The Birds of Herefordshire 2014
Herefordshire Ornithological Club Annual Report Starling murmurations above Bulmers in Hereford City in March 2014 (Photo: Mick Colquhoun) Editorial
I am pleased to present the 2014 edition of ‘The Birds of Herefordshire’, the 64th annual report of the Herefordshire Ornithological Club (HOC). Some further changes in format have been incorporated in this publication, including the larger book size, which allows a wider range of illustrative material to be presented more professionally. Once again, I hope you enjoy reading about the 2014 birding year.
2014 saw a quantum leap in bird recording for the Club with the adoption of BirdTrack as the standard system of recording. The roll-out of this recording system within HOC was overseen by Chris Robinson and Mick Colquhoun and, once members are au fait with the data entry process, it should revolutionise the collection and handling of an increasing volume and detail of data being collected. Once again we are indebted to you, the observers, for collecting these records during 2014, and to the eight script writers, for scrutinising and summarising the data for each species in the systematic list accounts. However, the data is still light on confirmed breeding evidence and on relevant behavioural and habitat comments, so please do not forget to include this information wherever possible.
Surprisingly, there have been no changes in the taxonomic classification of the species relevant to Herefordshire this year, and hence the systematic list sequence presented here is as for 2013. However an opportunity has been taken by the Rarities Subcommittee to carry out a thorough review of the historical records of rarer species and this updated information is incorporated into the new format for the county list of 280 species which is presented on pages 12 – 16. To help readers locate individual species information, an alphabetic list is included on pages 138 – 139.
During 2014, a total of 174 species were recorded in the county, details of which are presented in the systematic list section on pages 23 – 94. This includes one species that was seen for the first time in Herefordshire – the Bluethroat, in addition to the Parrot Crossbill, a new county species in December 2013 that remained into early January 2014. Both these sightings are covered by short articles in the ‘new species’ section on pages 20 – 22. In addition to these, there were 11 other rarities with 20 or fewer previous county records observed during the year – Red-crested Pochard, Long-tailed Duck, Avocet, Bar-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Curlew Sandpiper, Temminck’s Stint, Spotted Redshank, Sandwich Tern, Cetti’s Warbler and Common (Mealy) Redpoll.
Continuing with the drive to present more technical articles of interest to the readership, I am pleased to include in this year’s edition articles on ‘the birds of Haugh Wood’ and a summary of the ‘winter thrushes survey in Herefordshire’, as well as the usual reports on bird ringing, nestbox recording and Garden Birdwatch.
The main HOC Committee wishes to thank the County Recorder and the Data Manager for compiling and checking the huge amount of data this year. The willingness and time input of all authors, identified by name on the ‘Contents’ page and at the end of each section, is also gratefully acknowledged. Finally, I must thank Tony Eveleigh, John Pullen and Nick Smith for their meticulous checking of the systematic list accounts, Mick Colquhoun for co-ordinating another excellent range of photographs, Gerald Parker for his drawings and Gerald Wells for proof-reading the final script. Mervyn Davies
1 Herefordshire Ornithological Club
Founded 1950 Registered charity No. 1068608
Committee March 2014 – March 2015
President ...... Keith Mason
Vice President ...... Peter Eldridge
Vice President ...... Nick Smith
Chairman ...... Gareth Morgan
Vice Chairman ...... Gerald Wells
Secretary ...... Tom Weale
Treasurer & Membership Secretary ...... Jim Wilkinson
Recorder ...... Mick Colquhoun
Annual Report Editor ...... Hilary Jones
HOC News Editor ...... Nicky Davies
Meetings Secretary ...... Gerald Parker
Publicity Officer ...... Susanna Grunsell
Other Committee Members ...... John Birkinshaw; Chris Robinson; Brian Willder
ISBN 978-0-9933694-0-7 Copyright © 2016 Herefordshire Ornithological Club www.herefordshirebirds.org Edited by Mervyn Davies Printed by Charlesworth Press (www.charlesworth.com)
Front cover: Juvenile Curlew Sandpipers at Brockhall Gravel Pits in Aug 2014 (Photo: Nick Pegler) Back cover: Black Redstart on the Canon’s House at Hereford Cathedral (Photo: Mick Colquhoun)
2 Contents
Chairman’s report – Gareth Morgan ...... 4 Obituary ...... 5 Weather summary – John Pullen ……………...... …...... 6 Review of the year – Mick Colquhoun ...... 8 Indoor and field meetings …...... …………………...... ………....…...... 9 HOC accounts – Jim Wilkinson ……...... ………………...... …………... 10 County bird list ...... ……………………...... ………………….………...... 12 Accepted rarities ...... …………………...... ……….…...... 17 New species – Espen Quinto-Ashman & Steve Coney …………...... …...... 20 Systematic list …………………...... …...... …………..……………...... 23 Introduction ...... 23 Mute Swan to Goosander – Gerald Parker ……………...... …...... 26 Quail to Osprey – Robert Taylor ………...... …...... 40 Water Rail to Snipe – Peter Eldridge …………...... ……………...... 47 Black Tern to Peregrine – Gerald Wells ……………………...... 57 Great Grey Shrike to House Martin – Gareth & Una Morgan …...... 71 Cetti’s Warbler to Treecreeper – Tony Eveleigh ……...... …………...... 77 Wren to Greenland Wheatear – John Pullen ………...... ……...... 81 Dunnock to Reed Bunting – Brian Willder ……...... ………...... 87 Addendum to 2010 systematic list ...... 94 Exotica & escapes – Tony Eveleigh …………...... ……………...... 99 List of observers ……..……………….………...... …………..………...... 101 Summer and winter migrants ...... …………………...... …………..…….…...... 103 The birds of Haugh Wood - Graham Cundale ...... 105 Winter thrush survey in Herefordshire, 2012–2014 – Chris Robinson …...... 113 Bird ringing in Herefordshire 2014 – David Coker …………...... …...... 120 Herefordshire Nestbox Recording Scheme 2014 – Beryl Harding ...... 131 Garden Birdwatch report 2014 – Ian & Natalie Buttriss ……...... ………...... 135 Index to systematic list ...... 138 Special ornithological sites in Herefordshire ...... 140
3 Chairman’s report
The highlight of our year was the publication of “The Birds of Herefordshire”, the splendid result of an outstanding effort over five or more years by so many Club members, under the leadership of Nick Smith. The event at Berrington Hall, by kind permission of the National Trust, in the presence of Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, Lady Darnley, was an excellent opportunity for the Club to display its enthusiastic professionalism to the wider world. We are indeed fortunate in having such a supportive membership, and your Committee is grateful to you all.
The number of members has again scarcely varied, which is in some ways comforting, but it has been my hope that more people will join what is obviously an active Club, and enjoy the benefits of belonging. Your Committee is endeavouring to create a recruitment strategy which will attract sufficient new members to maintain the long term viability of the Club.
Meetings
The early part of the year was subject to heavier than normal rainfall, which had an impact on some of the field meetings, but our stalwart team of leaders kept going whenever possible. We were treated to an interesting and varied programme, both within and external to Herefordshire. This year we were treated to excellent views of Great Bustards and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, amongst many others (full details in your quarterly HOC News). The programme for indoor meetings was varied and full of interest, as ever, and our thanks go especially to Gerald Parker and to Keith and Chris Mason for their organisation and willingness to keep us enlightened and entertained. Newsletter and website
Through these publications our Club is visible to the whole world. We are indebted to Nicky Davies and Mick Colquhoun for producing such a large amount of readable material throughout the year.
Thanks to all the members who contribute articles and photographs for publication. It is always a pleasure to log on to the website and catch up with the latest records of sightings, and the latest edition of the News. HOC records
As one year leads into the next, so the records keep coming. The number of members who record essential data on the location and numbers of each species observed within the county has continued to increase, especially with the ease of using electronic methods of entering records both locally and nationally. There is still room for paper records, and several members are devoting their time to converting them to the database. The County Recorder publishes his selection of the most interesting records in the quarterly News, and all recent sightings can be accessed on-line. Thanks to everyone who takes part in this exercise. General news
A personal highlight was being able to present John Davies with the River Wye Award. John is an example to us all. I hope that future Chairmen will also have this privilege.
4 Our county-wide local authority, the County of Herefordshire District Council, is transferring the management of many of its open spaces to the voluntary and private sectors. This includes Bodenham Lake and Queenswood Country Park. HOC is bound, by its objectives, to do whatever is within its means to keep faith with its founders and enhance the long term prospects for wild birds. It is for every member to decide how best to do this. Your Committee always welcomes your support in this.
During the year the Club has taken part in a number of public events, thanks to the time freely given by a resolute few members. There is always scope for more members to become involved in more events, each of which is an opportunity for increasing local peoples’ knowledge of the Club. To make our display stands more attractive we have introduced a new logo and purchased a new banner and display stands, and have taken delivery of newly revised membership application forms.
My three years as your Chairman has now ended. I would like to say thank you all for supporting me during these three years, and to wish my successors at least as much goodwill as I have enjoyed.
May our Club continue to flourish. Gareth Morgan
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Obituary
Joan Gardner
Joan was born in Eccles in Greater Manchester on 1 Jan 1925 and first worked in the Accounts Department of the Co-op dealing with the coal accounts. In the war she worked for the Women’s Land Army maintaining and driving caterpillar tractors in Radnorshire where she met Peter. They married in October 1947 and were married for 67 years. Peter said Joan was a private person, very capable, strong willed, in charge with firm clear views and did not want any fuss made about her immense contribution to the running of the Club. She was always involved in sorting record cards with Peter when he was Club Bulletin Editor for over 40 years and also put the Bulletin into envelopes and bought a typewriter so as to be able to address over 600 envelopes to send out the Bulletins to members; in those days Radnorshire members also belonged to the Club. Joan also helped Peter look after over 100 nest boxes at Mary Knoll. It is because of the loyalty and hard work of members like Joan, who quietly go about their business, that the success of the Club has been built over the years. John Pullen
5 Weather summary
January
Rain dominated the headlines for the month with a total rainfall of 164 mm recorded, the wettest January for many years and more than twice the long-term average. There were only three dry days and very heavy rainfall on 1st (23 mm) and 16th (21 mm). There were frosts on only seven nights, the month generally being mild. The wet weather caused extensive flooding of riverside fields attracting waterfowl to the county. February
This was another wet month with a total rainfall of 146 mm, nearly three times the long-term average and one of the wettest Februarys on record. No dry days were recorded. March
The 4th was the first day without recordable rain for 32 days. Only 49 mm of rainfall was recorded during the month, slightly less than the long-term average with frosts on 13th and 23rd. There was a warm end to the month with a temperature of 19°C being recorded on 30th. April
This was a warmer and drier month with the daily temperature regularly above 12°C, occasionally reaching 19°C on 11th and 30th, making it one of the warmest Aprils on record. A total of 47 mm of rain fell during the month. These conditions encouraged early and successful nesting. The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) annual Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) recorded a good breeding season for resident birds, but migrant Whitethroat and Willow Warbler numbers were significantly down. May
This was the warmest May for six years, but was also one of the wettest with 101 mm of rainfall recorded; nearly double the long-term average and 25 mm rain fell on 24th. There was one dry spell from 14th to 18th when daily temperatures reached 22°C or higher. The wet month meant that many chicks were abandoned or starved due to the difficulties of the adults foraging for food. June
A near average rainfall of 55 mm was recorded with over half of the total (27 mm) falling on 4th. The temperature on most days was 20°C or above so there were plenty of hot, dry days. July
A mainly hot, dry month with recordable rain on only six days and a total rainfall of 30 mm for the month, less than half the long-term average. August
This was a wet month with a total rainfall of 101 mm and 140% of the long-term average.
6 September
An exceedingly dry month and also one of the warmest. Rain fell on just five days and only totalled 9 mm for the month; 15% of the long-term average. The dominant winds for the month were easterly which probably accounted for two Sandwich Terns, one at Wellington Gravel Pits and one at Brockhall Gravel Pits appearing on 25th. October
The first two days were dry but it then rained most days until three dry days from 28th to 30th. There was a total rainfall of 95 mm during the month. November
A warmer than average November allowed migrants to linger on, although it was a wet month with a total rainfall of 111 mm, or 150% of the long–term average. Only seven dry days were noted. December
This was the driest December since 2010 with 30 mm of rainfall recorded; 50% of the long-term average. There were night frosts up to 16th when the weather became mild until 24th, after which more frosts were recorded, the coldest night being -4°C on 28th.
John Pullen Gerald Parker A pair of Lapwing in a wetland habitat
7 Review of the year
2014 saw an irruption of crossbills into the UK. Two-barred Crossbills were recorded in both Shropshire and Gloucestershire but, unfortunately, none were reported in Herefordshire. The Parrot Crossbill seen at Wapley Hill Fort on 2 January was, however, a county first for this species, having first being seen there on 22 December 2013. Sightings of Common (Mealy) Redpoll (9th and 10th county records), Great Grey Shrike, Mediterranean and Little Gulls, a Common Scoter and an influx of Kittiwakes travelling along the Wye were other high points of the first three months of the year.
The outstanding find during the spring migration period was a Bluethroat at Wellington Gravel Pits (GP), the first well documented record of the species in the county. Other notable sightings included two Avocets (4th county record), two Bar-tailed Godwits at Brockhall GP (15th county record) and several sightings of Sanderling, Turnstone and Whimbrel. Other sightings at the gravel pit sites included Wood Sandpiper, Ruff, Common Scaup, Temminck’s Stint (3rd county record), Garganey, Mediterranean Gull and Black Tern. Away from the gravel pits, a Grasshopper Warbler was identified in Haugh Wood and a single male Hen Harrier was seen at Upper Maund.
The latter part of the year saw a Brent Goose, a single Garganey, a group of Common Scoter, two Curlew Sandpipers (9th county record), a Knot, a Turnstone (14th county record) and a Little Stint at the gravel pits. Two individual Sandwich Terns were recorded on 25 August; one at Brockhall GP, the other at Wellington GP (2nd and 3rd county records). Ruff, Long-tailed Duck (6th county record) and a Pink-footed Goose were all recorded at Hereford Quarry. Mediterranean Gulls were seen at Kenchester Pools and Lower Lugg Meadows. In November, the Black Redstart returned to overwinter at Hereford Cathedral, photographic evidence suggesting at least two birds. During most of the year the resident Peregrines divided their time between the Cathedral and All Saints’ Tower, but there was no conclusive evidence of breeding. Mick Colquhoun Mick Colquhoun Mick
A juvenile Long-tailed Duck at Hereford Quarry in December 2014
8 Indoor and field meetings
Indoor meetings:
Date Topic Speaker Jan 9 A sortie in Spain Phil Mugridge Feb 13 The wild wood (Dr Walker Memorial Lecture) Keith Offord Mar 13 AGM & Members’ meeting Keith Mason Sep 11 Where to watch wildlife along the River Severn Brian Draper Oct 9 Our birds – the winners & losers (BTO Atlas results) Mark Hope-Unwin Nov 13 A digital lane Mike Lane Dec 11 The Arctic tundra Dave Fletcher
Field meetings:
Date Venue Leader Jan 10 Devereux Farm, Norton Canon & Brockhall GP John Pullen Mar 23 Croft Ambrey & Bircher Common Nick Smith Apr 10 Upton Warren Nature Reserve, Droitwich Gerald Parker Apr 27 Great Bustards special & New Forest area John Vickerman May 4 Dawn chorus – Haugh Wood Nick Smith May 16 RSPB Highnam Wood Gerald Parker Jun 17 Bodenham Lake (Hereford Walking Festival) Phil & Chris Williams Jun 29 Somerset Levels Chris Bartlett Jul 12 Cwmmau Farm, Brilley Gerald Parker Jul 26 Yarkhill & Monkhide Brian Willder Aug 16 Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve, Coventry Gerald Parker Sep 3 Ross-on-Wye and Hartleton Lakes Tony Eveleigh Sep 20 Staunton on Wye & Monnington Wye Mike Williams Oct 6-10 HOC week away – East Yorkshire Chris & Pam Bartlett Oct 22 Ashleworth and Coombe Hill Nature Reserve, Glos. John Pullen Nov 16 Wellington GP Geof Davis Nov 30 Chasewater Country Park, Staffordshire Phil & Chris Williams Dec 10 Credenhill Wood and Brockhall GP Gerald Parker
9 HOC accounts
Income and expenditure account
2013 2014 £ £ £ Income £ £ £ 4,053 Subscriptions 4,043 1,137 Income from meetings 1,070 17 Sale of publications 31 296 Donations 409 843 Gift aid refund 830 - Other income 30 1,055 Building Society interest (gross) 796 7,401 7,209
£ £ £ Expenditure £ £ £ 1,653 2010 & 2011 / 2012 Annual Reports 863 547 Printing & stationery 427 678 Postage & telephone 455 79 Publicity expenses 189 717 Meeting expenses 676 - Travelling expenses 139 510 Purchases/owl boxes - 468 Insurance 185 39 Subscriptions 39 151 Computer software & website 154 - Gifts 100 220 Members weekend away – income 700 -220 - Members weekend away – expenditure -770 70 4,842 3,297
2,559 Surplus 2013/2014 3,912
7,729 Breeding Bird Atlas 13,150 5,780 1,949 Less: Sponsorship, income & gift aid 1,996 11,154
10 Year ended 30 November 2014
2013 2014 £ £ £ £ £ £ 19,240 General Funds as at 1 December 2013 19,850 - Add: Transfer of Special Funds 11,400 2,559 Add: Surplus 2013/2014 3,912 -1,949 Less: Breeding Bird Atlas -11,154 19,850 General Funds as at 30 November 2014 24,008 2,000 Add: write-back of Provision for 16,000 Breeding Bird Atlas 11,400 Add: Special Funds brought forward - 33,250 Total Accumulated Funds as at 30 40,008 November 2014
Represented by:- 46,212 Monmouthshire Building Society 40,708 3,038 HSBC Current Account 1,300 49,250 42,008 2,000 Less:- Provision for Annual Reports 2,000 2013 & 2014 6,000 Provision for Breeding Bird Atlas - – 2013 8,000 16,000 Provision for Breeding Bird Atlas - 2,000 – 2014 33,250 40,008
M.J. Wilkinson, Treasurer
Auditor’s certificate:
I have examined the above Income and Expenditure Account together with the relevant spreadsheets and vouchers, and have obtained all the information and explanations necessary. I certify that the above account presents a true and fair view of the financial position of the Herefordshire Ornithological Club as at 30 November 2014. E.C. Aplin, FCA, FCMA 15 January 2015
11 County bird list
The table contains all species on the BOU British List (categories A, B and C) that have been recorded in Herefordshire to 31 December 2014. Species occurring in 2014 are shown in bold and where rarities have occurred 20 or fewer times, the number of county records is given in the second column. For the less frequently recorded species, the last year in which the species occurred is shown in the third column. The Club’s Rarities Subcommittee has recently reviewed all historical rarity records which may have resulted in discrepancies between this list and information in previous Annual Reports. This review process is on-going and is currently considering recently viewed museum specimens.
