late summer
Corn buntings nest on the ground in cereal fields, set-aside, grass field margins or unimproved grassland. They start nesting late in the spring, usually June or July, and can have flightless chicks in August.
2. Lots of seeds throughout the year
Adults feed mainly on seeds, especially cereal grain. Places
where they can find seeds include rotational set-aside, harvested root crops,
winter stubbles, newly-sown crops, weeds in the crop margins, areas of spilt
grain or places where cereals are fed to outdoor cattle. They are becoming
extinct in some pastoral areas of the UK.
3. Insects and spiders to feed to chicks in the spring and
summer
Corn buntings take insects from crops, set-aside, grassland and field margins to feed their chicks. Breeding success relates directly to the availability of insect food
The RSPB have been working with Farm Owners to try and turn around the decline of this iconic farmland species. It jangling song associated with open farmland
A few Fieldfare were still around, their clucking calls bring attention to them in the bushes before they flew out and away across the fields. We walked the main bridleway scanning as we went. Coming back we could see the scrapes in the ground surrounded by what looked like electrical fences powered by solar cells.
It was cold with a very brisk, biting, northerly wind, the sun was trying to break through but there was no real sign of blue sky. In these conditions it was hard to think we were in spring, but a reminder passed us in a Swallow, our first of the year, heading north very quickly, low across the field. There was another reminder as Ian scanned the fields yet again, a pair of Wheatear in one of the fields.
Hope was fading as we stood at the top of the path looking back along the path we had walked. Another scan of the protected sites could reveal anything despite us checking over and over again lumps of soil and flint.
Then as I was checking my phone Ian started to scan the fields on the other side of the bridleway we had come down. We had been told to turn left and this field was on the right, a stubble field. Then Ian said he had something, initially it looked like another lump of mud, but as increased the magnification on the scope I could see this looked to be more like the real thing. A little more and I could see white markings on the wing. At last we had found not one but two Stone-curlew. The views were distant as we had been promised, but there was the chance we could get closer as they appeared to be close to the footpath. As we rushed down the hill we pondered on the irony that we had walked past them when we arrived.
We quickly located one of the birds, the view wasn't brilliant but acceptable, the problem being it was low down amongst the stubble.
Looking at the position of the bird and the footpaths we decided that we could probably get a better view by moving to a place where we would look north. Another dash and the leaving the 'scopes behind and we were in position where at last the Stone-curlew showed really well.
As mentioned it is a scarce visitor and very localised breeder in Hampshire, however Hampshire has about 18% on the the breeding pairs in Wessex. In 2019 there were just over 30 pairs confirmed nesting in the county. The RSPB monitor the breeding with volunteer teams. These birds were well away from the protected nesting area.
The stone-curlews, also known as dikkops or thick-knees,
consist of nine species within the family Burhinidae, and are found
throughout the tropical and temperate parts of the world, with two or more
species occurring in some areas of Africa, Asia and Australia. Despite the
group being classified as waders, most species have a preference for arid or
semi-arid habitats.
A strange, rare summer visitor to southern England and
East Anglia, the stone-curlew is a crow-sized bird with a large head, long
yellow legs and relatively long wings and tail. Active at night, its large
yellow eyes enable it to locate food when it is dark.
Movement was at a premium as it appeared to settle down amongst the stubble, Ian and I referred to our Stone Curlew shuffle as we moved back and forth along the path in an effort to get a better view through the stalks
The name "stone curlew" was first recorded
by Francis Willughby in 1667 as a "third sort of Godwit,
which in Cornwall they call the Stone-Curlew, differing from the
precedent in that it hath a much shorter and slenderer Bill than either of them”.
The name derives from the bird's nocturnal calls sounding like the
unrelated Eurasian Curlew and its preference for barren stony heaths.
The species name oedicnemus comes from
the Greek oidio, to swell, and kneme, the shin or leg, referring to
the bird's prominent tibio-tarsal joints, which also give it the
common name of "thick-knee". Unfortunately we couldn't see the the legs today
When Ian first picked them out from a distance we were sure there were two birds and after some searching we managed to find the other bird. Hidden well down amongst the stubble the yellow eye gave it away. You can see though how difficult it is to find them as they remain stock still with immaculate camouflage from the plumage.
