It's worth visiting the Warren

Create the habitat and the birds will do the rest

RSPB Broadwater Warren is my closest nature reserve here in Tunbridge Wells, East Sussex. The RSPB have managed the site since 2007 with the aim to create a variety of habitats including large areas of lowland heath, an ecosystem of which 80% has been lost since the 1800s. Essentially a large conifer plantation previously, 65 hectares of this monoculture have been cleared of pines so far with more planned. The area has been cleared in stages, the earliest of which are already carpeted with heather. Alongside this newly created heath are patches of broadleaf woodland, stands of pine, forest ponds and rough areas of bramble and gorse. These new habitats quickly attracted their specialist birds; it is a fine example of planned physical management increasing biodiversity.

(Western) Stonechat Saxicola rubicola. December 2015.

The highlights are the Woodlark and Nightjar, both of which have been present on the reserve in the spring and summer for 5+ years now, alongside Yellowhammer, Tree Pipit, Woodcock, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Stonechat amongst more common species. The excitement of hearing the first Woodlark song over the heath so close to home is memorable.

I have been working abroad for the majority of the last five years but whenever I am in the area I visit Broadwater Warren and see how it is progressing. I managed to visit four times throughout December this year and saw these Common Crossbill. Other interesting species I have recorded here include Firecrest in 2012 (the first for the reserve), a Redstart this spring and a Raven a week ago.     

Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra. December 2015.

A report of the first Dartford Warbler for the reserve was made on November 5th, moving with a group of Stonechat, but has not been seen since. It is surely just a matter of time however until these charismatic birds settle at Broadwater Warren, yet another reason to visit this dynamic and constantly changing reserve in the High Weald.

Regenerating heath. December 2015.

Family Focus - Shorebirds of Maine, USA

I spent spring and summer of 2013 & 2014 working for Project Puffin in Maine, USA. Living on small, isolated islands off the East coast of the continent put me in a position to observe much shorebird migration. Here are a few photos of some of the species that stopped by to feed in the small fresh and salt water pools on the island.

  

Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus. Maine, USA. June 2014.

Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes. Maine, USA. August 2014.

White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis. Maine, USA. July 2014.

Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima. Maine, USA. July 2014.

Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus. Maine, USA. July 2014.

(Hudsonian) Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus. Maine, USA. July 2014. 

Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius. Maine, USA. June 2014.

Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla. Maine, USA. June 2014.

Killdeer Charadrius vociferus. Maine, USA. August, 2014.

Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla. Maine, USA. July 2014.

Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus. Maine, USA. August 2014.

Turnstone Arenaria interpres. Maine, USA. July 2014.

In total 23 species of shorebird were recorded by our small team of 4-6 over three months on Seal Island National Nature Reserve, a tiny rock in the Gulf of Maine with the Stilt Sandpiper being the most unusual.

Species Focus - Sinai Rosefinch

Searching for a pink bird on a pink mountain

The Sinai Rosefinch Carpodacus synoicus , also known as the Pale Rosefinch, is an evocative species that I was keen to try and find during my time at Eilat, Israel.

An elusive desert-adapted finch, they breed high on mountains in Israel, Sinai, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The terrain they favour is incredibly barren and dominated by exposed rock, a far cry from the more verdant habitat preferred by their relatives the Common Rosefinch in Europe and the House, Purple and Cassin's Finches in the USA. Small numbers spend the winter in Southern Israel where they can be found at lower altitude, arriving in late November in the Eilat Mountains.

After failing to see any at the local spot throughout November, we finally managed to find a flock three days before I left Israel at the end of the month. A location boasting impressive geology called Amram's Pillars, it is around 45 minutes from Eilat and requires a drive into the mountain foothills along an un-surfaced road.

Amram's Pillars, named after this formation. November 2015.

   

Female and juvenile Sinai Rosefinches are dull sandy brown with the distinctive bill of a seed-eater. The flock of 12 birds that we found boasted only one adult male, apparently a common sex and age ratio. Unlike the female, the male is truly stunning, a bright pink bird which brightens to scarlet around the head set off by a white crown. The male kept at a further distance than the majority of the flock and I unfortunately did not manage any good photos.  

Female/juvenile Sinai Rosefinch. Eilat Mountains, November 2015.

Male Sinai Rosefinch. Eilat Mountains, November 2015.