Species No. records Year last Species No. records Year last if ≤ 20 recorded if ≤ 20 recorded Mute Swan Pochard Bewick’s Swan* Ring-necked Duck* 2 2001 Whooper Swan* Ferruginous Duck* 1 1989 Bean Goose* 4 1997 Tufted Duck Pink-footed Goose* Scaup* White-fronted Goose* 2013 Lesser Scaup* 1 2013 Greylag Goose Eider* 2 1997 Greater Canada Long-tailed Duck* 6 Goose Common Scoter* Barnacle Goose Velvet Scoter* 1 1979 Brent Goose* Goldeneye Egyptian Goose* 9 2011 Smew 2012 Ruddy Shelduck* 1 1892† Red-breasted 2012 Shelduck Merganser* Mandarin Duck Goosander Wigeon Ruddy Duck* 2013 American Wigeon* 3 2013 Quail*2 Gadwall Red-legged Partridge Teal Red Grouse*3 Green-winged Teal* 1 2005 Black Grouse* 1939 Mallard Grey Partridge Pintail Pheasant Garganey*1 Red-throated Diver* 5 1996 Blue-winged Teal* 1 2013 Black-throated Diver* 4 1996 Shoveler Great Northern Diver* 9 2010 Red-crested Pochard* 14 Fulmar* 1 1889
12 Species No. records Year last Species No. records Year last if ≤ 20 recorded if ≤ 20 recorded Manx Shearwater* 2012 Water Rail Storm Petrel* 5 1959 Spotted Crake* 2013 Leach’s Petrel* 9 1978 Corncrake* 1991 Gannet* 14 2010 Moorhen Cormorant Coot Shag* 7 2002 Crane* 5 2003 Bittern* 2012 Little Bustard* 1 < 1888 Night Heron* 3 1988 Stone-Curlew* 4 1894 Cattle Egret* 1 1980/81 Black-winged Stilt* 1 2004 Little Egret Avocet* 4 Great White Egret* 1 2013 Oystercatcher Grey Heron Golden Plover Purple Heron* 1 2011 Grey Plover* 15 2009 White Stork* 5 2012 Lapwing Glossy Ibis* 4 2010 Little Ringed Plover Little Grebe Ringed Plover Great Crested Grebe Killdeer* 1 1985 Red-necked Grebe* 6 2013 Dotterel* 12 2011 Slavonian Grebe* 9 2012 Whimbrel Black-necked Grebe* 13 2010 Curlew Honey-buzzard* 2013 Black-tailed Godwit Black Kite* 2 2013 Bar-tailed Godwit* 15 Red Kite Turnstone* 14 White-tailed Eagle* 6 1947 Knot* Marsh Harrier* 7 2011 Ruff* Hen Harrier* Curlew Sandpiper* 9 Montagu’s Harrier* 4 2005 Temminck’s Stint* 3 Goshawk Sanderling* Sparrowhawk Dunlin Buzzard Little Stint* Rough-legged Buzzard* 2 1964 Pectoral Sandpiper* 2 2012 Spotted Eagle* 1 1915 Red-necked Phalarope* 1 1998 Osprey* Grey Phalarope* 2010
13 Species No. records Year last Species No. records Year last if ≤ 20 recorded if ≤ 20 recorded Common Sandpiper Ring-billed Gull* 3 2000 Green Sandpiper Lesser Black-backed Spotted Redshank* 10 Gull Greenshank Herring Gull Lesser Yellowlegs* 2 2012 Yellow-legged Gull* Wood Sandpiper* Caspian Gull* 6 2013 Redshank Iceland Gull* 3 2001 Jack Snipe Great Black-backed Woodcock Gull Snipe Feral Pigeon Great Snipe* 2 1887 Stock Dove Collared Pratincole* 2 1994 Woodpigeon Cream-coloured 2 2012 Collared Dove Courser* Turtle Dove 2013 Pomarine Skua* 2 1902 Cuckoo Arctic Skua* 2 1900 Barn Owl Great Skua* 3 2010 Little Owl Puffin* 4 1977 Tawny Owl Little Auk* 2 1994 Long-eared Owl* 2009 Little Tern* 5 1975 Short-eared Owl* 2013 Whiskered Tern* 1 2009 Nightjar* 2006 Black Tern* Swift White-winged Black 1 2010 Alpine Swift* 2 2004 Tern* Hoopoe 2011 Cabot’s Tern* 1 1984 Bee-eater* 4 2005 Sandwich Tern* 3 Roller* 1 1962 Common Tern Kingfisher Arctic Tern Wryneck* 2010 Sabine’s Gull* 1 1997 Green Woodpecker Kittiwake* Great Spotted Black-headed Gull Woodpecker Little Gull* Lesser Spotted Mediterranean Gull* Woodpecker Common Gull Kestrel
14 Species No. records Year last Species No. records Year last if ≤ 20 recorded if ≤ 20 recorded Red-footed Falcon* 1 2011 Chiffchaff Merlin Willow Warbler Hobby Blackcap Peregrine Garden Warbler Ring-necked Parakeet* 13 2012 Lesser Whitethroat Golden Oriole* 1991 Whitethroat Red-backed Shrike* 1973 Dartford Warbler* 2 2008 Great Grey Shrike* Grasshopper Warbler* Magpie Melodious Warbler* 2 2010 Jay Sedge Warbler Nutcracker* 2 1968 Marsh Warbler* 1976 Jackdaw Reed Warbler Rook Waxwing 2013 Carrion Crow Nuthatch Hooded Crow* 1996 Treecreeper Raven Wren Goldcrest Starling Firecrest* 2013 Rose-coloured Starling* 4 2001 Blue Tit Dipper Great Tit Ring Ouzel* Coal Tit Blackbird Willow Tit Fieldfare Marsh Tit Song Thrush Skylark Redwing Woodlark 1988 Mistle Thrush Sand Martin Spotted Flycatcher Swallow Robin House Martin Nightingale*4 2012 Red-rumped Swallow* 2 2003 Bluethroat* 1 Cetti’s Warbler* 5 Pied Flycatcher Long-tailed Tit Black Redstart* Yellow–browed 1 2008 Redstart Warbler* Whinchat Wood Warbler Siberian Stonechat* 1 2012
15 Species No. records Year last Species No. records Year last if ≤ 20 recorded if ≤ 20 recorded Stonechat Hawfinch Wheatear Bullfinch Desert Wheatear* 1 1994 Greenfinch Dunnock Linnet House Sparrow Twite* 2005 Tree Sparrow Lesser Redpoll Yellow/Blue-headed Common Redpoll* 10 Wagtail Crossbill Grey Wagtail Parrot Crossbill* 1 Pied/White Wagtail Goldfinch Tawny Pipit* 1 2010 Siskin Tree Pipit Snow Bunting* 2006 Meadow Pipit Yellowhammer Red-throated Pipit* 1 2012 Cirl Bunting* 1960 Rock Pipit* 2 2006 Little Bunting* 1 2012 Water Pipit* 12 2011 Reed Bunting Brambling Corn Bunting* 2012 Chaffinch Ovenbird* 1 2002
Key: * Species previously recorded infrequently in Herefordshire requiring field notes and supportive description/photographic evidence for consideration by HOC Rarities Subcommittee before inclusion in HOC Annual Report. Unusual sub-species/races (except White Wagtail in spring) and “out of season” migrants also require documentary evidence. Please submit such records using the county rarities form (http://www.herefordshirebirds.org/HOC/Rarities_form.html).
All national rarities and any species as yet unrecorded in the county, require immediate notification of the County Recorder and field notes/detailed descriptions/photographs, for transmission to the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC). Please submit national rarity records using the BBRC Rarity Form (http://www.bbrc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ BBRCRarityForm.pdf).
† BBRC consider that no records later than 1 Jan 1958 relate to wild birds.
Footnotes: 1 except breeding male; 2 if not heard; 3 except on Black Mountains; 4 if not heard
16 Accepted rarities
Species Date Location Observers Comments Pink-footed 10 Nov Hereford Quarry A.H. Eveleigh & Goose A. Marchant Brent Goose 4 Oct Brockhall GP J. Tilby & 3 ‘dark-bellied’ birds S. Coney Garganey 19 Apr Wellington GP P.H. Downes 3 May Brockhall GP S. Coney Male 13 Jun Brockhall GP N. Pegler 6 Sep Brockhall GP N. Pegler & Eclipse male stayed until J. Tilby 5 Oct Red-crested 22 Nov Wellington GP P.H. Downes & 2 males, 14th county record Pochard S. Coney Scaup 5 Dec Brockhall GP B. Lakin Female 7 Dec Wellington GP J. Tilby Female Long-tailed Duck 5 Dec Hereford Quarry B. Lakin Juvenile, 6th county record Common Scoter 7 Mar Wellington GP J. Tilby Male 19 Jul Brockhall GP J. Tilby & 3 males & 2 females N. Pegler 27 Nov Wellington GP G.S. Bilbao 2 males & 1 female Quail 5 Jul Birches Farm, R. Hemming & Heard calling Kington J. Walshe Hen Harrier 16 May Upper Maund F. Bradley Male Avocet 20 May Brockhall GP N. Pegler 2 adults, 4th county record Whimbrel 18 Apr Hereford Quarry A.H. Eveleigh 2 birds 26 Apr Wellington GP P.H. Downes 7 birds 26 Apr Brockhall GP J. Tilby 3 birds 5 May Brockhall GP J. Tilby 6 May Wellington GP P.H. Downes 19 May Wellington GP P.H. Downes 28 Aug Wellington GP J. Tilby Bar-tailed Godwit 5 May Brockhall GP J. Tilby 15th county record Turnstone 10 May Wellington GP J. Tilby & 2 birds, 12th county record N. Pegler 11 May Wellington GP J. Tilby 4 birds, 13th county record 25 Sep Wellington GP G.S. Bilbao 14th county record Knot 13 Sep Wellington GP J. Tilby Adult & juvenile
17 Species Date Location Observers Comments Ruff 18 May Wellington GP J. Tilby Female 22 Aug Wellington GP G.S. Bilbao Female 18 Sep Wellington GP J. Tilby 21 Sep Wellington GP J. Tilby & E. Quinto-Ashman 28 Sep Hereford Quarry A.H. Eveleigh & Juvenile A. Marchant Curlew Sandpiper 30 Aug Brockhall GP J. Tilby, N. Pegler 2 juveniles, 9th county & S. Coney record Temminck’s Stint 4 May Wellington GP P.H. Downes 3rd county record Sanderling 18 May Brockhall GP P.H. Downes & N. Pegler 18 May Wellington GP J. Tilby 19 May Wellington GP P.H. Downes, 3 birds T. Downes & N. Pegler 24 May Wellington GP P.H. Downes Little Stint 20 Sep Wellington GP P.H. Downes & Juvenile T. Downes Spotted Redshank 6 Feb Milton Cross P.P. Jennings 10th county record Wood Sandpiper 6 May Wellington GP M.C. Colquhoun Black Tern 27 Apr Wellington GP J. Tilby Sandwich Tern 25 Aug Brockhall GP J. Tilby 2nd county record 25 Aug Wellington GP J. Tilby 3rd county record Kittiwake 17 Jan Rotherwas Wye G.C. Cundale 8 Feb Wellington GP P.H. Downes 9 Feb Wellington GP E. Quinto-Ashman 2 birds 16 Feb Wellington GP N. Pegler & 3 birds E. Quinto-Ashman 23 May Brockhall GP N. Pegler Little Gull 7 Mar Wellington GP N. Pegler Adult winter Mediterranean 23 Feb Wellington GP E. Quinto-Ashman Adult summer Gull 6 May Wellington GP N. Pegler First summer 7 May Brockhall GP S. Coney & First summer N. Pegler 2 Nov Kenchester Pools J. Tilby First winter 16 Nov Lower Lugg S. Coney & Meadows P.H. Downes
18 Species Date Location Observers Comments Yellow-legged 25 Jan Lugg Meadows P.H. Downes Fourth winter Gull 20 Feb Lugg Meadows S. Coney Adult summer 10 May Wellington GP P.H. Downes First summer 15 May Wellington GP P.H. Downes First summer 2 Aug Wellington GP P.H. Downes Adult 9 Aug Wellington GP P.H. Downes, 2 birds - second winter & T. Downes & fourth winter N. Pegler 12 Aug Wellington GP E. Quinto-Ashman 17 Aug Wellington GP N. Pegler 20 Aug Wellington GP N. Pegler 23 Aug Wellington GP E. Quinto-Ashman 24 Aug Milton Cross/ P.H. Downes Sub-adult Shobdon Ind. Est. 30 Aug Brockhall GP P.H. Downes Juvenile 6 Sep Brockhall GP J. Tilby & N. Pegler 18 Sep Wellington GP J. Tilby 2 Nov Wellington GP J. Tilby 8 Nov Wellington GP S. Coney 16 Nov Lower Lugg S. Coney Meadows Great Grey Shrike 7 Feb Norton Canon P.P. Jennings, S. Wetherbee & P. Wrixon 6 Mar Shobdon Hill Wood P.P. Jennings Cetti’s Warbler 18 Feb Bredwardine P.P. Jennings 5th county record Grasshopper 16 Apr Haugh Wood G.C. Cundale Warbler Bluethroat 12 Apr Wellington GP E. Quinto-Ashman 1st county record Black Redstart 5 Jan Hereford Cathedral I. Phillipson 26 Jan Hereford Cathedral E. Quinto-Ashman & P.H. Downes 16 Feb Hereford Cathedral B. Daniels & S. Coney 19 Nov Hereford Cathedral M. Bailey Male 22 Nov Hereford Cathedral J. Tilby 2 autumn birds Common Redpoll 11 Jan Brockhall GP P.H. Downes 9th county record 1 Mar Bodenham Moor R. Hemming & 10th county record M.C. Colquhoun Parrot Crossbill 2 Jan Wapley Hill Fort P.H. Downes & First sighting 22 Dec 2013 S. Coney (1st county record)
19 New species
Bluethroat – Luscinia svecica
On the morning of the 12 April I decided I would head to my local patch, Wellington Gravel Pits (GP); one of the county’s ‘premier’ birding sites, and one which turns up a good proportion of the county’s rarities. I have been birding at this site for several years now and up until this date had failed to find anything particularly noteworthy, even on a local level.
It was a pleasant morning with light cloud and sunny spells. Arriving at 09.30 hrs, I took my usual route around the site seeing nothing out of the ordinary; as I am all too used to as a Herefordshire birder. This all changed a couple of hours later as I was killing time before my Dad came to pick me up. I was revisiting some parts of the site I had previously seen that morning but my expectations for finding something new had long since dwindled.
At 12.45 hrs I flushed a small passerine from some reeds (still partially submerged from the winter floods) along the side of the path on the north side of the scrape. Views were very brief, but its tail pattern of red and brown immediately drew my attention and I knew it was something unusual. My initial thought, from the flash of red in the tail, was a Redstart – an uncommon Espen Quinto-Ashman White-spotted Bluethroat at Wellington GP in April 2014
20 but regular passage migrant at the site; however things did not seem to add up for this species – the habitat and behaviour just did not seem quite right to me. Thankfully, a few moments later I relocated it perched up in the willow scrub and much to my astonishment it was not the head of a Redstart that I saw staring back at me, rather something altogether more exciting, a ‘lifer’ in fact! The combination of a dark cap, eye-stripe, lores and malar stripe with a white supercilium, sub-moustachial stripe and chin, a blue bib, along with rufous ear-coverts rendered it instantly recognisable as a Bluethroat!
I could not believe my eyes and quickly scrambled for my phone in order to fire off a couple of digiscoped record shots; no sooner had I achieved this than it dropped down from the tree. I could not immediately re-find it and in a state of semi-panic, I tried to locate and alert the two other birders on site that I had seen earlier. Much to my relief they were still on site and scanning the new workings. We went to the spot and searched for some time before I had to leave, but there was no sign of the bird and sadly it was never seen again. It would have been nice if it had stayed around long enough for others to connect, but it just was not to be – hopefully my next rarity will be more co-operative!
From the pictures I scrambled to take, it appears that this bird is most likely a first summer male due to the large amount of blue on the bib, this being less usual in a female, and also it was too scruffy for an adult male.
The Bluethroat breeds from Northern France eastwards to North-East Asia, and winters in Northern Africa and the Indian sub-continent. It occurs annually in Britain as a scarce passage migrant, mostly along the south and east coasts in spring and autumn (with the odd breeding record coming from the Fens). There are two races of Bluethroat that occur in Britain – the more common Red-spotted Bluethroat (L. s. svecica) from Northern Europe, which usually passes through later in spring (May and June) and the White-spotted Bluethroat (L. s. cyanecula), which passes through earlier (late March and April).
It is likely that the Wellington GP bird was of the white-spotted race due to its early date, in fact, it was the first record of Bluethroat for Britain in 2014! – a year which turned out to be fairly poor for them nationally. Sadly, 2014 continued the long term downward trend of the species as a passage migrant in Britain. This bird represents the first record of the species for Herefordshire.
Espen Quinto-Ashman
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Parrot Crossbill – Loxia pytyopsittacus
Following a previous sighting of a female individual of this species, by Paul Downes on 22 December 2013, and the possibility of both this bird and Two-barred Crossbills (Loxia leucoptera) being present with the Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) flock at Wapley Hill, Paul and I visited the site on 2 January 2014. I was looking forward to the possibility of seeing either of these species as I had not previously recorded them in Britain.
After 30 minutes of searching the larches (Larix decidua) adjacent to the car park, a flock of crossbills flew in and Paul found the female bird feeding with them. Fortunately, although it was very mobile in the tops of the larches, we both achieved good views, intermittently, for the next
21 half hour. In the following month, the very mobile crossbill flock was observed by several HOC members, but the only other report of this bird (and possibly a second female), was on 18 January when Paul and Terry Downes caught up with them feeding in the larches 200 metres further up the hill.
Typically, the bird was noticeably larger than the surrounding birds, with a comparatively larger head, and the obviously thick, bulbous mandibles were visible as it tore apart cones. It was uniformly grey-green in colour, with a paler breast and yellow tinge to the rump.
Over the 2013/14 winter period, there had been widespread reports of Two-barred Crossbills and Parrot Crossbills present in suitable woodland across of the UK, including multiple sightings in the Forest of Dean. These had all been associated with flocks of Common Crossbills.
Common Crossbills are known to breed in Herefordshire, but their population is very variable in numbers due to the irregular irruption from Scandinavia, when their suitable food source is inadequate.
The Parrot Crossbill is known to breed in small numbers in the Abernethy Forest in the Scottish Highlands, but is common throughout the Scandinavian and Russian forests. There has been much recent debate by the British Ornithological Union, relating to their full species status. It is suggested that they, Common Crossbill and Scottish Crossbill (Loxia scotica) may revert to being classified as races of the one species.
Steve Coney
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22 Systematic list
Introduction
The Systematic List is a summary of the records submitted to the Club, or extracted from other sources, detailing all species encountered in Herefordshire over the course of the year. This section comprises those species on the British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU) British List (Category A - recorded in an apparently natural state at least once since 1950, and C - introduced, but now self-sustaining) (BOU, 2013). The sequence of species listed, species names, and the taxonomy follows the on-line version of the British List (24 February 2015 update) (BOU, 2015). The English common or vernacular name from the British List is given first, followed by the scientific name. Where the International Ornithological Committee (IOC) international English name (Gill & Donsker, 2012) and the vernacular name differ, the IOC English name is shown in brackets. An alphabetical index of common names is provided (on pages 138 – 139) to assist the reader to locate species.
County descriptive status
Below each species name is a brief phrase describing its ‘status’ and ‘occurrence’ within the county of Herefordshire. These have been reviewed and rewritten by a small panel of HOC members during the past year, utilising in part “The Birds of Herefordshire” atlas data (Davies et al., 2014) and, where available, derived county population estimates by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), to define relative abundance. The terms and their definitions are as follows:
Status:
Very rare Five or fewer Herefordshire records; breeding numbers zero Rare Less than annual; may be years between records; breeding numbers zero Very scarce Less than annual; typically every two or three years; breeding numbers zero Scarce Very small numbers recorded virtually every year; fewer than 10 per year Uncommon Recorded in low numbers; 10 – 99 per year Fairly common Reasonable numbers occur in suitable habitat; 100 – 999 per year Common Good numbers occur regularly in suitable habitat; 1,000 – 9,999 per year Abundant Large numbers occur in suitable habitat; 10,000+ per year
Occurrence:
Resident A species whose population is largely sedentary and which occurs throughout the year (may be augmented by passage migrants or winter visitors) Summer visitor A species that occurs during the summer, after migrating from its wintering areas Winter visitor A species that occurs during the winter months after migrating from its breeding areas. This can include species which do not occur during the summer as well as those with a breeding population Most summer or winter visitors also occur in the county as passage migrants en route to and from other areas
23 Passage migrant A species that appears on spring and/or autumn migration to or from its breeding or wintering ranges. Some species have protracted spring and autumn passage periods that can appear to ‘overlap’ in mid-summer, while others may be more numerous on either spring or autumn passage Vagrant A species away from its normal range and not regularly seen in the county Storm/wind-blown visitor Seabirds typically occurring after having been blown into the county as a result of strong winds Birds of Conservation Concern
In addition to the brief phrase describing the status and occurrence of each species within Herefordshire, the national (UK) status of those species which are of conservation concern: Birds of Conservation Concern 3 (BoCC3) (Eaton et al., 2009; http://www.bto.org/sites/default/ files/u12/bocc3.pdf), is given in terms of their ‘red’ or ‘amber’ listings:
Red listing Those that are globally threatened according to International Union of Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) criteria; those whose population or range has declined rapidly over a 25-year period and those which have suffered a historical decline without substantial recent recovery Amber listing Those with an unfavourable conservation status in Europe; those with a population or range that has declined moderately over a 25-year period; those with a population that has declined historically but shown a substantial recent recovery; rare breeding species and those with internationally important or localised populations
For some wildfowl and wader species, monthly maxima counts are presented in tables. These are peak counts from the sites listed for the months that data were available. Many of the main water bodies in the county and some of the important river stretches are regularly visited by observers, often as part of the national Wetland Bird Survey monitoring scheme. Record capture and data sources
During 2014 the standard procedure for the submission of annual records for Herefordshire changed and HOC now uses BirdTrack, a secure computer database managed by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). Contributors are urged to follow the instructions on the HOC website for submission of records (http://www.herefordshirebirds.org/HOC/Records.html). Alternatively records can be entered electronically on an Excel spreadsheet and forwarded to the HOC Data Manager for uploading to BirdTrack. Records in other formats are accepted from those who do not have easy access to a computer.