To give some idea of the needle in the haystack that Ian found, here is a view of the filed they were occupying.
Then, totally out of the blue something disturbed them and they flew off with an alarm call, both birds flew across the field and I just managed to catch one as it landed showing the dark wings with a white stripe.
We walked around the field to see if we could find them from the path and did, but despite trying to get some height the stubble obscured them very well. We decided that it was time for a cup of tea and returned to the car elated with what we had managed. These were the first Stone Curlew I have seen away from Norfolk and Suffolk, in fact the first for sometime, ten years in the UK, I did manage one in Majorca and one in India. So it had turned into a good day and the freezing fingers had warmed up without me noticing.
After tea we returned and found them back in the same place we had originally seem them although with not such a clear view.
It was a little more mobile, but reminded me of a sloth in the way it slowly took its steps.
We stuck it out hoping something different might happen but aside from a burst of song it stayed pretty much covered by the stubble.
We then left it and walked the track in search of Grey Partridge that proved unsuccessful. Coming back we re-found one bird again, stood and watched it some more. A tractor started ploughing the field and we hoped this might generate some action, but no. In the end we decided it was lunchtime and time to move on. We had some great views and some stunning shots when you consider where they could have been.
As we made our way back to the cars a Red Kite drifted over heading to where the tractor was ploughing.
After lunch we decided on Fishlake Meadows for the afternoon. On walking from the car park we headed towards the original viewing point, along the canal path a singing Blackcap distracted us as it posed nicely for some photographs.
As we came up from the canal path there is an area alongside the road that appears to have been cleared allowing the lake and reeds to be visible. A Great Egret was on the shore, unfortunately as we tried to get closer it flew off and all I could manage was this record.
From the viewing point there was a fair bit to be seen. Above the water there were all three Hirundines, the most numerous being Swallow and Sand Martin, but we did manage to find one House Martin.
On the water Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Greylag and Canada Geese, Little and Great-crested Grebe and a female Marsh Harrier that came across the reeds and settled in a small tree by the side of the water.
From the viewing point we walked back to the canal path. Like last week at Titchfield the Cetti's Warblers were very vocal and showing well, although I would miss them when they would come out so I had to be happy with slightly covered views.
They have cleared a lot of the old ash trees and others from alongside the path so there are now great views across the marsh, more hirundines moved through and Buzzards could be seen circling above the distant trees.
Chiffchaffs sang from both sides of the canal their repetitive song seemingly everywhere.
We walked down to the centre of the reserve and then cross to head towards the screens. A showy female Stonechat was around the reed bed.
At the screens it was the usual story, not much about. A pair of Pintail, Tufted Duck, several pairs of Teal and Greylag Geese. The highlight being a couple of Snipe and this drake Pochard that swam across the lake, only to turn, get spooked and fly all the way back.
Swallows and Sand Martins moved overhead, but that was about all. We decided to walk back. On the cross path we stopped as a strange song was above us. It turned out to be a male Stonechat.
Back along the canal path, the Chiffchaff and Cetti's Warblers were still in song. We stopped at the second viewing platform to scan the skies. This proved to be successful as we found at least three Red Kite and up to six Buzzard. Unbeknown to us, beneath us there was a Wryneck. It appeared to a lucky few later that afternoon!
A little further along a pair of Bullfinch were ripping in to the blossom of a Cherry Tree, my attention went to the spectacular male Bullfinch.
At one time these birds were considered a pest in the fruit growing counties such as Kent and Herefordshire and were persecuted as a result.
The Bullfinch pair then flew off and we turned to another red breast, a very confiding Robin.
At the first viewing platform there were more Buzzards and another Red Kite. We were also treated to an aerial display by two Peregrine.
As we walked back to the car we were blissfully unaware of the Wryneck and finding out later took a little shine off the day, why I am not sure but it did. Reflecting now it is not every day you get to see Stone-curlews as we did today, so it must go down as a good one.
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