Wight Conservation - Birdlife

The provision and management of good bird habitats are priorities for Wight Conservation.  Within our diverse landscape are to be found broadleaf mixed woodland, coniferous woodland, mosaic, lowland meadows, improved and unimproved grassland, farm buildings, gardens, ancient hedgerows, lowland heathland, lowland calcareous grassland, and boundary and linear features.

During 2005 we commissioned two separate ornithological surveys.  The most intense and largest was at Rowborough and Idlecombe by the prominent Isle of Wight Ornithologist, Graham Sparshott.  The second was at Wroxall Manor Farm under the auspices of the RSPB Volunteer and Farmer Alliance, by William Keatley.  The RSPB survey only covered a small area of Wroxall and involved fewer visits.

Graham Sparshott made a total of 13 visits of 8 hours each between April and October.  Only one visit was made in June.

The reports are summarized below.  For full versions please CLICK Graham Sparshott’s Report and RSPB Report.

The total number of species recorded at Idlecombe was 64, compared to 24 at Wroxall.  A farm-wide survey at Wroxall, however, would have resulted in more recordings.

The reports are summarised below.  6 Red List species were identified at Rowborough and Idlecombe, and 5 at Wroxall.  Red List species are those whose populations in the UK have generally more than halved in the last 25 years.  They are denoted with an "R".  In addition, there were many Amber List species, denoted with an "“A" which are of medium conservation concern.

Species not included in the surveys, but which have been identified on or flying over the Wight Conservation’s estate include:

Grey Partridge Swift Woodcock Yellow Wagtail Stock Dove Blackcap Jay Dartford Warbler Shore Lark Pied Flycatcher Greenfinch

Jackdaw Barn Owl Sparrowhawk Wryneck Grasshopper Warbler Montagu’s Harrier Hen Harrier Alpine Swift Ring Ouzel Hobby Carrion Crow

The RSPB and Graham Sparshott have provided the following comments on habitats:

Bullfinch
Bullfinches require dense thickets of scrub such as Hawthorn and Blackthorn for nesting.  Availability of food sources is important.  This species feeds on a variety of weed seeds and tree buds at different times of the year.  Ash seeds are an important food in autumn/winter while buds are mainly eaten in the period February to April.

House Sparrow
House sparrows are seed-eating birds that live around human habitation in both urban and rural areas.  Those found on farmland are unlikely to be found far away from the farmhouse or other buildings... They usually nest under roof tiles or within farm buildings.  They feed on seeds such as those found on over-wintered stubbles close to buildings or spilt grain in the farmyard.  Like many seed-eating birds, they feed their chicks on insects, and benefit from insect-rich habitats in the spring such as rough grass margins and wildflower strips around fields close to the farmyard.
RSPB

Linnet
Linnets favour areas of gorse heath, shrubby thickets and hedges for nesting.  A good supply of weed seeds are needed for feeding throughout the year, the young are fed on regurgitated seed matter.  Fat Hen and Chickweed are important food plants.  The gorse on Idlecombe Down provides an ideal nesting site for the species, while the cut-grazed areas provide weed seeds as does game cover and arable land adjacent to the site.

Marsh Tit
The marsh tit breeds in deciduous woodland, especially extensive beech and oak woods.  Also in orchards, mature gardens and parkland.  Marsh tits occupy well-structured climax woodland and could be affected by sylvicultural management or by inappropriate conservation management.  A good proportion of mature trees with natural holes need to be retained, amid healthy shrub layer should be encouraged through for example deer control and shade reduction.  Good scrub structure on the woodland and ride edge is a valuable source of fruit in winter, and deadwood provides year round foraging.
RSPB

Nightingale
Nightingales are found in a variety of woodland and scrub type environments.  The important requirement is the presence of dense undergrowth.  Dense thickets of thorn scrub such as Blackthorn are favoured on downland and this habitat is relevant to the site of the single territory recorded during the study.  In woodland, coppice with standard woods cut on a regular 12-15 year rotation is required.  As this species is a ground feeder, light and warmth reaching the woodland floor is also important.

Nightjar
Nightjars favour recently felled woodland and forestry plantations in their early stages.  This species is a ground nester, the nest site can either be in the open or amongst low scrub/tall herbage.  When attracting a mate or delineating a territory the male gives an advertising call from a prominent perch such as on top of a bushy tree.  The species feeds on insects, mostly taken on the wing in the manner of a Swallow at low level over clearings and rides.

A continued cycle of management on Idlecombe Down that involves open cut/grazed areas combined with patches of scrub and isolated trees will benefit the species.

Skylark
Although still visible on many farms, the number of pairs per farm has declined by almost 50% in most areas.  Skylarks need areas of sparse vegetation between March and August to nest in and need to rear two or three broods of young a year in order to maintain their population.  Winter cereals only provide suitable habitat for them to rear one or two broods, so inclusion of spring cereals or a break crop (other than oil seed rape) will provide ideal nesting habitat where viable.  Set-aside can be managed in several ways to benefit skylarks having a mixture of rotational and non-rotational set-aside to provide both nesting and feeding areas throughout the year.
RSPB

Spotted Flycatcher
The Spotted Flycatcher is on the red list of birds of conservation concern, with numbers in the UK having fallen by 75% since the mid 1970’s.  They are summer migrants, breeding in Britain and other parts of Europe and wintering in southwest Africa.  They are one of the latest of our summer migrants to arrive, often not appearing until the middle of May.

Spotted Flycatchers will nest in a variety of habitats, and can often be found in close association with human habitation.  A creeper-clad wall or tree is often chosen as a nest site, but they will also use open-fronted nest boxes and sometimes nest inside buildings.  Typically, birds on farms will be found around the farmyard and buildings, although orchards and mature farm woodland are also possible locations.

As implied by the name, Spotted Flycatchers are invertebrate feeders, preferring large, flying insects, which they hunt from favoured perches.  A mosaic of mature trees and open space will provide an ideal foraging site.

Suggestions for causes of recent declines in this species includes, a decrease in the availability of large invertebrates, habitat simplification, climate change and the possibility of decreased over-winter survival.  RSPB is currently undertaking research to establish which of these mechanisms are important and seek measures that will reverse the downward trend.
RSPB

Yellowhammer
Yellowhammers ideally need thick hedges, with ditches and a wide grass margin for nesting in.  Cutting the margins on a three-year rotation in the autumn would provide ideal nesting and feeding habitat during the breeding season.  Adults feed almost exclusively on seeds and areas such as rotational set-aside, wild bird cover and winter stubbles provide ideal feeding areas all year round.
RSPB

2006