All of these records accessed via BirdTrack plus records entered by observers directly on the HOC sightings website (http://www.herefordshirebirds.org/HOC/Sightings.html) and records extracted from the BTO’s Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) database for Herefordshire monitored sites, has resulted in a substantial increase in the total number of records utilised.
The dataset has been carefully checked by the County Recorder and HOC Data Manager and obvious duplicate records removed. While some duplication of records still remained, consequent on the variables inherent in electronic filtering of data, it appears that the move to recording via BirdTrack has resulted in some increase in submissions. As in previous Annual Reports, the number of records received for each species is given but, because of the many factors involved
24 in the changes in data submission, no significance can be placed on any comparison of these numbers with those of previous years.
Unless otherwise stated, all occurrences of county rarities (requiring detailed description and supporting evidence) reported in the Systematic List have been approved by the HOC Rarities Subcommittee and, for national rarities, also by the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC). Abbreviations used in text: GP = Gravel Pits; R = River; -* = No records (used in tables) References
BOU (2013). The British List: A Checklist of Birds of Britain (8th edition). Ibis, 155: 635 – 676. BOU (2015). British List: http://www.bou.org.uk/thebritishlist/British-List-2015-02-24.pdf Davies, M., Eldridge, P., Robinson, C., Smith, N. & Wells, G. (eds) (2014). The Birds of Herefordshire 2007 – 2012: An Atlas of their breeding and wintering distributions. Liverpool University Press. Eaton, M.A., Brown, A.F., Noble, D.G., Musgrove, A.J., Hearn, R., Aebischer, N.J., Gibbons, D.W., Evans, A. & Gregory, R.D. (2009). Birds of Conservation Concern 3: the population status of birds in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. British Birds, 102: 296 – 341. Gill, F. & Donsker, D. (eds) (2012). IOC World Bird Names (version 3.1). Available at http://www. worldbirdnames.org/ [accessed 08/07/2015]. Gerald Parker
A pair of Redshank feeding in a wetland habitat
25 Mute Swan Cygnus olor
Fairly common resident
681 records from 108 sites
The highest counts for main sites were: 80 at Willersley on 1 Jan; 98 at Wellington GP on 6 Jan; 88 at Huntsham Bridge on 7 Jan; 112 at Fownhope on 19 Jan; 122 at Bolstone on 25 Jan; 81 at Goodrich on 7 Mar; 82 at R Wye Wilton on 13 Mar; 76 at R Wye Rotherwas on 20 Mar; 68 at R Wye Sink Green on 27 Mar; 52 at Foy on 28 Mar; 73 at Ballingham on 3 Apr; 50 at Brockhall GP on 18 Apr; 91 at R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 12 May; 53 at Moreton on Lugg on 14 Jun; 76 at Hampton Bishop on 9 Jul; 58 at Holme Lacy Bridge on 22 Nov and 88 at Hereford Quarry on 6 Dec.
Breeding was confirmed from 17 sites which is a slight decrease from last year. These were at: Berrington Hall Pool, Bodenham Lake, Bredwardine, Brockhall GP, Falcon Lane Ledbury, Gamber Meadows, Hartleton Lakes, Haygrove Pools Linton, Hereford Quarry, Little Berrington Litmarsh, Pencoyd, Phocle Green, R Wye Sellack Boat, R Wye Wilton, Symonds Yat West, Tyberton Pools and Wellington GP.
Bewick’s Swan (Tundra Swan) Cygnus columbianus
Uncommon winter visitor BoCC listed: Amber
4 records from 2 sites
There were two feeding with Mute Swans in a kale field at Willersley on 1 Jan, and at Wellington GP, there were two with a herd of Mute Swans in flooded fields opposite the roadside pit during 1–6 Jan, increasing to three on 14 Jan and four on 9 Feb, which remained there until 15 Feb.
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
Scarce winter visitor BoCC listed: Amber
5 records from 4 sites
There were five on the flooded R Wye at Winforton on 1 Jan; one at Wellington GP in flooded fields opposite the gravel pits with 50 Mute and two Bewick`s Swans during 1–6 Jan; two at Stocklow on 8 and 15 Jan; one at Goodrich on 6 and 7 Mar and four at Wellington GP during 19 – 23 Nov.
Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus
Scarce winter visitor BoCC listed: Amber
1 record
One was seen at Hereford Quarry on 10 Nov (A.H. Eveleigh & A. Marchant).
26 Greylag Goose Anser anser
Uncommon resident BoCC listed: Amber
86 records from 10 sites
Monthly maxima for the main recorded sites: Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Berrington Pool - 4 8 9* 8* - 8 - - - - - Brockhall GP 1 - 5 2 2 1 - 1 P 1 P 1 Wellington GP 6 7 1 P 1 8 15 20 P 2 2 - * includes juveniles; P = present
Other sightings were recorded at: Bodenham Lake, Hampton Bishop, Marden, Moccas Park, Moreton on Lugg, Symonds Yat and Wormelow Tump.
Breeding was confirmed at Berrington Hall Pool with a pair and six goslings seen on 21 Apr and a further brood of two goslings was present on 17 May.
Greater Canada Goose (Canada Goose) Branta Canadensis
Common resident and winter visitor
602 records from 75 sites
Monthly maxima for sites with counts in seven or more months:
Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Berrington Pool 2 20 43 33 37* 7* - - - - - 6 Bodenham Lake 40 30 67 - 20* 20 - 100 40 150 40 6 Brockhall GP 900 300 117 43 80* 284* 300* 1,000 500 900 1,200 1,000 Hartleton Lakes 22 24 24 24 21* 35* 44 162 52 131 137 58 Hereford Quarry 169 46 11 16 13* 36* 29 10 34 200 98 137 Kenchester Pools 2 - 6 39 - 15 27 60 200 - P 350 R Wye Fownhope - 18 11 5 7 - - 182 115 7 - - R Wye Hampton - 10 14 3 30 30* 39* 49 74 67 - - Bishop R Wye Wilton 147 - 71 19 - - - 100 40 - 195 75 Wellington GP 124 60 60 10 30 57* 220 400 400 20 200 40 * includes juveniles; P = present
Other large counts were: 245 in a grass field at Moccas on 30 Jun; 130 at R Wye Backney Bridge on 11 Aug; 100 at Tyberton flying to a nearby roost on 27 Aug; 92 at R Wye Fownhope on 29 Sep; 257 at Letton Lakes floodplain on 10 Oct; 155 at Stocklow on 18 Oct and 131 at Symonds Yat West on 8 Dec.
27 Breeding was confirmed at six additional sites to those indicated in the table: a pair on a nest at Lower Foxhall Lakes on 25 Apr; six juveniles at R Wye Coppet Hill on 26 Apr and also three juveniles there on 16 Jun; two adults with two goslings at Amberley Court Marden on 14 May; four broods of goslings at Criftin Ford Bridge on 24 May; two families at R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 6 Jun and adults with eight goslings at R Monnow Part-y-seal on 9 Jun.
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis Uncommon resident and winter visitor; has bred BoCC listed: Amber 71 records from 5 sites Monthly maxima for all sites: Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Brockhall GP 7 7 7 4 - - - - 5 6 6 5 Hartleton Lakes ------1 Hereford Quarry ------1 - - R Wye Wilton 1------Wellington GP - - - 2 - - - 3* - P - - * includes juveniles; P = present There were sightings at fewer locations than in 2013; however Brockhall GP was still the most favoured site. Mick Colquhoun Mick
Brent Goose (Brant Goose) Branta bernicla Very scarce passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber 1 record Three dark-bellied birds were recorded at Brockhall GP on 4 Oct (J. Tilby & S. Coney).
28 Shelduck (Common Shelduck) Tadorna tadorna Scarce winter visitor BoCC listed: Amber
32 records from 11 sites
Monthly maxima from sites showing previous records:
Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bodenham Lake - - - - 7 ------Brockhall GP - 1 2 3 3 2 ------Hereford Quarry ------1 Letton Lakes - 1 - - 1 1 ------Wellington GP - - 2 1 ------
The other sightings were: one on floodwater with gulls and Mute Swans at Marden on 28 Feb; one at Moreton on Lugg on 1 Mar; two at Kenchester Pools on 15 Apr; seven at Bridge Street Leominster on 7 May; two near Norton Canon on 30 June and five at R Monnow Great Goytre on 20 Aug.
Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata Fairly common resident 218 records from 73 sites
Monthly maxima for sites with counts in three or more months:
Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Ballingham - - 7 2 - - - 3 - - - - Bodenham Lake 5 5 - - - - - 1 - - - - Breinton - - - - 4 5* - 6 - - - - Hartleton Lakes - 2 2 1 2* 1 1 - - 2 - 15 Hereford City ------1 - 2 - 2 1 R Wye Coppet Hill - - 4 1 17* 7* 7 8 - 19 - - R Wye Courtfield, -2242------Welsh Bicknor R Wye Fownhope - - 4 4 9* 16* 22 18 6 - - - R Wye Hampton - - 9 4 18* 16* 24* 6 3 5 - - Bishop * includes juveniles
Other high counts were: 15 at Woolhope on 3 Feb; a female and 12 ducklings at R Monnow Ruthlin on 4 May; two females with broods of nine and 12 at R Wye Mordiford to Sink Green on 18 May; a female and 10 ducklings at R Wye Turner’s Boat on 13 Jun; 10 at R Wye Miners Rest Symonds Yat on 3 Aug; 20 at R Wye Great Doward on 23 Sep; 10 at R Wye Fownhope on
29 29 Sep and 20 at Moorhampton Park Farm on 24 Dec. Counts of five or more were also recorded at: Berrington Hall Pool, Letton Lakes floodplain, Phocle Green, R Wye Hole-in-the-Wall, R Wye Letton and R Wye Sellack Boat.
Breeding was confirmed at six additional sites where juveniles were present: Berrington Hall Pool, Leintwardine Bridge, R Monnow Alltyrynys and Oldcastle, R Wye Letton and Woolhope.
Wigeon (Eurasian Wigeon) Anas Penelope
Fairly common winter visitor BoCC listed: Amber
211 records from 11 sites
Monthly maxima for the main recorded sites: Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bodenham Lake 100 120 ------4 8 19 130 Brockhall GP 200 68 75 15 P - 1 1 35 65 115 132 Hereford Quarry 57 12 50 6 - - 3 1 29 41 85 103 Wellington GP 40 25 70 - - - - 2 28 P 19 21 P = present
Additional sites with notable numbers were: 120 at Lugg Meadows on 22 Feb; 25 at Kenchester Pools on 22 Mar and 42 at Letton Lakes on 18 Dec. The species was also recorded at: Hartleton Lakes, Moccas, R Wye Hampton Bishop and Titley Pool.
Gadwall Anas strepera
Uncommon resident and winter visitor BoCC listed: Amber
253 records from 10 sites
Monthly maxima for sites with counts in four or more months: Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Brockhall GP 8 16 13 11 11* 14* 8* 11* 10 2 8 8 Hartleton Lakes - - 3 7 2 - - - 10 5 - 4 Hereford Quarry 1 7 ------2 2 3 3 Kenchester Pools - - 2 - - 11 15* - 1 - - - Lower Foxhall - - 6 2 5* - 1* - 15 - - 2 Lakes Wellington GP 8 11 8 2 3 P - 3 4 2 12 11 * includes juveniles; P = present
Records from other sites were: one at Lugg Meadows on 22 Feb; two at Eccleswall Court on 25 Mar; two at Brynheulog Brampton Abbotts on 15 May and four at Bodenham Lake on 17 Sep and 15 Oct.
30 Nick Pegler Nick Avocets at Brockhall GP in May 2014 – the 4th county record Mick Colquhoun Mick Bewick’s Swan in flooded fields at Wellington GP in January 2014
31 Elizabeth Ruff Little Egret in flight near the River Teme at Walford in January 2014 Phil Parsons Curlew Sandpipers at Brockhall GP in August 2014 – the 9th county record
32 Terry Hancock Terry A male Sparrowhawk at Gorsley in December 2014
33 John Tilby
A Bar-tailed Godwit at Brockhall GP in May 2014 – the 15th record for Herefordshire Mick Colquhoun Mick
Goosanders on the River Wye opposite the Bishop’s Palace, Hereford in November 2014
34 Teal (Eurasian Teal) Anas crecca
Fairly common winter visitor BoCC listed: Amber
313 records from 23 sites
Monthly maxima from sites with counts in three or more months: Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Berrington Pool 5 - 4 ------1 - - Bodenham Lake 40 23 ------3 2 Brockhall GP 100 40 50 23 2 4 6 35 30 27 26 49 Hartleton Lakes ------3 5 4 4 Hereford Quarry 98 25 53 2 - - - 2 39 47 136 114 Kenchester Pools - - 36 - - - - 6 10 2 P P Letton Lakes 17 121 4 ------R Wye Hampton -2--1----2-- Bishop Walford Tumulus - 35 ------27 3 Wellington GP 100 93 40 6 - - 2 12 45 15 38 35 P = present Additional records of note were: 30 at Upper Lugg Meadows on 12 Mar; 30 at Titley Pool on 8 Nov and 50 at Lower Lugg Meadows on 16 Nov.
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Common resident; releases occur annually BoCC listed: Amber
835 records from 152 sites
Monthly maxima for the main recorded sites: Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Berrington Pool 4 11 10 7* 11* 11* 15* 34 29 37 - 42 Brockhall GP 42 38 35 28* 37* 50* 43* 50* 54 59 28 32 Hartleton Lakes 36 41 30 32 37* 25* 51* 83 105 108 80 53 Hereford Quarry 64 22 33 41* 42* 36* 73* 72 114 69 89 40 Kenchester Pools - - 4 26 - 20 30* 20* 6 2 P - R Wye Castleton - - - 8 11 2 2 2 12 22 18 9 & Winforton R Wye Coppet Hill - 2 5 20* 14* 12* 5 4 5 14 - 18 R Wye Fownhope 118 71 78 70 76 106 110 161 207 197 - - R Wye Hampton 79 30 74* 81 88 145 175 142 187 318 - - Bishop Wellington GP 180 40 43 35 40* 109 47* 50 20 10 150 36 * includes juveniles; P = present
35 Breeding was confirmed at the following additional sites: Ballingham, Bollitree Castle Weston under Penyard, Bridstow, Courtfield Welsh Bicknor, Falcon Lane Ledbury, Homend Park Stretton Grandison, Lower Foxhall Lakes, Moccas Park, Pencoyd, R Wye Ross Sewage Works, Rookery Wood Leintwardine, St Mary’s Park Burghill and Weir Gardens.
Additional large counts at other sites were: 55 at Letton Lakes on 14 Jul; 58 at Rotherwas on 24 Aug; 150, 130 and 450 at Eastnor Deer Park on 15 Sep, 28 Oct and 22 Nov respectively; 54 at Symonds Yat on 6 Oct; 145 at Stocklow on 18 Oct; 100 at Amberley Court Marden on 28 Oct and 80 there on 1 Dec; 58 at R Wye Ross Sewage Works on 3 Dec; 66 at Mordiford on 20 Dec and 245 at Bronshill House Eastnor on 31 Dec.
Pintail (Northern Pintail) Anas acuta Scarce winter visitor BoCC listed: Amber 47 records from 7 sites Monthly maxima from sites with counts in two or more months: Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bodenham Lake 6 8 ------Brockhall GP 5 ------5 Hereford Quarry ------1 2 - - Wellington GP 7 2 14 10 - - - - 5 2 - -
Wellington GP accounted for just over half the total sightings. Additional sightings were also recorded at: R Wye Ballingham (Feb), Lugg Meadows (Feb) and Kenchester Pools (Mar). One juvenile was seen on the scrape at Wellington GP on 13 Sep. Garganey Anas querquedula Scarce passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber 4 records from 2 sites Sightings for this species were down this year. The earliest sighting was of a single at Wellington GP on 19 April (P.H. Downes). Singles were also seen at Brockhall GP on 3 May (S. Coney), 13 Jun (N. Pegler) and an eclipse male seen there on 6 Sep (N. Pegler & J. Tilby) remained until 5 Oct.
Shoveler (Northern Shoveler) Anas clypeata Uncommon winter visitor BoCC listed: Amber 197 records from 7 sites Monthly maxima from sites with counts in two or more months:
Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bodenham Lake ------1 4 - Brockhall GP 4 2 8 5 1 3 1 4 14 22 8 15 Hereford Quarry 5 5 ------3 7 - - Kenchester Pools ------9 - 12 5 - - Wellington GP 56 36 33 12 - - - 1 9 17 32 31
36 Brockhall and Wellington GPs accounted for almost 90% of all sightings. The other sightings were: two at R Wye Ballingham on 16 Feb and one at Berrington Hall Pool on 7 Sep.
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina Very scarce passage migrant
1 record
The only record, two males at Wellington GP on 22 Nov was the 14th county record (P.H. Downes & S. Coney).
Pochard (Common Pochard) Aythya farina Uncommon winter visitor BoCC listed: Amber
181 records from 6 sites
Monthly maxima from the main recorded sites:
Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Brockhall GP 8 14 5 ------4 2 6 Hereford Quarry - 1 ------1 - Kenchester Pools 4 - 2 ------2 Wellington GP 12 6 3 1 - - 4 12 6 6 5 6
Records from other sites were: six at Letton Lake floodplain on 10 Oct and two at Boden- ham Lake on 27 Dec.
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Fairly common resident and winter visitor BoCC listed: Amber
366 records from 22 sites:
Monthly maxima for the main recorded sites:
Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Berrington Pool - - 7 13 4 6 - 7 5 - - - Bodenham Lake 4 3 7 - 3 - - - - 2 22 6 Brockhall GP 55 117 100 43 50 50* 50* 70* 52 48 42 40 Hereford Quarry 109 30 65 17 16 14 6* 8 43 45 17 34 Kenchester Pools 4 - 20 32 8 15 40* 10 5 2 P P Letton Lakes - - - - - 1 - - - - 1 2 Wellington GP 125 143 100 80 35 30 26* 64* 30 P 84 48 * includes juveniles; P = present
37 Other sites were: Burcher, Brobury, Down Wood Shobdon, Eastnor Park, Leach Pool Clifford, Little Berrington Litmarsh, Lower Foxhall Lakes, Lugg Meadows, Moreton on Lugg, Netherton Pools Ross-on-Wye, Pembridge, Pipe and Lyde, Stocklow, Titley Pool and Wolferlow.
In addition to the sites indicated in the table, breeding was also confirmed at Little Berrington Litmarsh on 3 Aug.
Scaup (Greater Scaup) Aythya marila
Scarce passage migrant BoCC listed: Red
2 records from 2 sites
One female at Brockhall GP on 5 Dec (B. Lakin) remained throughout Dec. Another female present at Wellington GP on 7 Dec (J. Tilby) stayed until 26 Dec.
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
Very rare passage migrant
1 record
One juvenile at Hereford Quarry on 5 Dec (B. Lakin) was the 6th county record and it remained there for two days.
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra
Scarce passage migrant BoCC listed: Red
3 records from 2 sites
One male was recorded at Wellington GP on 7 Mar (J. Tilby); three males and two females were at Brockhall GP on 19 Jul (J. Tilby & N. Pegler) and two males and one female were at Wellington GP on 27 Nov (G.S. Bilbao).
Goldeneye (Common Goldeneye) Bucephala clangula
Uncommon winter visitor BoCC listed: Amber
123 records from 4 sites
Monthly maxima for all sites: Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bodenham Lake 10 7 ------1 4 Brockhall GP 1 1 1 1 - - - - - 7 - - Hereford Quarry ------1 1 - Wellington GP 2 16 18 11 ------2 15
38 Mick Colquhoun Mick
Goosander (Common Merganser) Mergus merganser Fairly common resident 267 records from 59 sites Monthly maxima for the main recorded sites: Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Brockhall GP 30 5 5 2 - - - - 31 49 67 48 Hartleton Lakes 3 - - - - - 1* - - - 5 - Lugg Meadows - 18 - 3 1 ------R Wye Castleton - - 1 6 11 1 12 - 2 6 5 2 & Winforton R Wye Fownhope 5 3 10 4 2 12* 11 4 4 - - - R Wye Hampton 8 5 8 14* 19* 19* 15 18 3 21 2 - Bishop R Wye Hereford 9 2 - 5 9* - 1 - - - 3 4 R Wye Rotherwas - - 7 10 8* - 2 - - - - - R Wye Wilton - - - 3 - - - - 7 1 1 9 Weir Gardens - - - 4 - 6* - - - 1 1 - Wellington GP 8 8 ------10 51 * includes juveniles
The data in the table reflect the movement of this species from the upper and middle reaches of the River Wye during the breeding season to the larger expanses of water and lower Wye during winter. Additional records of note were: 12 at Bodenham Lake on 13 Jan and 20 Dec; 19 at Moreton on Lugg on 1 Mar; 14 at R Wye Sink Green on 22 Jul and 14 at Mordiford on 20 Dec. In addition to the six sites indicated in the table, breeding was also confirmed at three other sites: one female with seven small ducklings at R Monnow Llanrothal on 4 May; one female with a well-grown brood at R Monnow Part-y-seal on 9 Jun; and nine well-grown juveniles at Leintwardine Bridge on 23 Jun.