This species has an interesting distribution with four subspecies all geographically isolated from each other. The nominate synoicus is restricted to the Middle East, salimalii to the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan, stoliczkae to West China and beicki to Central China. All tied to their mountainous habitat and presumably separate for some time, questions have been raised as to their current taxonomical placement as subspecies.

Seeing these incredible desert specialists in an atmospheric wadi made of pink rock was a highlight of the trip and a suitable final species for the Eilat region.

 

The moon rises as the last light of the sun illuminates a ridge over the wide wadi where the Sinai Rosefinches visit each day to drink. The flock spent most of its time foraging on the pink mountainside on the right.
November 2015.

Rye Harbour - 13/12/15

I spent three hours birding around the circular trail at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve on Sunday. Designated a SSSI, SPA and SAC due to its nationally important habitats including saltmarsh, fresh pools, brackish lagoons, reedbeds and coastal shingle, it always attracts good numbers of birds. Just an hour from Tunbridge Wells, I try and visit Rye Harbour at least once a year whenever I am in the UK. The website has recently been updated.

Although overcast and cold there were lots of birds on the lagoons including c1000 Golden Plover, c700 Lapwing, c300 Wigeon, and dozens of Oystercatcher, Shoveler, Gadwall and Teal. Alongside the odd Redshank, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover and Dunlin I picked out two Snipe.

The shingle beach produced a Skylark and a dozen Turnstone.

Although nothing too special materialised, the huge flock of Golden Plovers wheeling over the main pool was a spectacle, probably flushed by a raptor which I did not manage to locate.

Total count: 40 species

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago. Eilat, September 2015. Nope, not a photo from the UK but more enjoyable than distant birds on an overcast day.

Family Focus - The Wheatears of Eilat

Oenanthe

Residing in the Chat subfamily, within the Thrush superfamily, Wheatears Oenanthe are represented by 21-23 species depending on which taxonomical system you follow. Many of these are present in the Western Palaearctic and 15 have been recorded in Israel. It's a real wheatear hotspot and one of the families I was most interested to experience as identification is not always straightforward.

Stocky chats with strong legs and an upright posture, wheatears are all variations on a contrasting black, white and sandy colour scheme. Usually not hard to find, they favour exposed rocks and fence posts and are therefore fairly easy to pick out in the arid habitats they prefer.

I managed to observe at least 9 species (probably 10 but could not confirm) in Israel, mostly in the desert habitats of the Southern Aravah near Eilat.

1. Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe was the only species I was familiar with from the UK and proved the most common, seen throughout September-November.

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe. Yotvata, October 2015.

2. Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens breed in Southern Israel in mountainous areas before moving down into the arid plains in winter. The rusty under-tail coverts and white-centered remiges are diagnostic. We saw a handful in the Eilat Mountains during September and many more lower down in November.
 

Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens. Eilat Mountains, November 2015.

3. Hooded Wheatear Oenanthe monacha are an uncommon resident in Southern Israel. Their attenuated shape and method of sallying to catch insects on the wing like a bee-eater are distinctive.

Hooded Wheatear Oenanthe lugens. Yotvata, October 2015.

4. Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti are also resident in the South. We started seeing them in late September and by mid October they were common at sites such as Yotvata. Numbers then dropped in November.

Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti. Yotvata, October 2015

5. Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica one of only two wheatears ringed at the IBRCE this Autumn, this adult male was captured in early September. Seen throughout September to mid-October.

Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica. IBRCE, September 2015.

6. Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina were common throughout all habitats right through the season. Unfortunately my only decent photo is this bird having its tail photographed after ringing at the IBRCE in early September.

Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina. IBRCE, September 2015. 

7. White-crowned Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga. A large, bulky, tame species that inhabits dry wadis in mountainous areas. Resident through all but the longest droughts, these birds are true desert survivors. Commonly found in suitable habitat, they became my personal favourite wheatear.

White-crowned Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga. Ramon Crater, September 2015.

8. Finsch's Wheatear Oenanthe finschii. A winter visitor to Northern Israel, this species takes over the recently abandoned summer territories of Black-eared Wheatears. They also breed in small numbers high on Mt. Hermon. I saw one briefly in the hills between Beit She'an and Jerusalem.

9. Blackstart Cercomela melanura. Although not a true Wheatear, these inquisitive, tame birds fill a similar niche and are common where there is some amount of vegetation. They have a habit of flicking their pure black tail down and spreading it at the same time and absolutely hate recorded calls being played!