39 Quail (Common Quail) Coturnix coturnix Scarce summer visitor BoCC listed: Amber
1 record
Following no recorded observations in 2013, a single male was heard calling just south of Birches Farm near Eardisley on 5 Jul (R Hemming & J Walshe).
Recordings of this species vary annually, with considerably greater numbers recorded in ‘Quail years’ of which the most recent was 2011, when birds were reported from 13 Herefordshire tetrads, most of which were in the north and west of the county.
Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa Fairly common resident; releases occur annually
75 records from 39 sites
There were records from each month, but with a distinct peak in March, and with observations from many more sites than in 2013. However, there were fewer counts of 10 or more birds than in 2013, with 10 birds recorded at Courtfield Welsh Bicknor on 12 Jan and 44 at Stocklow on 23 Nov.
Breeding was confirmed with recently fledged birds noted at Mulhampton, near Upton Bishop on 16 Jul.
Red Grouse (Willow Ptarmigan) Lagopus lagopus Scarce records from the Black Mountains BoCC listed: Amber
3 records from 2 sites
As in previous years, all records came from the Black Mountains. A particularly large count of 20 birds was recorded on Offa’s Dyke Path north of Llanthony on 30 Sep and smaller counts of two and eight respectively at Red Daren and Black Darren on 19 Apr and 25 Oct.
It is likely that this species is under-recorded because of the relatively little attention given to heather moorland. There have been no confirmed records of breeding in recent years and with limited suitable habitat there are only likely to be around five breeding pairs within the county (based on Atlas survey data). However, the two counts of relatively large numbers of birds in Sep and Oct suggest that more intensive observation during the breeding season (Apr – Jun) could lead to evidence of confirmed breeding.
Grey Partridge Perdix perdix Uncommon resident; releases occur annually BoCC listed: Red
7 records from 5 sites
The number of records and sites in 2014 is the same as in 2013. Breeding, unconfirmed in 2013, was confirmed in 2014 through observation of six recently fledged birds at Mulhampton,
40 near Upton Bishop on 2 Jul. In addition, two pairs of birds were seen at different locations at Newhouse Farm, Upper Egleton on 19 Apr, although it is noted that these birds were probably survivors from a hand-reared and released group from the previous summer. Further records consist of: four, five and seven birds on 4 and 6 Mar and 7 May respectively at Stocklow; two birds at Gamber Meadows on 18 Mar and a single bird at Breinton on 22 Dec.
Pheasant (Common Pheasant) Phasianus colchinus Abundant resident; releases occur annually
741 records from 156 sites
Whilst most counts were in single figures, there were 35 counts of 20 or more birds compared with only five such counts in 2013. These occurred in every month apart from Jun and Jul, with the greatest number of high counts being recorded in Mar, Apr, Sep and Oct. Counts of 40 or more birds were reported from the following sites: 61 at Canwood Woolhope on 8 Jan; nine counts of 40 – 85 at Courtfield Welsh Bicknor over the period 12 Jan – 4 May; 80 at Midsummer Hill on 14 Jan; three counts of 45 – 51 at Checkley over the period 27 Mar – 17 Sep; 40 at Eastnor Deer Park on 15 Sep and 85 at Bronshill House Eastnor on 31 Dec. There was one record only of confirmed breeding, at Eastnor Deer Park on 15 May.
Cormorant (Great Cormorant) Phalacrocorax carbo Fairly common non-breeding resident and winter visitor
442 records from 56 sites
Following the first record of attempted breeding in the county in 2013 at Bodenham Lake, three occupied nests were recorded at Wellington GP on 1 Apr, with further records of single occupied nests on 6 Apr and 4 May. However by 18 May the single nest was no longer occupied and there was no confirmed evidence of successful breeding.
Monthly maxima for the main recorded sites (excluding birds flying over) were: Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Berrington Pool 3 3 - 2 - - 1 1 - 2 - 2 Bodenham Lake 14 1 3 - 1 - - 2 4 7 6 16 Brockhall GP 54 4 3 2 4 1 5 13 54 37 5 67 Harleton Lakes 3 2 - - - - - 2 - - 2 2 Hereford Quarry 12 1 4 1 3 2 2 4 10 13 22 14 R Wye Castleton ----13322262 & Winforton R Wye Fownhope 9 2 2 2 - 2 2 10 2 7 - - R Wye Hampton 5252246674-3 Bishop - Mordiford Wellington GP 12 5 26 30 10 20 2 10 35 P 120 20
41 At Stocklow small flocks were noted flying west: 19 on 4 Jan; 14 on 14 Jan; 24 on 11 Sep and 14 on 5 Oct. Records from other sites of 10 or more birds were: 11 at Marden on 11 Mar; 22 at Leach Pool Clifford on 15 Mar; 10 at Fownhope South on 23 Aug and 10 at Coppet Hill on 27 Dec.
Little Egret Egretta garzetta Scarce resident BoCC listed: Amber
79 records from 27 sites
This is the peak number of sightings for the county and the number of sites is increasing year on year, reflecting the increasing spread of the species within the county. Five or more separate records were submitted from Brockhall GP (17), Hereford Quarry (5), R Wye Fownhope (5), R Wye Hampton Bishop to Mordiford (7) and Wellington GP (15).
Over 80% of the sightings were either of singletons or ‘present’, with records from across the year, but with peaks in Jan, Aug and Dec. The main difference between 2013 and 2014 is in Dec, when there was only a single record in 2013 compared to 15 in 2014.
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Number of records 15 3 3 2 1 1 9 18 5 1 5 15
There were records of two birds at: Leintwardine on 5 Jan; Brockhall GP on 12 Jul and 11 Aug; R Wye Fownhope on 20 Jul; R Wye Hampton Bishop to Mordiford on 7 and 28 Aug; R Wye Hereford to Hoarwithy on 15 Sep; R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 2 Oct and Walford on 10 Nov. There were three birds at R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 22 Dec and four birds at: R Wye Sink Green on 22 Jul; Capler Camp on 2 Aug and Leintwardine on 25 Dec.
It is likely that some of the records are of the same birds noted by different observers. For example, there are nine separate records of a single bird at Brockhall GP over a 10-day period in Jan.
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Fairly common resident
425 records from 96 sites
This represents an increased number of sites compared to 2013. Breeding was recorded at five locations, with occupied nests at: Leach Pool Clifford (two nests on 15 Mar); Weston Farm Bredwardine (36 pairs on 15 Mar); Eccleswall Court (3 nests on 25 Mar); Buckton (a maximum of six nests on 4 Apr) and Berrington Hall Pool (a maximum of 18 nests on 21 Apr). Breeding was recorded at only three locations in 2013, including Hindwell Brook Knill where there were no records in 2014.
There have been variations in the records from breeding sites during the period 2008 – 2014. The only sites with breeding records from each of these years are Berrington Hall Pool and Eccleswall Court. There are records from Buckton from every year apart from 2011, and records from Weston Farm for each of the past four years. The variations in records and sites across years are perhaps slightly surprising, given the tendency for this species to use the same breeding sites for a number of years.
42 Non-breeding records were spread, fairly evenly, across all months with over 80% being of ‘present’, single or two birds. Maxima of seven birds at non-breeding sites were recorded along the R Wye Hampton Bishop to Mordiford on 30 Jan and in a field used for turf cutting at Hampton Bishop on 8 Nov.
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Uncommon resident and winter visitor BoCC listed: Amber
205 records from 36 sites
Breeding was confirmed at seven sites, compared to only two sites in 2013. At two sites there were multiple records of breeding: adults and recently fledged juveniles were at Kenchester Pools on 21 Jun, with further breeding records through to 3 Aug, and a maximum of two pairs with juveniles were recorded at Brockhall GP between 6 Jul and 11 Aug. At five further sites there were single records of breeding, all being of recently fledged birds: Brynheulog Brampton Abbotts on 26 Apr; Little Berrington Litmarsh on 9 Jul; Haygrove Farm Pools Linton on 7 Aug; Hereford Quarry on 7 Sep and Lower Foxhall Lakes on 12 Sep. All but one of the breeding records are of recently fledged birds seen between July and September, although the record from 26 Apr, whilst early, lies only slightly before the modal date of laying of the first egg in early May (based on BTO data).
The larger counts recorded were: 12 at Brockhall GP on 12 Jul and 10 at Kenchester Pools on 9 and 21 Aug. Counts of five or more birds were limited to: Brockhall GP, Cheyney Chapel Bishops Frome, Hereford Quarry, Kenchester Pools, Little Berrington Litmarsh, Netherton Pools Ross-on-Wye and R Wye Hampton Bishop to Mordiford. The majority of the remaining records were of one or two adults and records were spread relatively evenly across the year.
Monthly maxima for sites with five or more records: Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Berrington Pool - 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 - - Brockhall GP 5 3 6 3 1 3 12 6 2 2 2 1 Kenchester Pools 3 - - 1 P 8 5 10 4 2 - - Wellington GP P - P P - - 1 - 2 - 1 2 P = present
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Uncommon resident and winter visitor
322 records from 6 sites
Breeding evidence came from four sites, including Wellington GP where there was no evidence of breeding in 2013. Breeding records from Hartleton Lakes and Kenchester Pools in 2013 were not replicated in 2014.
There were many records of breeding at Brockhall GP, with the earliest being of two nesting pairs on 3 May. The first young (being carried on an adult’s back) was noted on 3 Jun. An adult with four juveniles was reported on 5 Jul, and four separate broods on 6 Jul. On 19 Jul
43 there were no less than 18 adults and 8 juveniles there. Records continued throughout Aug, with the latest being of an adult feeding a juvenile on 22 Sep. Recently fledged young were at Hereford Quarry between 17 May and 20 Jul and at Eastnor Lake on 6 Jul. The earliest record of potential breeding was from Wellington GP with a pair on 11 Feb. This was followed by the first evidence of breeding with an occupied nest on 6 May, the first juvenile on 26 Jul and an adult with five juveniles on 16 Aug. The latest record from this site was on 24 Aug.
The breeding success improvement in 2013, compared to 2012, was repeated in 2014, although the decline in the use of Hartleton Lakes as a breeding site continued.
Monthly maxima for all sites: Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bodenham Lake 1 - - - 2 - - 1 - 2 1 1 Brockhall GP 20 20 14 10 12 19* 32* 18* 18 15 12 10 Eastnor Lake - - 3 - - - 7* - - - - - Hartleton Lakes - - 1 1 - - - - 1 - - - Hereford Quarry - - 2 3 4* 4* 2* 6* 2 4 1 1 Wellington GP 4 8 15 13 12 14 11 12* 8 10 21 7 * includes juveniles
Red Kite Milvus milvus Uncommon resident BoCC listed: Amber
261 records from 131 sites
Records were received in all months, with a peak in Feb/Mar and the lowest numbers in July/Aug, which is similar to 2013:
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Number of records 21 36 37 27 20 22 9 7 25 15 14 28
Evidence of breeding was limited to one record of a single pair of birds on 15 Mar in the south-west of the county, although it seems highly likely that this under-represents the breeding status of the species, with confirmed or probable breeding recorded in 23 tetrads during the 2007 – 2012 Atlas Survey.
Reports of singles accounted for 71% of the records, while reports for two birds (excluding ‘pairs’) accounted for a further 17% – very similar to 2013. There were 23 records of three to 12 birds. The largest count was of ‘at least’ 12 at Criftin Ford Bridge on 5 Apr. One evident trend over time is the increasing number of birds recorded in a single count, which may be evidence of the gradually increasing population within the county:
Year 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Maximum count size 3 3 4 4 6 8 12+
44 The increasingly urban nature of the species is illustrated by a record from Ledbury “…..a Red Kite just ‘sailed’ up our street – couldn’t believe my eyes!!” Mick Colquhoun Mick
Hen Harrier (Hen Harrier/Northern Harrier) Circus cyaneus
Very scarce winter visitor and passage migrant BoCC listed: Red
1 record
A male was at Upper Maund on 16 May (F. Bradley). This is the fifth year in succession that the species has been recorded in Herefordshire.
Goshawk (Northern Goshawk) Accipiter gentilis
Uncommon resident
53 records from 27 sites
The number of records and sites is virtually unchanged from 2013. There were records from all months except Oct, with peak numbers reported in Feb and Mar. There was circumstantial evidence of breeding (two sightings of pairs, one of which was displaying aerially and two sightings of juveniles) from three sites. The majority of records were of single birds, but there were eight sightings of two birds and two of three birds. The greatest number of records was from the south of the county, as in 2013.
Sparrowhawk (Eurasian Sparrowhawk) Accipiter nisus
Fairly common resident
206 records from 96 sites
45 This represents a significant increase in the number of sites compared to 2013, and the highest since 2007. The sites were widely dispersed, with records from all months but with fewer sightings in May and Jun.
There was confirmed evidence of breeding from only three sites: an adult carrying food at Haugh Wood on 17 Jun; a nest with young at Backney on 18 Jul and an adult with a recently fledged juvenile at Stretford Bridge on 19 Aug. In addition, an adult was seen visiting a probable nest at Garway on 6 Jul.
Over 90% of the records were of single birds, but there were 14 records of two birds, mainly in the south of the county and spread across the year. There were also three records of three birds from: Coneygree Wood Ledbury on 16 Feb; R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 8 Sep and Wellington GP on 22 Nov.
As in previous years, several records were of birds hunting in gardens, with attempted or actual kills of Blue Tit, Starling and Collared Dove.
Buzzard (Common Buzzard) Buteo buteo Common resident
1004 records from 226 sites
Records were widely dispersed across the county and throughout the year, but with peak sightings occurring during Feb – Apr and in Jul/Aug, and lower numbers in Nov/Dec.
There was evidence of breeding from 13 sites, compared to eight in 2013. Pairs of birds were noted at Shelwick Green on 31 May and Madley Earth Station on 12 Jun. Birds involved in courtship display or occupying a permanent territory were recorded at: R Teme Burrington on 27 Mar; Brockhampton Estate on 13 Apr and Lugg Meadows on 18 Apr. Occupied nests were observed at: Gamber Meadows on 9 May; Newton St Margarets on 6 Jun; Arkstone Farm Kingstone on 30 Jun; Honeymoor Common Eaton Bishop on 1 Jul and Ruckhall Woods on 2 Jul. A juvenile was heard calling from a nest site at Newton St Margarets on 6 Jun and recently fledged juveniles were included in a count of five birds at Caradoc and Sellack Boat on 13 Jul.
Over 80% of records were of one or two birds, but there were a few counts of 20 or more: 20 and 22 at Milton Cross on 26 Jan and 24 Apr; 30 and 25 at Criftin Ford Bridge on 9 Mar and 5 Apr and a rising flock of 25 at Lower House Farm Adforton on 13 Apr.
Osprey (Western Osprey) Pandion haliaetus Scarce passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber
13 records from 10 sites
There was a small increase in the number of records and sites compared to 2013, but fewer than in 2012. The site with the greatest number of records was Wellington GP, with sightings on 24 Apr, 12 Sep and 11 Oct. Other sites with more than one record were: Bircher Common on 5 and 15 Apr and Leintwardine on 14 Apr and 29 Jun. All records were of single birds, the majority in flight. The peak month for records was April, with seven sightings at various locations across the county.
46 The earliest record was of a bird flying upstream on the R Wye at Wilton on 28 Mar and the latest was at Wellington GP on 11 Oct.
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus
Uncommon resident and winter visitor
46 records from 10 sites
Most records were of ones and twos, but there were three at Wellington GP on 11 Jan, four there on 8 Nov, six on 16 Nov and three on 23 Nov; this site accounted for 61% of sightings. Records were also received from: Bodenham GP, Davies Meadows Norton Canon, Gamber Meadows, Hampton Park, Hartleton Lakes, Hereford Quarry, Lower Foxhall Lakes, Symonds Yat West and Westons Much Marcle. Just over half of the records were during Nov and Dec and with no sightings in the Apr – Aug period.
Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Common resident
531 records from 94 sites
Breeding was confirmed at the following locations: Aylestone Park, Berrington Hall, Bollitree Castle Weston under Penyard, Brockhall GP, Brynheulog Brampton Abbotts, Eastnor Lake, Falcon Lane Ledbury, Gamber Meadows, Hartleton Lakes, Haygrove Farm Pools Linton, Hereford Quarry, Kenchester Pools, Little Berrington Litmarsh, Madley Earth Station, Mill Lane Colwall, Moor Court Farm Egleton, Pencoyd, R Wye Broomy Hill, Rookery Wood Mocktree, St. Mary’s Pool Burghill and Upper Egleton.
Monthly maxima at major sites were: Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Berrington Hall 8 8 4 2 1 2* 3* 13* 11 5 - 6 Brockhall GP 3 4 8 6 6 14* 25* 26* 32 16 15 2 Hartleton Lakes 4 4 7 11 8 6* 7 11 13* 9 12 13 Kenchester Pools - - 6 - 2 10* 10 6 1 1 - - Wellington GP 25 P P 2 P 2 9 6 6 P 8 2 * includes juveniles; P = present
Coot (Eurasian Coot) Fulica atra
Fairly common resident
390 records from 30 sites
Breeding was confirmed during the May – Aug period at the following sites: Berrington Hall, Bodenham Lake, Brockhall GP, Eastnor Lake, Eccleswall Court, Hereford Quarry, Kenchester Pools, Little Berrington Litmarsh, Lower Foxhall Lakes, Moccas Park and Wellington GP.
47 Monthly maxima at major sites were: Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Berrington Hall 1 1 12 3 6* 6* 13* 23* 23* 12 - 4 Brockhall GP 78 50 58 40 40* 100* 109* 76* 87 52 44 47 Hereford Quarry 4 11 28 19 11* 11* 8* 27 63 57 - 22 Kenchester Pools 13 - 2 - 4 P 15* 10 5 - - - Wellington GP 120 40 44 45 30* 35* 31* 44 20 P 57 42 * includes juveniles; P = present
Avocet (Pied Avocet) Recurvirostra avosetta Very rare passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber
1 record
Two adults were recorded at Brockhall GP on 20 May (N.C. Pegler). This is the 4th county record. The most recent record was also at Brockhall GP in Mar 2010, with earlier records at Eardisley in Mar 1958 and at R Wye Wilton c.1931. Gerald Parker
Oystercatcher (Eurasian Oystercatcher) Haematopus ostralegus Uncommon summer visitor and passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber
227 records from 13 sites
The earliest record of the year was of three at Brockhall GP on 7 Jan. Six were present there by late Feb, with a maximum of nine by early Apr. The first two juveniles were recorded on 12 Apr followed by seven young of varying ages on 2 May. There were four broods there on 10 May,
48 which was confirmed on 17 May when four pairs plus 13 juveniles were noted. Nine birds observed there on 3 Jun were five adults and four juveniles and a maximum of 13 birds were seen during 10 – 13 Jun. Birds were recorded at this location in every month up to 15 Jul when seven were seen. A single was present here throughout the month of Dec.
In addition to Brockhall GP, breeding was also confirmed at: Hereford Quarry on 3 May; Wellington GP on 19 May and at Graham’s Cottage Bridge Leintwardine where a pair was noted sitting on 29 May, but this and a subsequent nest failed at the egg stage.
Birds were also observed at: Bunch of Carrots, Criftin Ford Bridge, Hartleton Lakes, Kenchester Pools, Leintwardine Bridge, Letton Lakes, Lugg Meadows, R Wye Castleton and Winforton and R Wye Letton. This was the first record of Oystercatcher at Hartleton Lakes.
Golden Plover (European Golden Plover) Pluvialis apricaria Fairly common winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber
32 records from 12 sites
In the first winter period, 13 birds at Bradnor Hill on 2 Jan was the earliest record. Very large flocks were recorded in the Bullinghope area during the period 19 Jan – 16 Feb, reaching a maximum of 655 on 25 Jan. Other large flocks were: 200 at Clehonger on 23 Jan; 104 at Milton Cross on 6 Feb and 75 at Munderfield Harold near Bromyard on 12 Apr. The latest sighting was at Milton Cross on 24 Apr.
During the second winter period, the earliest sighting was at Stocklow on 27 Aug. There were relatively few records during this period and the larger flocks were: 140 at Reeves Hill in north- west Herefordshire on 18 Nov; 126 at Hergest Ridge on 13 Dec and 60 at Allensmore on 31 Dec.
Lapwing (Northern Lapwing) Vanellus vanellus Fairly common resident and common winter visitor BoCC listed: Red
274 records from 34 sites
There were fewer sites this year than in 2013 (50) and 2012 (48), but similar to 2011 (36) and 2010 (31).
Monthly maxima from major sites were:
Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Brockhall GP - 4 1 3 2 2 4 3 - - 31 40 Hereford Quarry 1 75 7 6 4 1 89 83 67 31 84 3 Wellington GP 450 397 300 20 15 4 50 60 36 40 100 40
Other notable flocks were: 202 at Milton Cross on 2 Jan; 120 at Golden Cross on 18 Jan, 480 there on 26 Jan, 300 on 9 Feb and 200 on 30 June; 100 at Broad Oak on 20 Jan; 300 at Hampton Bishop on 14 Feb; 90 at Staunton on Wye on 30 Jun; 50 at Lower Lugg Meadows on 16 Nov and 220 at Lower Moccas on 22 Dec.
Although there were occasional records of birds displaying or defending territory, there was only one confirmed breeding record, at Wellington GP, where three chicks were seen on 15 May.
49 Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Uncommon summer visitor and passage migrant
129 records from 6 sites
The earliest sightings were of two at Hereford Quarry on 29 Mar and five at Wellington GP on the same date. The first record at Brockhall GP was on 31 Mar. The last record of the season was at Brockhall GP on 10 Sep. Five were observed at Brockhall GP on 3, 6 and 7 Jun, increasing to six on 11 Jun, seven on 26 Jun and eight on 5 Jul. At Hereford Quarry, birds were present between 29 Mar and 7 Aug, mostly in ones and twos, but there were five, including two juveniles, there on 3 Aug and again on 7 Aug. At Wellington GP, birds were observed between 29 Mar and 25 Aug, with a maximum of 10, including four very young chicks, on 25 May. Breeding was first confirmed at these locations as follows: Wellington GP on 24 May; Brockhall GP on 3 Jun and Hereford Quarry on 9 Jul. Apart from these three main locations, only four other records were received, all from the north of the county at: Buckton Bridge, Criftin Ford Bridge and Leintwardine Bridge (two records).
Ringed Plover (Common Ringed Plover) Charadrius hiaticula Uncommon passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber
34 records from 2 sites
The earliest record was of a single at Wellington GP on 26 Mar followed by three there on 29 Mar. The last record of the season was from Wellington GP on 21 Sep. Ten were present at Wellington GP on 12 Apr and on 25 May and 13 on 12 Aug. Four of the tundrae race were observed there late on 15 May, but remained for only a short time. A juvenile was noted there on 12 Sep. At Brockhall GP, two birds were recorded on 11 May, a juvenile was seen there on 24 Aug and two adults on 20 Sep.
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Scarce passage migrant BoCC listed: Red
7 records from 3 sites
The first sighting was of two that circled over Hereford Quarry on 18 Apr (A.H. Eveleigh). Three were observed at Brockhall GP (J. Tilby) and seven at Wellington GP (P.H. Downes) on 26 Apr. Singles were seen at Brockhall GP on 5 May (J. Tilby) and at Wellington GP on 6 and 19 May (both P.H. Downes). The only late summer passage record was of a single at Wellington GP on 28 Aug (J. Tilby).
Curlew (Eurasian Curlew) Numenius arquata Fairly common resident and uncommon passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber
97 records from 36 sites
50 The earliest record was of two at R Wye Bunch of Carrots on 16 Feb. Records were received from across the county, mostly in ones and twos, but there were: seven at Lower Lugg Meadows on 22 Feb; 18 at Hereford Quarry on 27 Feb and up to 16 there on 1 Mar; nine at Criftin Ford Bridge on 9 Mar; five at Hampton Bishop on 12 Mar; five at R Wye Bunch of Carrots on 24 Mar; five at R Wye Hampton Bishop to Mordiford on 21 Apr, nine at The Glyn Norton Canon on 30 June and eight seen in flight at Sutton St Nicholas on 3 Sep, which was the last sighting of the year.
Breeding was confirmed at: Bowling Green Farm Clehonger on 3 May; Lugg Meadows on 31 May, where fledglings were seen; Meer Court Clehonger on 20 Jun and Moorhampton Park Farm Golden Valley on 22 Jun.
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Uncommon passage migrant BoCC listed: Red
17 records from 3 sites
The earliest record was of a single at Hereford Quarry on 19 Jan, but the main movement was from 25 Mar onwards. Mostly noted, were ones and twos, but six were at Wellington GP on 20 Apr, and 11 at Brockhall GP on 23 Apr and nine there in adult summer plumage on 18 May. These were exceptional records. The latest sighting was of a single at Wellington GP on 6 Sep.
Gerald Parker
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Very scarce passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber
1 record
The only record came from Brockhall GP and was of a single bird observed on 5 and 7 May. This was the 15th county record (J. Tilby).
51 Turnstone (Ruddy Turnstone) Arenaria interpres Scarce passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber 3 records from 1 site Two birds moulting into summer plumage were located at Wellington GP on 10 May (J Tilby & N Pegler); this was the 12th county record. The following day four birds were present there (J. Tilby), which was the 13th county record, and a single seen at this site on 25 Sep (G.S. Bilbao) was the 14th county record.
Knot (Red Knot) Calidris canutus Scarce passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber 1 record An adult in winter plumage and a juvenile were recorded at Wellington GP on 13 Sep (J. Tilby) and a single was still there the following day.
Ruff Calidris pugnax Scarce passage migrant BoCC listed: Red 5 records from 2 sites A single female was seen at Wellington GP on 18 May (J. Tilby). A further female was recorded at Wellington GP on return passage on 22 Aug (G.S. Bilbao) and was there for two days. An adult male in winter plumage was at this site on 18 Sep (J. Tilby) and on 21 Sep (J. Tilby & E. Quinto-Ashman). A single juvenile was seen at Hereford Quarry on 28 Sep (A.H. Eveleigh & A. Marchant).
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
Very scarce passage migrant Gerald Parker
52 Very scarce passage migrant
1 record Two juvenile birds were at Brockhall GP on 30 Aug (J. Tilby, N. Pegler & S.C. Coney) and flew off late the following day. This was the 9th county record.
Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii Rare passage migrant BoCC listed: Red
1 record
An adult in summer plumage was found at Wellington GP on 4 May (P.H. Downes); it remained until late on 6 May. This was the 3rd county record.
Sanderling Calidris alba Scarce passage migrant
4 records from 2 sites
An adult in summer plumage was located at Brockhall GP on 18 May (P.H. Downes & N. Pegler). A second bird was at Wellington GP on the same day (J. Tilby). This increased to three on 19 May (P.H. Downes, T. Downes & N. Pegler) and the last single was recorded on 24 May (P.H. Downes).
Dunlin Calidris alpina Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant BoCC listed: Red
75 records from 2 sites
The earliest record in the first winter period was a single at Brockhall GP on 1 Feb. Birds were present during Apr with five there on 9 May and three on 11 May. There were no records during Jun, but ones and twos were seen through Jul and Aug. There were no sightings through Sep but three were present on 31 Oct and singles were observed during Nov and late Dec.
At Wellington GP, the earliest record was of two seen on 11 Feb. There were five there on 12 Apr and up to five during May. There were no records during Jun, but ones and twos were observed in Jul, Aug and Sep, with the last record on 21 Sep.
Juveniles were seen at Wellington GP on 22 and 24 Aug and 20 Sep, also at Brockhall GP during the period 28 – 31 Aug.
Little Stint Calidris minuta Very scarce passage migrant
1 record
A juvenile was seen at Wellington GP on 20 and 21 Sep (P.H. Downes & T. Downes).
53 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Uncommon summer visitor and passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber
234 records from 23 sites
The earliest sighting was of a single at Davies Meadows Norton Canon on 1 Mar and the last was at Wellington Gravel Pits on 26 Dec.
Monthly maxima from major sites were:
Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Brockhall GP - - - 2 6 3 3 5 8 - - - Hereford Quarry ------3 2 1 - 1 1 R Wye Castleton ---5436----- & Winforton Wellington GP - - - 5 3 - 7 5 4 1 2 1
More than half of the remaining records were of singles, but two were at: Buckton Bridge, Leintwardine Bridge, Pencoyd, R Monnow Kentchurch Weir, R Monnow Oldcastle, R Wye Bunch of Carrots, R Wye Fownhope and R Wye Mordiford, and three birds were observed at R Wye Hampton Bishop to Mordiford on 9 and 16 July.
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber
89 records from 12 sites
Birds were recorded at Brockhall GP in ones and twos during late Mar and in each month from Jun to Dec (from 7 Jun to 13 Dec), except Sep. At Hereford Quarry, four were present on 17 Mar and then ones and twos from 9 Jul to 10 Dec. Similarly, at Wellington GP, singles were seen between 29 Mar and 28 Apr and then ones and twos from 12 Jul until 26 Dec, with three present on 19 Aug and 16 Nov.
During the two migration periods, birds were also recorded at: Buckton Court, Hampton Meadow, Kenchester Pools, R Monnow Kentchurch, R Monnow Oldcastle, R Wye Castleton and Winforton, R Wye Hampton Bishop to Mordiford, Staunton on Arrow and Walford.
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
Rare passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber
1 record
A single was recorded at Milton Cross on 6 Feb (P.P. Jennings). This was the 10th county record.
54 Greenshank (Common Greenshank) Tringa nebularia Scarce passage migrant
12 records from 5 sites
The earliest sightings were of singles at both Brockhall and Wellington GP on 4 May and the last sighting was a single at Kenchester Pools on 20 Sep.
All records were of birds on passage and were singles, except for two birds at Wellington GP on 14 Sep. In addition to records from Brockhall GP (4), Kenchester Pools (4) and Wellington GP (3, including a single bird probably remaining 18 – 23 May), there were single records from Bodenham Moor and R Wye Castleton and Winforton.
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Scarce passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber
1 record
A single at Wellington GP on 6 May (M. Colquhoun) was the only record this year.
Redshank (Common Redshank) Tringa totanus Uncommon passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber
26 records from 4 sites
The earliest record in the first winter period was a single at Brockhall GP on 1 Jan. Singles were also at this site on 23 Feb and 29 Mar. There were two there on 9 Jul, eight on 19 Jul and two on 25 Aug. At Wellington GP, ones and twos were noted during spring and autumn passage with five there on 9 Jul. Single records were also received from Kenchester Pools and Lugg Meadows.
Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus Uncommon winter visitor BoCC listed: Amber
16 records from 5 sites
The earliest record was a single at Brockhall GP on 4 Jan and there were five at Combe Moor on 12 Feb. Singles were recorded at Wellington GP during short periods in Jan – Apr, with two there on 5 Apr, and the latest sighting during the first winter period was a single there on 6 Apr.
During the second winter period the earliest record was a single at Wellington GP on 27 Sep. Singles were also recorded there on 1 and 5 Oct, at Donnington on 12 Nov and at Hereford Quarry on 22 Nov and 6 Dec.
Woodcock (Eurasian Woodcock) Scolopax rusticola Uncommon resident and common winter visitor BoCC listed: Amber
23 records from 16 sites
55 This elusive species was recorded, in ones and twos, throughout the county with records coming from: Caradoc and Sellack Boat, Credenhill Park Wood, Didley, Donnington, Downton Gorge, Dulas, Eastnor Park, Evens/Mary Knoll/Climbing Jack Common, Haugh Wood, High Vinnals, Letton Lake floodplain, Moorhampton Norton Canon, Rodds Wood Kington, St Margarets, Wellington GP and Woolpits Farm Ledbury.
Although there was no confirmation of breeding, ‘roding’ was observed at Eastnor Park on 12 May and in the Mortimer Forest at High Vinnals on 5 and 9 Jun and at Evens/Mary Knoll/ Climbing Jack Common on 14 Jun.
Snipe (Common Snipe) Gallinago gallinago Scarce resident and fairly common winter visitor BoCC listed: Amber
144 records from 16 sites
Sightings were distributed throughout the county and some impressive counts were recorded.
Monthly maxima at major sites were: Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Brockhall GP 8 1 20 2 - - - 1 1 3 3 4 Gamber Meadows - 12 7 ------5 - 12 Hereford Quarry - - 1 - - - - - 7 19 9 8 Letton Lakes 15 19 29 2 - 29 - - - - 14 21 Wellington GP 70 11 4 10 - - 2 2 4 5 10 7
Other significant counts were: eight at Combe Moor Byton on 12 Feb and 52 at Donnington on 12 Nov. Records also came from: Caradoc and Sellack Boat, Didley, Kenchester Pools, Pencoyd, R Wye Castleton and Winforton, R Wye Sink Green, Stocklow and Upper Lugg Meadows. Gerald Parker
56 Black Tern Chlidonias niger
Scarce passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber
1 record
A single was at Wellington GP on 27 Apr (J. Tilby).
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis
Very rare passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber
2 records from 2 sites
A single adult was at Brockhall GP on 25 Aug (J. Tilby) and a different adult was at Wellington GP also on 25 Aug (J. Tilby). These sightings were the 2nd and 3rd county records.
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Uncommon passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber
9 records from 3 sites
There were four at Brockhall GP on 29 May, one was there on 11 and 19 Jun and two adults on 2 Aug. The last stayed for only 10 minutes and all four records were early morning sightings. A single was flying north-east over Wellington GP on 24 Apr, an adult was there on 18 Jun, a single on 23 Jul and a remarkable 14 on 25 Aug. Also, two were noted flying over Stretton Sugwas Roman Road on 6 Jun.
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
Scarce passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber
3 records from 1 site
Three at Wellington GP on 20 Apr circled for two minutes and headed north-west, a single was there on 10 May and a moulting adult on 25 Aug; the last also flew off north-west.
Kittiwake (Black-legged Kittiwake) Rissa tridactyla
Very scarce passage migrant and storm-blown visitor BoCC listed: Amber
5 records from 3 sites
A single was at R. Wye Rotherwas on 17 Jan (G.C. Cundale). A single adult at Wellington GP on 8 Feb (P.H. Downes) stayed at least until dusk; two adult winter birds were there on 9 Feb when the site was extensively flooded (E. Quinto-Ashman) and this increased to three by late afternoon on 16 Feb (N. Pegler & E. Quinto-Ashman). An adult summer bird was at Brockhall GP on 23 May (N. Pegler).
57 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Fairly common resident and common winter visitor BoCC listed: Amber
386 records from 46 sites
First winter period (Jan – Mar): counts of 100 or more were – 100 at R Wye Holme Lacy Bridge on 3 Jan; 175 on flooded cricket/football pitches at Ross-on-Wye on 9 Jan; 100 at Wellington GP on 8 Feb; 100 at R Wye Ballingham on 16 Feb; 110 at Lugg Meadows on 21 Feb, 750 there on 22 Feb and 300 on 1 Mar; 300 at Moreton on Lugg also on 1 Mar; 100 at Brockhall GP on 7 Mar, 110 there on 15 Mar, 300 on 23 Mar, 250 on 29 Mar and 214 on 30 Mar.
Summer period (Apr – Sep): breeding was again established at Brockhall GP, which also contributed 32% of all records. Occupied nests were noted on 5 April and an estimated 50 pairs were there on 18 Apr. Juveniles were observed on seven dates from 17 May to 11 Aug and of 120 birds present on 6 Jun, 40 were juveniles, but the majority of the year’s juveniles had dispersed from the site by 20 Jul.
Monthly maxima for Brockhall GP during Apr – Sep were: Site Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Brockhall GP 300 300 250 200 64 30
Elsewhere there were few counts of 100 or more: 150 in the Tupsley area on 17 Jul; 112 at Hampton Park Hereford City on 3 Sep and 150 at Bromsash on 19 Sep. At Wellington GP (from where 25% of all records came), the largest number recorded in this period was just 12 on 28 Sep.
Second winter period (Oct – Dec): counts of 100 or more were – 150 at Hartleton Lakes on 8 Oct, 149 there on 10 Oct, 139 on 7 Nov and 137 on 27 Nov; 200 at Wellington GP on 26 Oct and 8 Nov; 172 at Lower Lugg Meadows on 16 Nov; 100 at Upper Lugg Meadows on 16 Nov; 200 at Bromsash on 18 Nov; 150 at R. Wye Ross Sewage Works on 3 Dec and 150 at Hereford Cathedral on 21 Dec.
Little Gull Hydocoloeus minutus Very scarce passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber
1 record
An adult in winter plumage was with Black-headed Gulls at Wellington GP on 7 Mar (N. Pegler).
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus Scarce passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber
5 records from 4 sites
An adult summer bird was in the roost at Wellington GP on 23 Feb (E. Quinto-Ashman) and a first summer single was there on 6 May (N. Pegler). A first summer bird at Brockhall GP on 7 May (S. Coney & N. Pegler) was observed there on six further days up to 20 May. A first winter bird was at Kenchester Pools on 2 Nov (J. Tilby) and a single was at Lower Lugg Meadows on 16 Nov (S. Coney & P.H. Downes).
58 Common Gull (Mew Gull) Larus canus
Common winter visitor and uncommon passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber
69 records from 29 sites
First winter period (Jan – Mar): counts of 100 or more were – 100 at Lugg Meadows on 1 Jan, 200 there on 25 Jan, 240 on 21 Feb and 250 on 22 Feb and 1 Mar; 200 on flooded fields at R Wye Holme Lacy Bridge on 3 Jan; 300 at R. Wye Ballingham on 16 Feb; 500 at Moreton on Lugg on 1 Mar and 471 at Goodrich on 7 Mar.
Passage/summer period (Apr – Sep): The largest group noted was of 18 at Bollitree Castle Weston under Penyard on 8 Sep. Other sightings were confined to: a first winter single at Brockhall GP on 6 Jul; an adult at Wellington GP on 30 Jul and two at Bromsash on 9 Sep.
Second winter period (Oct – Dec): notable numbers were – 25 at Garway on 3 Oct; 30 at Bromsash on 15 Nov; 45 at Lower Lugg Meadows on 16 Nov; 20 at Upper Lugg Meadows, also on 16 Nov and 50 at Bromsash on 18 Nov.
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
Fairly common resident and common winter visitor BoCC listed: Amber
569 records from 101 sites
First winter period (Jan – Mar): there were relatively few large counts – 100 at Brockley Meadows Leintwardine on 7 Feb, at Devereux Wootton on 9 Feb, also at Moreton-on-Lugg on 1 Mar and 125 at Wellington GP on 5 Mar. The maximum noted in Hereford City was 37 on 18 Feb.
Summer period (Apr – Sep): the only breeding evidence noted was three nests, presumed with eggs, at Broomy Hill Hereford City on 6 Jun. Twenty-five was the largest number seen in Hereford City on 7 May.
Monthly maxima for the two main wetland sites during Apr – Sep were: Site Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Brockhall GP 20 8 4 51 167 28 Wellington GP 20 220 195 143 500 200
Elsewhere, flocks of 100 or more were: 350 in Tupsley area on 17 Jul; 100 at Garway on 1 Aug; 200 at Stretton Sugwas (on field by Roman road) on 1 Sep; 130 at Huntington Court on 16 Sep; 450 at Broad Oak on 18 Sep and 450 at Bromsash on 19 Sep. Two birds with darker backs among 20 at Wellington GP on 26 Apr were considered to be of the intermedius race.
Second winter period (Oct – Dec): as previously, the greatest numbers recorded in this period were at Wellington GP with 1,500 on 25 and 27 Oct; 2,000 on 1 Nov and 800 on 8 Nov. Further counts in excess of 100 were: 120 at R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 2 Oct and 380 at Garway on 25 Oct.
59 Herring Gull (European Herring Gull) Larus argentatus Uncommon resident BoCC listed: Red 92 records from 35 sites First winter period (Jan – Mar): of 30 records for this period only four provided double figure counts – 15 at Bromsash on 9 Feb; 21 with Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Ballingham on 15 Feb; 40 in flooded fields with Common Gulls to the north of Symonds Yat Viewpoint on 16 Mar and 50 on Coppet Hill Common on 17 Mar. Seven reports in Jan through to mid-Feb were of birds (maximum of five on 30 Jan) at various locations within Hereford City.