Blackstart Cercomela melanura. The Dead Sea, November 2015. 

I did also observe a flyover wheatear at the saltpans in Eilat which looked very much like an adult male Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleshanka but could not confirm the identification.

I am very pleased to have managed to see these 9 species in their natural environment (not on a blustery Autumn day on the East coast of the UK as is the trend with Desert Wheatears in recent years!).

UK Red List updated

The UK Red List was updated this month

Birds of Conservation Concern 4: The Red List for Birds (BoCC4), has just been published by a group of scientists from the RSPB, WWT and BTO among others. Last updated in 2009, the conservation concern of 244 regularly occurring species has been assessed and the species placed into Green, Amber or Red categories. Species on the Red List are in need of concerted, focused conservation action or their population will continue to decline severely.

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla Flava. Eilat, Israel September 2015. This species is Red Listed due to declines in breeding population. This blue headed individual however belongs to the flava subspecies of mainland Europe.

The Lists

Red     : 67 (25.7%) species. A full 20 species were added, while three dropped down to Amber.
Amber : 96 species
Green  :81 species. An increase of 13 species dropped from Amber.

Look through the data and themes become apparent. Farmland birds are still in trouble, in fact this habitat group has the largest percentage of its species on the Red List (12 of 26). Atlantic Puffin, Black-legged Kittiwake and European Shag join other seabirds on the List, and Woodcock, Curlew, Ringed Plover and Dotterel double the number of wading birds. Wildfowl species are swelled by White-fronted Goose, Common Pochard, Long-tailed Duck and Velvet Scoter while the uplisting of Mistle Thrush means five of our six thrushes also find themselves on the Red List.

As the BTO points out, there are some signs of progress being made in stabilising these declines with European Nightjar and Bittern dropping from Red to Amber through population growth following targeted conservation efforts.

This paper is humbling as it shows very clearly the state of the UK's birds, and it is not a particularly hopeful one. More must be done, at all levels, to conserve our natural places and the creatures that inhabit them.

The full article published in British Birds can be found here and provides detail on the methodology and criteria used in the assessment process. An overview from the BTO can be found here which shows the Listed species concisely.

One interesting fact gleaned from the pages of the report is the removal of Wryneck from the breeding species list. Reported breeding in 54 counties up until 1900, they were so common the RSPB saw fit to sell specific nest boxes for them!

Wryneck Jynx torquilla. Eilat, Israel September 2015. 

Eilat, Israel. September - November 2015

Overview

I spent the autumn of 2015 at the International Birding and Research Centre in Eilat (IBRCE), Israel. Located on the shores of the Red Sea at the Southernmost tip of Israel, Eilat is a world famous site for migratory birds and my time there did not disappoint.

Political map showing Israel with Eilat highlighted. From the beach at Eilat Israel's three Southern neighbours can be seen at once: Jordan to the East, Saudi Arabia to the South and Egypt to the West.

Working as a ringer and migration monitor, I spent my mornings ringing birds at the constant effort site and my afternoons visiting migration hotspots and recording the diversity and numbers of species.

In total I managed to observe 287 species including 110 new species for me (lifers) and ring 1584 individuals of 63 species. 

Many Afro-Palearctic migrants are declining, some rapidly, so keeping abreast of their population trends and physical condition through monitoring and ringing is crucial to our understanding of them and influences conservation effort elsewhere.

Cyprus warbler Sylvia melanothorax.

This 1cy (first calendar year, a bird hatched this year) male was the only Cyprus warbler captured this autumn. An endemic breeder to Cyprus, they come to wadis in the Eilat Mountains to overwinter. Although still regarded by the IUCN as Red List Category Least Concern (LC), the population is declining. This bird was one of many highlights of the trip.

Preparing for a New Year

Welcome to Birding & Conservation

I have started this blog in an attempt to organise my thoughts and experiences relating to birds and their conservation. Although I am predominantly involved with work on seabirds, I am a keen birder and will be commenting on all aspects of the subject as well as uploading trip reports and posting about whatever else interest me. 

2016 is around the corner and with it comes a move abroad and a new job, but until then I am based at home in the UK and will be posting some highlights from my past year travelling the world and working with birds.

Birding from the Great Wall, China, February 2015