Summer period (Apr – Sep): breeding evidence was sparse and confined to an occupied nest on Aldi Superstore in Hereford City, noted on 6 Jun. Single juveniles were present at: Coppet Hill Common on 26 Apr; Wellington GP on 24 Aug and Brockhall GP on 30 Aug. Double figure counts in the period were: 10 in the Tupsley area on 17 Jul; 42 along R Wye between Hampton Bishop and Mordiford on 28 Aug and 14 at Bromsash on 19 Sep. At Wellington GP there were records in all months of the period but the maximum was seven among c.100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on 4 May.
Second winter period (Oct – Dec): 30 at Lower Lugg Meadows on 16 Nov was the only double figure count in the period and remaining records came from just seven other locations.
Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber 17 records from 5 sites First winter period (Jan – Mar): a fourth winter bird was at Lugg Meadows on 25 Jan (P.H. Downes) and an adult in summer plumage at Lower Lugg Meadows on 20 Feb (S. Coney), both at the edge of flood water.
Summer period (Apr – Sep): the majority of records were from Wellington GP – a first summer single was among Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls on 10 May, also on 15 May (both P.H. Downes); an adult on 2 Aug (P.H. Downes); a second winter and a fourth winter on 9 Aug (P.H. Downes; T. Downes & N. Pegler) and singles on 12 Aug (E. Quinto-Ashman), 17 and 20 Aug (both N. Pegler), 23 Aug (E. Quinto-Ashman) and 18 Sep (J. Tilby). Other location records were: a sub-adult with a Herring Gull and c.100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Milton Cross and Shobdon Industrial Estate on 24 Aug (P.H. Downes); a juvenile at Brockhall GP on 30 Aug (P.H. Downes) and a single there on 6 Sep (J. Tilby & N. Pegler).
Second winter period (Oct – Dec): singles were present at Wellington GP on 2 Nov (J. Tilby) and 8 Nov (S. Coney) and at Lower Lugg Meadows on 16 Nov (S. Coney).
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber 3 records from 3 sites A second winter bird was at Brockhall GP on 11 Jan; four were at Bodenham on 21 Jan and a single was on the R Wye near Hollington Farm Bolstone on 28 Feb.
60 John Tilby
A digiscoped image of a Sandwich Tern at Wellington GP in August 2014 – this was the 3rd record for Herefordshire Terry Hancock Terry
A Stock Dove at Gorsley in June 2014
61 Mick Colquhoun Mick
A Peregrine on All Saints’ Church in November 2014 – a familiar sight in central Hereford
62 Nick Pegler Nick
Lesser Black-backed Gull and chick in Rockfield Road, Hereford in June 2014 Nick Pegler Nick Jack Snipe at Wellington GP in September 2014
63 John Tilby
A Mediterranean Gull at Kenchester Pools in November 2014 Terry Hancock Terry Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding a juvenile at Gorsley in June 2014
64 Feral Pigeon (Rock Dove) Columba livia Common resident
95 records from 23 sites
Breeding was established at Madley Earth Station on 12 Jun when ‘young birds’ were observed. Fourteen records, mainly in winter months, came from various locations within Hereford City where the higher counts were recorded, the maximum being c.100 birds seen on 10 Nov. In Ross-on-Wye there were three occasions when counts of 30 or more were recorded.
Stock Dove Columba oenas Abundant resident BoCC listed: Amber
502 records from 116 sites
Breeding was confirmed at Gamber Meadows on 9 May, when a nest was found in a Barn Owl nestbox, and a pair was on a nest at Madley Earth station on 12 Jun. There were just 10 records of double figure counts; the larger flocks were: 40 at Tumpy Lakes Sutton St Nicholas on 22 Feb; 35 at East Sollers Hope on 5 May and 40 at Paytoe Hall Adforton on 1 Oct, the latter feeding on stubble.
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Abundant resident and winter visitor
1334 records from 220 sites
Breeding was obviously under recorded. Nest building was noted at Moccas on 21 Mar; there was an occupied nest at Lugg Meadows on 18 Apr; a nest at Copper Beeches Close Much Dewchurch on 20 Apr and a juvenile there by 15 Jun; a pair with young were noted at Madley Earth Station on 12 Jun and a recently fledged juvenile was being fed with crop milk at Bishopstone on 13 Nov. In the first winter period there were no particularly large flocks recorded; the largest single flock count was of 900 at Wapley Hill on 28 Feb. In the autumn/second winter period (Oct – Dec) there were 26 records of flocks of 100 or more. The largest movements were: 3,000 flying variably south to south-west, in small flocks of 30 – 460, at Stocklow on 25 Oct; 4,000 flying south at Brockhall GP on 1 Nov; 4,500 at Clehonger on 5 Nov and 4,000 there on 6 Nov, moving north-east to south-west and vica versa. Smaller movements were noted, all generally heading in a southerly direction.
Collared Dove (Eurasian Collared Dove) Streptopelia decaocto Abundant resident
374 records from 88 sites
Evidence of breeding activity for this species was almost entirely lacking. Nest building and egg shells noted at Copper Beeches Close Much Dewchurch on 13 Apr and fledged young recorded at Munsley near Ashperton on 23 May were the only relevant observations.
65 This species was recorded every month on at least two locations at Brockhall GP and Copper Beeches Close. At other sites it was recorded for up to seven months but without a pattern to suggest breeding.
The majority of counts were in single figures. Outside the main breeding season small flocks numbering in the teens are formed and there were four such records in Aug and Sep, but there were also three instances of larger flocks: 23 at Stocklow on 3 Feb; 22 at Fawley Cross on 22 Oct and 28 at Bromsash on 18 Nov.
Cuckoo (Common Cuckoo) Cuculus canorus
Fairly common summer visitor BoCC listed: Red
207 records from 92 sites
The earliest spring arrivals recorded were at Bircher Common on 15 Apr, with one at Bridge End Farm Much Cowarne on the 16 and 17 Apr, followed by one at Letton Lakes on 18 Apr. The latest record was of a very mobile juvenile calling almost continuously and moving through a Christmas tree plantation and adjacent alders at Bridge End Farm Much Cowarne on 31 Jul.
Apart from the juvenile at Bridge End Farm, there was only one other breeding record from Withington on 26 May. However pairs were reported from: Evens/Mary Knoll/Climbing Jack Common on 14 May and another presumed pair were seen vocalising with tails fanned in active display flight at R Wye Sink Green on 30 Apr. A male calling daily throughout June at Bishopstone and a male calling (and sometimes seen) on many days in June at Bridge End Farm were likely to have been on territory, the latter occupying the same location as last year.
Inevitably the majority of records were of males calling, but two birds (not identified as pairs) were recorded at various locations on 14 occasions from late Apr through to end Jun. Records through to the end of Apr were from a total of 22 x 1-km squares and by the end of May from a total of 93 x 1-km squares. Interestingly, the total number of 1-km squares from which records were obtained to the end of June did not change.
Barn Owl (Western Barn Owl) Tyto alba
Uncommon resident and winter visitor BoCC listed: Amber
34 records from 31 sites
There was evidence of breeding from four locations: display flight behaviour was seen at Eastnor Park on 12 May; a pair with vole prey was noted at a nest with young calling at Hatfield Road Puddleston on 27 May; a pair with three recently fledged young were noted at Linton on 2 Jul and a pair with one young at the same location on 1 Sep, and a pair with two young were occupying a nest at Abbey Dore on 14 Jul. Other records were of singles, but four were seen hunting at dusk at Norton Canon on 5 Sep. Contrary to 2013 no mortalities were reported.
66 Little Owl Athene noctua Fairly common resident
80 records from 30 sites
Breeding evidence came from four locations. Two recently fledged young were at Kenchester on 31 March. A single adult seen initially on a heavily pruned tree trunk at Burley Gate on 9 Apr was followed by a pair there on 10 Apr and again on 15 Apr, with sightings also of single adults there on 11 and 12 June. One recently fledged young was at Newhouse Farm Stretton Grandison on 17 Aug. An adult was established on territory at Wellington GP by 3 Apr, where two birds had been seen previously on 2 and 16 Feb and 12 and 23 March, and an adult with one young was there on 5 Jun and three birds were present on 5 Jul.
There were sightings, or birds heard, in all months of the year.
Tawny Owl Strix aluco Common resident
114 records from 62 sites
Breeding evidence was mainly in the form of sightings of juveniles, but adults were visiting a probable nest site at Checkley South East on 20 Apr and a nest with young was confirmed there on 6 May. Adults seen at entrances to holes in trees, one at Criftin Ford Bridge on 23 Feb and 9 Mar and one at Birtley on 22 May, might also have been at potential nest sites.
Records of juveniles were: one at Bishopstone on 18 Apr; one at Crow Wood Turnastone on 4 May; one at Eastnor Park on 12 May; two at Checkley North on 10 Jun; recently fledged young observed at Evens/Mary Knoll/ Climbing Jack Common on 12 Jun; one at Joan’s Hill Farm Checkley on 22 Jun and one with an adult at Wolf Cottage Lower Egleton on 30 Aug.
Seventeen of the records refer to birds heard. While most remaining records, spread throughout the year, were of single birds, multiples, excluding the breeding records above, were: two at Kingsthorne on 5 Jan; two at Walford Leintwardine on 8 Feb; three at High Vinnals on 5 and 9 Jun; two at Copper Beeches Close Much Dewchurch on 19 Aug; two near Pontrilas on 20 Aug; five at Sollers Hope on 4 Sep and at Tyberton on 5 and 18 Sep; two at Checkley North on 8 Sep; three at Bishopstone on 18 Sep; two at Credenhill Park Wood on 21 Sep; two at Adleymoor Common near Buckton on 2 Oct and two at Fownhope on 17 Dec.
Swift (Common Swift) Apus apus Common summer visitor BoCC listed: Amber
256 records from 92 sites
The first record of the year was of two at Wellington GP on 20 Apr. Counts at the two main gravel pits reflected numbers building in spring: 10 at Brockhall GP and 25 at Wellington GP on 3 May; 30 at Wellington GP on 5 May; 75 at Brockhall GP on 7 May; 100 at Brockhall GP on 9 May and at Wellington GP on 10 May and 150 at Wellington GP on each day during 23 – 25 May. Toward the end of the breeding season counts at these gravel pits did not exceed 20.
67 Counts greater than 20 at other sites were: 24 at Queensway Hereford on 7 May and 26 there on 12 May; 24 at Ross-on-Wye on 22 May; 28 at Bodenham Lake 28 May; 39 at Stocklow on 26 Jun; 30 at Garway on 6 Jul; 30 at Weobley on 12 Jul; 40 at Leominster Town on 17 Jul and 20 there on 1 Aug and 30 at Bromsash on 20 Jul.
Six locations provided breeding evidence: 10 adults displaying at a long established nest site at Walford Leintwardine on 21 May; two juveniles at Bromsash on 4 Jun; eight adults breeding at Tarrington on 15 Jul; two adults visiting a nest site at High Town Hereford on 19 Jul; four adults with juveniles at Mawfield Farm Clehonger on 3 Aug; four adults with juveniles also at Clehonger on 7 Aug, four juveniles there on 13 Aug and two on 23 and 30 Aug.
The last sightings of the year were a single at Brockhall GP on 2 Sep and one at Wellington GP on 5 Sep.
Kingfisher (Common Kingfisher) Alcedo atthis Fairly common resident BoCC listed: Amber
237 records from 78 sites
Breeding evidence comprised: two birds visiting a probable nest site at Caradoc and Sellack Boat on 6 Apr; an adult carrying food or faecal sac at Hartleton Lakes on 13 Jun; two adults entering/leaving a nest site at the confluence of the R Teme and R Clun near Leintwardine Bridge on 15 Jun; two juvenile males ringed at Kentchurch on 24 Jun; juveniles at Mill Lane Colwall on 25 Jun and two adults with a juvenile at Hartleton Lakes on 8 Aug.
Records were geographically widespread and distributed through all months.
The majority of the non-breeding records were of singles, with sightings of two representing less than 20%. Four were noted along the R Wye between Hampton Bishop and Mordiford on 7 Aug and three on 21 Aug and on 5 and 18 Sep. Seventeen were counted over an 18-mile stretch of the R Wye between Hereford and Hoarwithy on 15 Sep.
Green Woodpecker (European Green Woodpecker) Picus viridis Common resident BoCC listed: Amber
447 records from 111 sites
There were 11 records of breeding from nine locations: a pair at Lower Moccas on 23 Mar; four birds including a pair at Avenbury near Bromyard on 27 May; an adult female with two juveniles at Checkley West on 10 Jul; a juvenile at Hartleton Lakes on 11 Jul; breeding noted at Wellington GP on 12 Jul and an adult feeding fledged young there on 20 Jul; two juveniles at Backney on 18 Jul; a pair and two juveniles at Withington on 27 Jul and a single juvenile there on 28 Jul; a juvenile at Bishopstone on 1 Aug and an adult with a juvenile at Brockhall GP on 3 Aug.
Most remaining records were of single birds, seen or heard, and there were 32 records of two birds spread across all months with a peak of 10 records occurring in Jul. Three birds were recorded at the following locations: Wellington GP on 4 Jan; Hereford Quarry on 17 Mar; Bodenham Lake on 28 May; Stretton Sugwas Roman Road on 6 Jun; Breinton Springs on 5 Aug;
68 Hartleton Lakes on 8 Aug, 6 Sep and 8 Oct and Bodenham Village on 18 Aug. Three were also noted on morning walks from Hollybush to British Camp on 26 Mar and 2 May with four seen on 1 Jul. Four birds were observed throughout Haugh Wood on 29 Jul.
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Common resident
761 records from 153 sites
Drumming was first noted at Weir Gardens on 8 Jan and there were 10 further reports at various locations, the latest at Brockhampton Estate on 13 Apr.
Evidence of breeding included: a pair at Caradoc and Sellack Boat on 15 Mar; nests with young at Limburies Wood (Haugh Wood) on 20 May; a family at Sutton St Nicholas on 21 May; at Avenbury near Bromyard and at Bear’s and Timbridge Woods (Haugh Wood) on 27 May; an occupied nest at R Wye Weir Gardens on 28 May; a nest with young at Evens/Mary Knoll/ Climbing Jack Common on 30 May; fledged young at Brockhall GP on 3 Jun; one juvenile at Withington on 10 Jun; a pair with two juveniles at Madley Earth Station on 12 Jun; a family party of five at Wigmore Rolls on 14 Jun; a juvenile again at Brockhall GP on 15 Jun; a family party of male, female and one juvenile on a peanut feeder at Copper Beeches Close Much Dewchurch on 15 Jun, which returned on 22 Jun and then the juvenile visited repeatedly up to 20 Jul when two juveniles were seen; two juveniles at Eastnor on 30 Jun and one at Tyberton on 1 Aug. Single birds formed the majority of other records, but there were a relatively large number of sightings of multiple birds spread through most months, with 151 instances of two birds, 39 of three, 15 of four and 15 of five. Higher counts were all associated with frequent systematic surveys, by one observer, throughout Haugh Wood. Of a total of 37 visits, spread from Jan to mid-Sep and each comprising morning walks of more than three hours, 16 visits (24 Jan – 16 Sep) provided counts in excess of five, with a maximum of 13 on 4 Mar.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor Fairly common resident BoCC listed: Red
17 records from 14 sites
All reports were of single birds at the following locations: Haugh Wood on 2 Jan, 4 May, 24 Jul and 16 Sep; Wormbridge on a bird feeder on 25 Jan; Hollybush to British Camp on 18 Feb; Hergest Croft Gardens on 29 Mar; Lugg Meadows on 18 Apr; Checkley South East on 20 Apr; R Wye Whitney Bridge on 6 Jun; R Wye Symonds Yat East on 18 Jun; Sutton Walls on 13 Jul; Hampton Bishop on 15 Jul; Checkley on 8 Sep; Great Doward on 23 Sep; Bredwardine on 19 Oct and at Ewyas Harold Common on a nut feeder in a garden on 9 Dec.
Kestrel (Common Kestrel) Falco tinnunculus Fairly common resident BoCC listed: Amber 244 records from 104 sites Breeding evidence was: a pair at Criftin Ford Bridge on 23 Feb and 9 Mar; two young near a nest at Walford Church (near Ross-on-Wye) on 18 Jun; a pair seen at Red Daren on 29 Jun and
69 later three birds, including at least one juvenile, on 19 Jul and two adults and three juveniles at Bromsash on 1 Jul.
Other records were from all months and largely of single birds, except for three seen together on a route from Hollybush to British Camp on 14 Jul and two at: Pixley and Little Marcle on 24 Feb; Red Daren/Black Darren on 9 Mar and 19 Apr; Hereford Quarry on 17 Mar; Eastnor Park on 23 Jun; Brinsop Common on 30 Jun; Checkley West on 10 Jul and 8 Nov; R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 2 Oct; Stretton Sugwas Roman Road on 13 Oct and Lower Lugg Meadows on 20 Dec.
Merlin Falco columbarius Scarce resident BoCC listed: Amber
17 records from 12 sites
Apart from two seen at Breinton on 11 Dec, records were of singletons at: Milton Cross hunting Starlings on 1 Jan; Stocklow on 8 Jan; Rotherwas relief road on 28 Jan; Stocklow again on 4 Feb (a female seen on several occasions since Nov 2013); Much Marcle on 9 Feb; Wellington GP on 1 Mar; Mansell Gamage on 9 Mar; Red Daren/Black Darren on 19 Apr; Red Daren on 28 Jun and 11 Sep; Aymestry Gravel Pit on 20 Sep; Stocklow chasing Skylark on 22 Oct; Wellington GP on 22 and 23 Nov; Dilwyn on 11 Dec and Burghill South on 21 Dec.
Hobby (Eurasian Hobby) Falco subbuteo Uncommon summer visitor
83 records from 40 sites
The first record of the year was of one pursuing a single Swallow at Brockhall GP on 9 Apr and the last record was one at Hereford Quarry on 28 Sep. The higher number of records by month were in Aug and Sep.
Breeding evidence was: adults with young at Adforton on 31 Aug and single juveniles seen flying overhead at Pengethley Garden Centre on 10 Aug, Clehonger on 22 Sep and R Dore Vowchurch on 27 Sep.
While most records were of single birds, three were noted at Wellington GP on 3 and 15 May and two at: Grafton Lane Hereford on 14 Aug; Caradoc and Sellack Boat on 24 Aug and Wellington GP on 12, 13 and 15 Sep. There were 12 reported sightings of hirundines being disturbed or hunted during the months of Apr – Aug.
Peregrine (Peregrine Falcon) Falco peregrines Uncommon resident
140 records from 40 sites
Over 50 records came from locations within Hereford City, inclusive of Aldi Supermarket, All Saints’ Church, Hereford Cathedral, Hereford Train Station and High Town, all relating to one or, more frequently, two birds (identified as a pair on 16 Jan and 24 Apr) present in the city
70 throughout the year and often observed on the spire of All Saints’ Church. However, there was no evidence of confirmed breeding. Other breeding evidence included a pair displaying in the Black Mountains on 15 Mar and a pair seen again there on 19 Jul, and an adult with two juveniles at a site east of Hereford City on 10 Jun and an adult with a juvenile there on 24 Jul. Additionally there were four records of three birds at three different locations and four records of two birds at four further sites, and at one of these a pair was noted. Records of multiple birds outside of the breeding season may reflect pairs remaining together and possible fidelity to breeding locations. The remaining records were of single birds and distributed throughout the year
Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant
2 records from 2 sites
A single present at Norton Canon on 7 Feb (P.P. Jennings, S. Wetherbee & P. Wrixon) was seen hunting a Blue Tit there on 9 Feb. A larder was located on site and this bird was last seen on 23 Feb. A single was seen at Shobdon Hill Wood on 6 Mar (P.P. Jennings). Mick Colquhoun Mick
Magpie (Eurasian Magpie) Pica pica Abundant resident
966 records from 167 sites
Breeding was confirmed during the period 29 Apr – 31 Aug at: Bishopstone, Breinton Springs, Credenhill, Linton, Madley Earth Station, Munstone Road Hereford, Oakland Drive Ledbury and Weir Gardens. Large groups reported were: 18 at Wellington GP on 2 Jan; 16 at Letton Lakes on 20 Jun; 33 at Rotherwas on 24 Aug; 26 at Broadward Leominster on 5 Oct; 17 at Munstone Road Hereford on 7 Oct; 16 at Garway on 6 Dec and 23 at Merrivale Ross-on-Wye on 13 Dec.
71 Jay (Eurasian Jay) Garrulus glandarius Common resident
444 records from 137 sites
There was only one breeding report of three juveniles with parents at Madley Earth Station on 12 Jun.
The larger counts reported were: 10 at Haugh Wood on 4 Mar and nine and 10 there on 1 Apr and 9 Sep; eight at Oaker’s Hill Letton on 29 Apr; eight at Sollers Hope on 7 Jul and 19 traversing the escarpment on the Red and Black Darens on 27 Sep.
Jackdaw (Western Jackdaw) Corvus monedula Abundant resident
942 records from 176 sites
Breeding was confirmed at: Little London Staunton on Wye on 3 May; Breinton Springs on 2 Jun; Marden Church on 5 Jun; Bromsash on 6 Jun; Madley Earth Station on 12 Jun; Midsummer Hill on 17 Jun and Weir Gardens on 13 Aug. Large roosting flocks of 3,000 and 1,000 were reported around Moreton on Lugg and Wellington GP on 26 Jan and 8 Nov respectively. Other large flocks seen were: 400 at Checkley West on 21 Jan; 630 at Shobdon on 23 Feb (where previously large flocks have usually been 250 – 400); 200 at Hampton Bishop on 20 Jun; 250 at Garway on 5 Jul; 450 at Stocklow on 23 Oct and 620 there on 30 Dec.
Rook Corvus frugilegus Abundant resident
363 records from 102 sites
Breeding was confirmed at: Courtfield on 2 Mar (through till 11 May); A449 roundabout Ross-on-Wye on 14 Mar; Hartleton Lakes on 15 Mar; St Weonards on 18 Mar (73 nests); Old Pike St Weonards on 18 Mar (35 nests); Linton on 26 Mar; Hampton Court on 1 Apr; Lawton Cross Leintwardine on 2 Apr; Wigmore on 2 Apr; Weir Gardens on 2 Apr (109 nests – all adults/young had dispersed by 11 Jun); Weston under Penyard on 15 Apr; Garway Hill on 24 Apr (23 nests); Lugg Meadows on 31 May and Madley Earth Station on 12 Jun. Large flocks were: 125 at Bromsash on 24 Jan; 250 at Shobdon Court Pools on 17 Feb; 200 at Brockhall GP on 6 Sep; 190 digging out worms and slugs in a newly germinated wheat field at Bishopstone on 15 Nov; 250 feeding on grassland around 200 metres from the rookery site at Weir Gardens on 19 Nov; 156 at Hartleton Lakes on 27 Nov and 120 at Evendine Lane Colwall on 12 Dec.
Carrion Crow Corvus corone Abundant resident 1274 records from 202 sites.
72 Breeding was confirmed at: Hereford Quarry on 18 Apr; Bartestree on 1 May; Wellington GP on 19 May; Oakland Drive Ledbury on 22 May; Bodenham Lake on 28 May; Hampton Bishop on 30 May; Lugg Meadows on 31 May; Eastnor Deer Park on 5 Jun; Castleton and Winforton on 6 Jun; Caradoc and Sellack Boat on 7 Jun; Madley Earth Station on 12 Jun; Hartleton Lakes on 18 Jun; Rookery Wood Mocktree on 24 Jun; Mill Lane Colwall on 25 Jun and Hereford City on 2 Jul.
Large flocks reported were: 75 at Milton Cross on 19 Jan; 75 at Horsenett Farm Bredenbury on 18 Apr and 100 at Wellington GP on 22 Nov.
Raven (Northern Raven) Corvus corax Fairly common resident
510 records from 144 sites
Breeding behaviour was seen at Caradoc and Sellack Boat between 2 Feb and 5 Apr and possibly at Old Weir Farm Kenchester on 19 Feb, but there was no confirmed breeding.
Large flocks were: 25 at Mordiford on 3 Jan; 21 at Garway on 8 Jan; 17 at Backbury Hill on 9 Jan; 20 at Jolly Frog Leintwardine on 28 Jan; 17 at Starve Beech Hope Mansell on 24 Mar and 23 there on 7 Sep; 30 at Trothland St Weonards on 30 Jun (possibly attracted by a dead sheep); 27 at Garway Hill on 17 Oct and 25 at The Mount Deerfold on 23 Nov.
Goldcrest Regulus regulus Common resident
490 records from 99 sites
Two juveniles seen at Caradoc and Sellack Boat on 13 July was the only confirmed breeding record. The only other indication of possible breeding was of males holding territory at Wellington GP on 11 Feb and at Evens/Mary Knoll/Climbing Jack Common on 29 Mar and 14 May.
From 12 to 60 birds were seen throughout Haugh Wood during survey walks between Jan and Sep. Other significant counts included: 12 at Shobdon Hill Wood on 21 Apr; eight at Backbury Hill Wood on 29 Aug; 12 at R Wye Hampton Bishop to Mordiford on 16 Oct; nine at St Margarets on 7 Dec and eight at Caradoc and Sellack Boat on 26 Dec.
Interesting behaviours included one feeding amongst lichen on cider apple trees at Walford on 16 Nov and one bathing in a bird bath at Easthampton Mortimer’s Cross on 15 Sep.
Blue Tit (Eurasian Blue Tit) Cyanistes caeruleus Abundant resident
1165 records from 205 sites
Breeding was confirmed for the following sites during 19 Mar – 20 Jul: Berrington Hall Pool, Bishops Frome, Bishopstone, Brockhall GP, Bromsash, Caradoc and Sellack Boat, Castleton and Winforton, Copper Beeches Close Much Dewchurch, Courtfield Welsh Bicknor, Eastnor Deer
73 Park, Evens/Mary Knoll/Climbing Jack Common, Falcon Lane Ledbury, Fownhope, Garway Hill, Hartleton Lakes, Kingsthorne, Ledbury area, Lugg Meadows, Madley Earth Station, Midsummer Hill, Mill Lane Colwall, Moccas, Munstone Road Hereford, Phocle Green and Shelwick Green. For other breeding records, see also the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust Nestbox Recording Scheme report (page 132).
The larger groups seen were: 31 at Backbury Hill on 20 Jan; 35 at Shobdon Court Pools on 2 Feb; 34 at Haugh Wood on 10 Feb; 33 at Hollybush on 18 Feb; 20 at Caradoc and Sellack Boat on 6 Apr; 20 at Garway Hill on 5 Jul and 23 at Castleton and Winforton on 8 Sep.
Great Tit Parus major Abundant resident
1035 records from 182 sites
Breeding was confirmed at: Oakland Estate Ledbury on 22 May; Bromsash on 29 May; Lugg Meadows on 31 May; Eastnor Deer Park on 5 Jun; Copper Beeches Close Much Dewchurch on 8 Jun (a family of five); Munstone Road Hereford on 10 Jun; Weir Gardens on 11 Jun; Wilmaston Farm Peterchurch on 12 Jun (a family of five); Bodenham Lake on 14 Jun; Midsummer Hill on 17 Jun; Mill Lane Colwall on 25 Jun; Falcon Lane Ledbury on 29 Jun; Garway Hill on 5 Jul; Phocle Green on 19 Jul; Red Daren on 19 Jul; Cleeve Orchard Ross-on-Wye on 9 Aug and Hartleton Lakes on 11 Aug. For other breeding records, see also the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust Nestbox Recording Scheme report (page 132).
Large groups seen were: counts of 15 – 24 through Haugh Wood during Jan – Apr and 26 there on 16 Sep; 17 at R Wye Hampton Bishop to Mordiford on 14 Jan; 24 at Backbury Hill on 20 Jan; 19 at Caradoc and Sellack Boat on 2 Feb; 15 at Shobdon Court Pools on 2 Feb; 15 at Coppet Hill Common on 10 Feb; 17 at Hollybush to British Camp on 18 Feb and 16 at Checkley on 16 Mar.
Coal Tit Periparus ater Common resident
386 records from 83 sites
There was no confirmed breeding this year, but singing birds were reported at Caradoc and Sellack Boat on 6 Feb, 29 Mar and 5 and 6 Apr.
Numbers seen were mostly of five birds or less except for: six and seven seen in the Checkley area in Jan and Jul/Aug and at Hollybush to British Camp in Feb and Jul and six at Credenhill Park Wood on 20 Dec. However, larger numbers were reported from regular counts in Haugh Wood throughout the year with a maximum of 53 on 9 Sep.
Willow Tit Poecile montana Uncommon resident BoCC listed: Red
15 records from 7 sites
74 No breeding evidence was received. Most records were of ones and twos, but there were five at Wapley Hill on 28 Feb and four calling there on 31 Aug, of which two were seen.
Marsh Tit Poecile palustris Common resident BoCC listed: Red
123 records from 47 sites
There was limited breeding evidence: a pair was seen in a hedge at Bodenham Lake on 21 Feb; a pair at Wolf Cottage Egleton on 9 Mar; a family with two young being fed at Evens/Mary Knoll/ Climbing Jack Common on 30 May and a juvenile at Breinton Springs on 2 Jun. One was exhibiting agitated behaviour around a nest site, with woodpeckers in trees above, at Wigmore Rolls on 14 Jun.
The largest count was four reported from: Haugh Wood on 4 Mar, 29 Jul and 16 Sep; Balance Farm on 25 Jun and Credenhill Park Wood on 20 Dec. An unusual behaviour of one collecting honeysuckle berries and storing them close by was observed at Weymore on 6 Oct.
Skylark (Eurasian Skylark) Alauda arvensis Abundant resident and winter visitor BoCC listed: Red
422 records from 104 sites
Breeding was confirmed at: Burghill South on 12 Apr (at least four nest sites in a cornfield); Bradnor Hill on 19 Apr and Bircher Common on 15 June. In addition, bird behaviour observations indicated ‘probable’ breeding at the following sites: Cusop Hill on 4 Mar; Much Cowarne on 7 Apr; Lugg Meadows on 18 Apr and Madley Earth Station on 12 Jun. Singing males were also reported from numerous other sites.
Large autumn flocks recorded were: 85 at Stocklow on 21 Sep and 100 there on 18 Oct and 140 at Milton Cross on 6 Oct. Smaller flocks included: 35 at Milton Cross on 2 Jan; 40 at Bullinghope on 28 Jan and 45 there on 15 Feb; 23 feeding on barley stubble at Bishopstone on 12 Jul and 32 there on 20 Oct; 31 at Gamber Meadows on 25 Oct and 30 feeding on stubble at Garway on 1 Nov and 6 Dec.
Sand Martin Riparia riparia Common summer visitor BoCC listed: Amber
231 records from 36 sites
The earliest sighting was on 19 Mar and the latest on 14 Sep, both at Wellington GP.
Breeding was confirmed at: R Monnow Alltyrynys on 11 Apr; R Wye Willersley on 29 Apr; R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 30 Apr and 12 May; R Monnow Tregate and Ruthlin Mill on 4 May; R Teme Buckton Bridge and Leintwardine Bridge on 23 Jun; Wellington GP on 12 Jul; R Wye Backney Bridge on 18 Jul and 11 Aug; R Wye Sink Green on 1 Aug and R Wye Wilton on 14 Aug.
75 The larger flocks noted were: 300 arriving en masse and then spreading out to feed at Brockhall GP on 22 Mar, 200 there on 17 Apr and 25 Aug and 250 on 22 and 27 Aug; 100 at Wellington GP on 23 and 26 Mar; 100 at Hereford Quarry on 23 Apr and 100 at R Wye Backney on 18 July.
Swallow (Barn Swallow) Hirundo rustica
Abundant summer visitor BoCC listed: Amber
618 records from 175 sites
The earliest sighting was at Brockhall GP on 22 Mar and the latest was at Upper Breinton on 25 Oct.
Breeding was confirmed at many sites: Underhill Farm Foy on 26 Apr; Caradoc and Sellack Boat on 7 Jun; Falcon Lane Ledbury on 13 Jun; Munsley on 23 Jun; Linton on 2 Jul; Tretire Farm on 2 Jul; Pengethley Garden Centre on 6 Jul; Bishopstone on 11 Jul; Mulhampton Upton Bishop on 16 Jul; Wilton Ross-on-Wye on 19 Jul; Morehampton Park Farm Golden Valley on 27 Jul; Clehonger on 30 Jul; Tyberton on 1 Aug; Bromsash on 7 Aug; Abbey Farm Clehonger on 9 Aug; Littlemarsh Common Clehonger on 16 Aug; Pontrilas on 20 Aug; Bowling Green Farm Clehonger on 25 Aug and Munstone Road Hereford on 15 Sep.
The larger flocks reported were: 300 Brockhall GP on 7 May; 300 at Stocklow on 2 Sep; 500 at Wellington GP on 13 Sep and 300 there on 18 Sep; 250 at Wilton Ross-on-Wye on 15 Sep and 1,000 in a mass dusk gathering over a field below the church at Weobley on 17 and 18 Sep.
There was a distant view of an albino Swallow at Covenhope Farm near Mortimer’s Cross on 13 Jul.
House Martin (Common House Martin) Delichon urbicum
Abundant summer visitor BoCC listed: Amber
495 records from 129 sites
The earliest sighting was at Ross-on-Wye Rowing Club on 24 Mar and the latest was at Evens/ Mary Knoll/Climbing Jack Common on 11 Oct.
Breeding was confirmed at; Goodrich Castle on 4 May (in the gatehouse); Ross-on-Wye on 4 May; Copper Beeches Close Much Dewchurch from 11 May; Bodenham on 24 May; Withington from 24 May; Caradoc and Sellack Boat on 7 Jun: Bishopstone on 22 Jun; Tretire Farm on 2 Jul; Morehampton Farm Park Golden Valley on 27 Jul; Orchard Close Bodenham on 27 Jul; Clehonger from 31 Jul; Hartleton Lakes on 8 Aug; Littlemarsh Common Clehonger on 16 Aug and Bromsash on 2 Sep.
The larger flocks reported were: 250 at Wilton Ross-on-Wye on 14 Aug; 300 at Checkley on 8 Sep; 150 at Evens/Mary Knoll/Climbing Jack Common on 10 Sep; 200 at Wellington Wood (with 150 Swallows) on 17 Sep; 200 at Pencoyd on 18 Sep and 210 at Stocklow on 20 Sep.
76 Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti Very rare visitor
1 record
One was seen at Bredwardine on 18 Feb and remained for at least two weeks; this was the 5th county record (P.P. Jennings).
Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Common resident
582 records from 142 sites
Breeding was confirmed at three locations: Wellington GP on 18 May; Shelwick Green on 31 May and Madley Earth Station on 12 Jun.
The larger counts were: 22 at Fownhope on 25 Jan; 27 at Bartonsham on 14 Oct; 30 at Brockhall GP on 18 Oct; 25 at R Wye Hampton Bishop to Mordiford on 30 Oct and 22 at Caradoc and Sellack Boat on 27 Dec. Mick Colquhoun Mick
Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix Fairly common summer visitor BoCC listed: Red
12 records from 7 sites
The first sighting was at Wigmore Rolls on 21 Apr and the last was of a single at Paradise Farm Ewyas Harold on 30 May.
Breeding evidence was not recorded again this year. The larger counts were: three at Park Wood Kington on 9 May and five at Wigmore Rolls on 10 May.
77 Chiffchaff (Common Chiffchaff) Phylloscopus collybita Abundant summer visitor and uncommon resident
829 records from 192 sites
During the first winter period (Jan/Feb) there were only six records received from three locations: Bodenham GP, Littlemarsh Common and Wellington GP. Two birds were seen at Wellington GP on 2 Jan, the others were singles.
The start of the main influx of migratory birds was seen at: Newton St Margarets, Wapley Hill and Wellington GP on 7 Mar. Breeding was confirmed at 15 locations spread across the county.
Larger numbers recorded were: 62 throughout Haugh Wood on 1 Apr; 25 from Hollybush to British Camp on 2 May; 22 along R Wye between Hampton Bishop and Mordiford on 28 Aug and 30 on Garway Hill on 15 Sep.
For the second winter period (Nov/Dec) there were 24 records received from five locations, these were mainly at old gravel pit sites close to Hereford. There were five birds at Wellington GP on 23 Nov and seven there on 28 Nov. The last record was of a single seen at Brockhall GP on 27 Dec.
A single of the tristis race (Siberian Chiffchaff) was observed at Hereford Quarry on 17 Mar and a single of the abietinus race was seen at Cleeve Orchard Ross-on-Wye on 3 Dec.
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Abundant summer visitor BoCC listed: Amber
260 records from 77 sites
The earliest record received for the year was of a single at Brockhall GP on 29 Mar and the latest record was one at Clehonger on 1 Oct.
Breeding was confirmed at: Madley Earth Station on 12 Jun; Bircher Common on 15 Jun; Garway Hill on 1 Aug; Hereford Quarry on 7 Aug and Cagebrook Bridge Clehonger on 24 Aug.
The large counts were: 20 throughout Haugh Wood on 23 Apr; 15 on Merbach Hill on 28 Apr; 17 from Hollybush to British Camp on 2 May and 16 on Garway Hill on 16 May.
Blackcap (Eurasian Blackcap) Sylvia atricapilla Abundant summer visitor and fairly common resident
654 records from 171 sites
During the first winter period (Jan/Feb), there were 39 records received from 16 locations spread throughout the county. Three birds were seen at Munstone Road Hereford and a single at Newton St Margarets on 1 Jan. There were five at Cleeve Orchard Ross-on-Wye on 23 Jan.
The main arrival of migrant birds was from mid-March onwards and through April. Breeding was confirmed at nine sites: Brockhall GP, Caradoc and Sellack Boat, Hartleton Lakes, Madley
78 Earth Station, Shobdon Court Pools, Shobdon Hill Wood, Whitchurch, Wilmaston Farm Peterchurch and Wilton Ross-on-Wye.
Larger numbers recorded were: 28 at Backbury Hill on 30 Apr; 34 from Hollybush to British Camp on 2 May and 39 throughout Haugh Wood on 30 Jun.
For the second winter period (Nov/Dec) there were 14 records received from 11 locations, and the last record was of a male seen at Monnington-on-Wye on 31 Dec.
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin Common summer visitor
125 records from 62 sites
The earliest record was one seen at Clehonger on 29 Mar and the latest observation was at Bircher Common on 15 Sep.
Breeding was confirmed at: Madley Earth Station on 12 Jun; King’s Caple on 19 Jun; R Wye Sellack on 20 Jun and Whitchurch on 24 Jul.
The high counts were: eight throughout Haugh Wood on 29 Apr and 23 Jun; seven at Wellington GP on 3 May and eight at Ragged Stone Hill Hollybush on 16 May.
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca Common summer visitor
73 records from 38 sites
The first sighting of the year was at Caradoc and Sellack Boat on 15 Apr and the last was at Wellington GP on 14 Sep.
Breeding was confirmed at two sites: Hill House Farm near Brampton Bryan on 12 Jul and R Wye between Hampton Bishop and Mordiford on 13 Jun. The only large count was five at Hill House Farm on 12 Jul.
Whitethroat (Common Whitethroat) Sylvia communis Abundant summer visitor BoCC listed: Amber
271 records from 101 sites
The earliest record was of a bird calling at Wellington GP on 12 Apr and the latest observation was at Stocklow on 7 Sep.
Breeding was confirmed at 11 locations: Brampton Farm Kingstone, Caradoc and Sellack Boat, Evens/Mary Knoll/Climbing Jack Common, Gethenfield Farm Clehonger, Hartleton Lakes, Hereford Quarry, Littlemarsh Common, Madley Earth Station, Wellington GP, Whitchurch and Wolferlow.
79 The larger counts were: nine at Devereux Wootton Norton Canon on 25 Apr; nine from Hollybush to British Camp on 2 May; 23 at Gamber Meadows on 9 May and 21 there on 23 Jun; 20 at Wellington GP on 11 May and 30 there on 1 Jun.
Grasshopper Warbler (Common Grasshopper Warbler) Locustella naevia Scarce summer visitor BoCC listed: Red
1 record
A single was observed at Haugh Wood on 16 Apr (G.C. Cundale).
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Common summer visitor
99 records from 21 sites
The earliest record was at Wellington GP on 11 Apr and the latest was also at Wellington GP on 7 Sep.
Breeding was confirmed at: The Weston Bredwardine on 13 Jun; Lower Foxhall Lakes on 7 Jul; Wellington GP on 12 Jul; Pencoyd on 31 Jul and R Wye Wilton on 14 Aug. The larger counts recorded were: 10 at Wellington GP on 20 Apr and 28 there on 3 May and seven at Fownhope on 12 Jul.
Reed Warbler (Eurasian Reed Warbler) Acrocephalus scirpaceus Fairly common summer visitor
36 records from 10 sites
The earliest record was one at Wellington GP on 19 Apr and the latest record was two seen at Pencoyd on 18 Sep.
Breeding was confirmed at: Madley Earth Station on 12 Jun; Wellington GP on 12 Jul and Pencoyd on 31 Jul. The higher counts were: five at Wellington GP on 4 May and 1 Jun; three at Berrington Hall Pool on 17 May and three at Pencoyd on 31 Jul.
Nuthatch (Eurasian Nuthatch) Sitta europaea Common resident
338 records from 105 sites
Breeding was confirmed at four locations: Mill Lane Colwall on 25 Jun; Garway Hill on 5 Jul; Little Doward on 24 Jul and Shobdon Court Pools on 24 Aug.
The larger counts were: seven at Coppet Hill Common on 10 Feb; nine from Hollybush to British Camp on 26 Mar; seven at Little Doward on 24 Jul; 12 at Shobdon Court Pools on 24 Aug and 12 throughout Haugh Wood on 9 Sep.
80 Treecreeper (Eurasian Treecreeper) Certhia familiaris
Common resident
185 records from 77 sites
Breeding was confirmed at four locations: Shobdon Court Pools on 14 May; Evens/Mary Knoll/ Climbing Jack Common on 19 May; Hentland on 20 Jun and Hartleton Lakes on 28 Jul.
The larger counts were: seven throughout Haugh Wood on 10 Mar and six at Shobdon Court Pools on 14 May. In addition, four birds were seen at: Joan’s Hill Farm Checkley on 5 Mar; Hentland Church on 19 Jun; R Wye between Hampton Bishop and Mordiford on 17 Jul and Credenhill Park Wood on 20 Dec.
Wren (Eurasian Wren) Troglodytes troglodytes
Abundant resident
1214 records from 212 sites
Breeding was confirmed at: Bishopstone, Caradoc and Sellack Boat, Eastnor Park, Gamber Meadows, Garway Hill, Kingsthorne, Madley Earth Station, Midsummer Hill, Weir Gardens, Wellington GP and Wilmaston Farm Peterchurch.
Most records were of one or two birds with all the larger counts coming from regularly observed sites, such as Haugh Wood, where the numbers recorded between March and July were between 39 and 80. Other large counts were: 27 at Checkley on 16 Mar; 45 at Hollybush/British Camp on 26 Mar; 23 at Caradoc and Sellack Boat on 6 Apr; 25 at Nether Wood Aconbury on 25 Apr and 24 at Lugg Meadows on 31 May.
Starling (Common Starling) Sturnus vulgaris
Abundant resident and winter visitor BoCC listed: Red
545 records from 126 sites
Breeding was confirmed at: Bodenham, Burghill, Lugg Meadows, Oakland Drive Ledbury, Pentwyn Avenue Hereford City, Wellington GP and Withington.
Very large murmurations were sighted over the Grandstand Road and Bulmers areas of Hereford City during Jan/Feb: 8,000 on 16 Jan; 18,000 on 17 and 18 Jan pursued by Sparrowhawks; 20,000 on 31 Jan and 35,000 on 18 Feb. A flock of 1,500 was observed heading north-west over Paytoe Meadows Leintwardine on 5 Mar.
In the second winter period, a large flock was noted going to roost in the reeds at Wellington GP, there were: 8,000 on 8 Nov; 10,000 on 16 Nov and 2,000 on 22 Nov. A roost of 5,000 birds was at Leominster Sewage Works on 29 Dec.
81 Dipper (White-throated Dipper) Cinclus cinclus Fairly common resident 73 records from 46 sites There was a large increase in the number of sites compared to 2013 (but a similar number to 2010 – 2012) and these were mostly from the Monnow catchment or from the north of the county in Kington (R Arrow) and Leintwardine (R Teme) surrounds. Most of the sightings were of one or two birds, although three were noted at Parson’s Pole Bridge Brampton Bryan on 22 Sep.
Breeding was confirmed along the R Monnow from 13 sites, with two broods noted at Altyrynys and Craswall, and at six sites along the R Arrow between Kington and Pembridge and on the R Dore at Pontrilas.
Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus Uncommon passage migrant BoCC listed: Red 4 records from 1 site All the records were from Red Daren and Black Darren. The first record from Black Darren was of a single male on 6 Apr and again from The Darens, a male, a female and a juvenile were seen on 27 Sep and 3 Oct; these could have bred there this year and remained undetected or maybe they were on passage. Two females were also seen there on 5 Oct feeding on rowan and hawthorn bushes. Mick Colquhoun Mick
Blackbird (Common Blackbird) Turdus merula Abundant resident and winter visitor 1397 records from 217 sites With a mild winter there were no records of large winter numbers other than those recorded on longer site walks, such as from Haugh Woods, where weekly totals regularly exceeded 20
82 and reached 43 on 16 Apr. Other large counts were: 50 around Wellington GP on 26 Jan; 40 at Staunton on Arrow on 7 Mar and 70 there on 11 Dec; 32 at Great Doward on 27 Apr; 31 at Hollybush on 2 May; 31 at R Wye Hampton Bishop to Mordiford on 13 May; 35 at Checkley on 20 May and 44 at Fownhope on 5 Jul. Although there were many more records received this year than previous, there were just 17 sites with confirmed breeding records. This should not be viewed as a reflection of a poor breeding season, thus conflicting with the national trend, but as a lack of local breeding records.
Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Abundant winter visitor BoCC listed: Red
346 records from 109 sites
The latest record for the first winter period was from Hereford Quarry on 18 Apr, this was 10 days earlier than last year. The earliest record for the second winter period was from R Wye between Hampton Bishop and Mordiford on 23 Oct.
In the first winter period, the largest flock was of 1,500 seen at Wellington GP on 26 Jan going to roost in the withy beds and 1,000 there on 9 Feb. Other large numbers were: 300 in an orchard at Haywood Lodge Belmont on 5 Jan; 600 at Gatsford Farm Ross-on-Wye on 10 Jan and 350 at Weobley on 10 Mar. In the second winter period, the only significant flock was of 300 seen at Hereford Quarry on 10 Nov.
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Abundant resident and winter visitor BoCC listed: Red
741 records from 159 sites
Breeding was confirmed at: Amberley Court Marden, Brockhall GP, Bromsash, Burley Gate, Croft Ambrey, Falcon Lane Ledbury, Hartleton Lakes, Madley Earth Station and Munstone Road Hereford.
The weekly counts carried out throughout Haugh Wood regularly exceeded 15 with the highest total of 30 noted on 29 Apr. Other large counts were: 11 at Nether Wood Aconbury on 25 Apr; 13 at Backbury Hill on 30 Apr and 11 at Checkley on 25 May.
Redwing Turdus iliacus Abundant winter visitor BoCC listed: Red
370 records from 116 sites
The latest record for the first winter period was at Hampton Bishop on 4 Apr and the earliest record for the second winter period was at Adleymoor Common Buckton on 2 Oct.
Larger numbers were noted in both winter periods and were: 500 going into roost at Wellington GP on 26 Jan and again on 9 Feb; 450 at Staunton on Arrow on 7 Mar; 425 at Garway Hill on 17 Oct; 253 at Brockhall GP on 18 Oct and 640 at Stocklow on 18 Oct.
83 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Common resident and winter visitor BoCC listed: Amber
521 records from 143 sites
In the first half of the year the number of Mistle Thrushes noted at any one time was small, presumably they were mostly in pairs and on territory; larger numbers were only seen post- breeding and were: 20 at Shobdon Court Pools on 24 Aug; 24 at Priory Wood Clifford on 27 Aug; 23 at Eastnor Park on 9 Sep; 26 at Burghill on 18 Oct and 40 at Bishopstone on 31 Oct.
Breeding was confirmed at: Bircher Common, Caradoc and Sellack Boat, Evens/Mary Knoll/ Climbing Jack Common, Garway, Hartleton Lakes, Merbach Hill and Wilton Ross-on-Wye.
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Fairly common summer visitor BoCC listed: Red
87 records from 53 sites
The number of records received was similar to those of last year but from 10 fewer sites. The earliest record was from Queenswood Country Park on 15 May and the latest was from Bircher Common on 19 Sep. Breeding was confirmed at: Upper Lye on 22 Jun; Hatfield Court Puddleston on 25 Jun; Criftin Ford Bridge on 30 Jun; Caradoc and Sellack Boat on 6 Jul and 11 Aug; Birch Hill Clehonger on 10 Jul; Hartleton Lakes on 18 July and 8 Aug and Bircher Common on 9 Aug. The larger counts were: eight at Nieuport House Almeley on 9 June; five at Hatfield Court Puddleston on 25 Jun; four at Caradoc and Sellack Boat on 6 Jul; five at Brilley on 12 Jul and six at Hartleton Lakes on 8 Aug.
Robin (European Robin) Erithacus rubecula Abundant resident
1315 records from 206 sites
Breeding was only confirmed from 15 sites throughout the county compared to 21 in 2013.
Larger numbers came from circuitous monthly or weekly bird surveys and were: 45 at Backbury Hill on 23 Mar; 65 at Hollybush on 26 Mar; 93 at Haugh Wood on 1 Apr; 68 at R Wye Hampton Bishop to Mordiford on 18 Sep; 51 at Checkley on 24 Sep; 48 at Fownhope on 27 Sep and 36 at Garway Hill on 17 Oct.
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica Very rare vagrant
1 record
A male White-spotted Bluethroat (L. svenica cyanecula) was at Wellington GP on 12 Apr which was the 1st county record (E. Quinto-Ashman).
84 The Bluethroat breeds in the willow/birch forests of Northern Europe and is an occasional passage migrant in Britain from the wintering habitats in Southern and Central Europe. Only two other British records of this sub-species with a white throat spot were confirmed during April 2014.
Pied Flycatcher (European Pied Flycatcher) Ficedula hypoleuca
Fairly common summer visitor BoCC listed: Amber
27 records from 13 sites
The earliest records were from Dulas and Evens/Mary Knoll/Climbing Jack Common, both on 14 Apr and the latest was from Crow Wood Turnastone on 16 Jun.
Breeding records are given in the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust Nestbox Recording Scheme report (page 132). Breeding was also confirmed at Mary Knoll.
Most sightings were of single birds; larger numbers were: 10 at Wigmore Rolls on 21 Apr and 25 at Paradise Farm Ewyas Harold on 30 May.
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant; has bred BoCC listed: Amber
5 records from 1 site
All reports were from Hereford Cathedral and surrounds during two separate periods: a female or non-breeding male during the first winter period seen on 5 Jan (I. Phillipson), 26 Jan (E. Quinto-Ashman & P.H. Downes) and 16 Feb (B. Daniels & S. Coney) and a male in the second winter period on 19 Nov (M. Bailey), but then two were present on 22 Nov (J. Tilby), and a single was seen on 11 subsequent occasions until 31 Dec.
Redstart (Common Redstart) Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Common summer visitor BoCC listed: Amber
142 records from 70 sites
A large proportion of the records were from birds on their breeding grounds, however, many of the later post-breeding records were from along the R Wye or from the gravel pits. The earliest record was from Stocklow on 3 Apr and the latest was at Eastnor Obelisk on 11 Sep.
Breeding was confirmed at: Eastnor Lake on 6 Jun; Red Daren on 28 Jun; Garway Hill on 5 Jul; Hereford Quarry on 20 Jul and the Weir Gardens on 13 Aug. For other breeding records, see also the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust Nestbox Recording Scheme report (page 132).
The higher counts were: 10 on The Darens on 19 Apr and 15 there on 19 Jul; 11 at Garway Hill on 14 May and seven there on 5 Jul and six at Brilley on 12 Jul.
85 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra
Uncommon summer visitor and passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber
6 records from 4 sites
The earliest record was from Red Daren on 29 Jun and the latest was from The Warren Stonewall Hill on 22 Sep.
Last year the records were only of passage birds so it is pleasing to receive records from a breeding site. The records were from The Darens: two birds there on 29 Jun, four on 12 Jul and eight on 19 Jul, including recently fledged juveniles. The other records were of passage birds: three at Castleton and Winforton on 12 Aug; a single at Stocklow on 12 Sep and a single male at Stonewall Hill on the north-west Herefordshire border on 22 Sep.
Stonechat (European Stonechat) Saxicola rubicola
Uncommon resident
18 records from 11 sites
Breeding was confirmed at Hergest Ridge on 3 May and on The Darens on 28 Jun.
All records were of three birds or less, which were mostly from the spring/summer months, but there were winter records from: Bullinghope and Gamber Meadows in Jan/Feb and from Castleton and Winforton, Hergest Ridge and Stonewall Hill in Nov/Dec; there is the possibility that these birds were overwintering.
Wheatear (Northern Wheatear) Oenanthe oenanthe
Fairly common summer visitor and uncommon passage migrant BoCC listed: Amber
67 records from 20 sites
Although a few more records were received compared to last year, there were 13 less sites. The earliest record was from Milton Cross on 10 Mar and the last was from Brockhall GP on 19 Oct.
Breeding was confirmed at: Castleton and Winforton on 12 May and on The Darens on 28 Jun, when two family groups were seen. The larger counts were: 12 on The Darens on 19 Apr and eight there on 12 Jul; seven at Wolferlow on 19 Apr; seven at Brockhall GP on 23 Apr and eight on Hergest Ridge on 3 May.
Greenland Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe leucorhoa
Scarce passage migrant
4 records from 1 site
The records were all from one site at Stocklow: singles were seen on 20 Aug, 3 and 4 Sep and two were present on 14 Sep.
86 Dunnock Prunella modularis Abundant resident BoCC listed: Amber
921 records from 169 sites
Singing birds were reported on 19 Jan and regularly from early Feb onwards. There were confirmed breeding reports at six locations between 26 Apr and 20 Jul: Bishopstone, Brockhall GP, Bromsash, Criftin Ford Bridge, Madley Earth Station and Munstone Road Hereford. The majority of reports were of less than five birds though some larger counts were noted, mostly during extended walks, such as 18 at Joan’s Hill Farm Checkley on 5 Mar and 21 along the R Wye between Hampton Bishop and Mordiford on 20 Oct.
House Sparrow Passer domesticus Abundant resident BoCC listed: Red
837 records from 144 sites
Breeding was confirmed at 13 sites. The earliest breeding record was at Withington on 25 Apr with further records through until 17 Aug at Copper Beeches Close Much Dewchurch. The larger flock counts were: 50 at Bodenham on 27 Jul; 60 at Rotherwas on 24 Aug and 145 at Stocklow on 2 Sep. A group of 15 birds were observed collecting and carrying food from a rape field at Milton Cross/Shobdon Industrial Estate on 15 Jun.
Tree Sparrow (Eurasian Tree Sparrow) Passer montanus Fairly common resident BoCC listed: Red
9 records from 5 sites
Only one breeding record was received from R Wye Castleton and Winforton (as in 2013) on 6 Jun, when two birds were seen at the nest. They were seen again in the same location on 8 Jul. Two males were also noted downstream at Winforton on 9 Sep. There were two sightings at Criftin Ford Bridge on 24 May and 30 Jun and although there was no evidence of breeding from this site, the birds were in the area long enough to have done so. There were sightings at Stretford Bridge, again this year, where a single bird was seen on a garden feeder on three occasions during 1 – 5 Jan. A single was heard at Bartonsham Hereford on 14 Oct. The fortunes of this species seem to be on the decline in the county with both the number of records and sites being only half of those recorded in 2013.
Yellow Wagtail (Western and Eastern Yellow Wagtail) Motacilla flava
Fairly common summer visitor and passage migrant
106 records from 34 sites
Breeding records were received from 10 sites this year, an increase from only three in 2013. These were: birds carrying food at R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 6 Jun and at Milton Cross/
87 Shobdon Industrial Estate on 15 Jun; Buckton Bridge on 23 Jun; Lower Foxhall Lakes on 7 Jul, at least three pairs in a potato field at Wormbridge on 27 Jul; Bartonsham Meadows Hereford on 1 Aug; Hereford Quarry on 7 Aug; Hartleton Lakes on 17 Aug and juveniles at Wellington GP on 19 Aug and at Brockhall GP on 30 Aug.
The earliest sighting was on 12 Apr and the latest was on 11 Oct, both at Wellington GP. The higher counts were: 16 at R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 12 Aug and 23 at Stocklow on 4 Sep.
It was noted, last year, that there had been a steady increase of records for this species over the previous seven years. Again this year’s records show a further increase in breeding records suggesting that the species is sustaining its presence in the county.
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Fairly common resident BoCC listed: Amber
182 records from 76 sites
There were confirmed breeding records from seven sites, R Monnow Alltyrynys on 14 Apr, Lower Brockhampton on 18 Apr, Ruinsford Cliff Craswall on 25 Apr, Kentchurch on 2 May, R Monnow Llanveynoe (two sites) on 3 and 8 May and Hartleton Lakes on 22 Jul. At four of these sites the young were ringed. A second brood from one of the ringed sites failed because the nest was destroyed. The highest count was of five near Hoarwithy on 15 Sep. Mick Colquhoun Mick
Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii Common resident and abundant winter visitor
598 records from 125 sites
In spite of familiarity with this species and the large number of records received, there were only six breeding records and these were at: Garway Hill on 16 May, Wellington GP on 25 May and 27 Jun; Brockhall GP on 6 Jun; R Wye Letton on 13 Jun and Harleton Lakes on 6 Aug.
88 Large winter roosts noted were: 500 at Sainsbury’s Hereford on 2 Jan; 200 on Leominster bypass on 13 Feb and 250 there on 27 Oct and 226 at Wellington GP on 11 Sep.
White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba
Uncommon passage migrant
11 records from 2 sites
This year shows a reduction in both numbers of records and sites compared with 2013. The reduction in sites, down from five in 2013, may indicate a genuine reduction in numbers passing through the county.
There were eight spring records from Wellington GP where the earliest sighting was of two birds on the 16 Mar. A further seven sightings were reported there up to 3 May and seven birds were seen on 12 Apr. The only autumn passage records were at Stocklow where up to three birds were seen between 27 Aug and 9 Sep.
Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis
Fairly common summer visitor BoCC listed: Red
49 records from 22 sites
There were similar numbers of records and sites as in 2013. The earliest record was at Mowley Wood Titley on 13 Apr and the latest was at Stocklow on 3 Sep.
Once again there were no breeding records, although there were males holding territory and one record of nest building across Evens/Mary Knoll/Climbing Jack Common area during the period 14 – 30 May. Singing males were reported at: Brilley Common, Croft Ambrey, Garway Hill, Mowley Wood Titley, Shobdon Hill Wood and Wigmore Rolls. In total, these records would indicate that the species probably breeds in the county even though no nests were found or juveniles seen.
The higher counts reported were: four birds at Merbach Hill on 28 Apr and at Garway Hill on 2 Jun, and five at Wigmore Rolls on 29 Apr.
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
Common resident and winter visitor BoCC listed: Amber
260 records from 57 sites
Seven breeding records were received this year, these were at: Bradnor Hill on 19 Apr; Garway Hill on 16 May, 15 Jul and 1 Aug; R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 6 Jun; Bircher Common on 15 Jun and Red Daren on 1 Aug.
The higher counts noted were: 90 at Brockhall GP on 2 Jan and 50 there on 8 Feb; 53 at Canwood Woolhope on 28 Mar; 130 at Stocklow on 6 Sep, 90 there on 11 Sep and 110 on 27 Sep and 50 at
89 Bircher Common on 15 Sep. There was a record of 31 birds migrating south in twos and threes over Garway Hill on 17 Oct.
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
Common winter visitor
26 records from 11 sites
The number of records this year was only 28% of that in 2013, which is similar to the national reduction reported by BTO, indicating that there were ample food supplies in continental Europe. Just over 40% of sightings were from Bircher Common, somewhat of a stronghold for this species, with flocks of 50 there on 2 and 15 Mar and 36 on 23 Mar. Twenty birds were seen at Shobdon Court Pools on 13 Mar.
The latest sighting in the spring was of 15 on Bircher Common on 20 Apr, and the earliest record in the autumn was of a single at Stocklow on 7 Nov.
Chaffinch (Common Chaffinch) Fringilla coelebs
Abundant resident
1000 records from 200 sites
In spite of the large number of records received only two breeding records were confirmed at Madley Earth Station on 12 Jun and at Bromsash on 22 Jun. A probable (nesting) breeding record was received from Copper Beeches Close Much Dewchurch on 11 May and males were reported holding territory at Fromes Hill, Lugg Meadows and Shelwick Green in Apr/May. A family was seen at Bodenham Church on 5 Jul and two flocks, numbering up to 15 including juveniles, were noted on Garway Hill on 5 Jul and 1 Aug.
The larger flocks reported were: 85 at Welsh Newton Common on 24 Nov; 125 at Norton Cannon on 4 Dec and 110 at Staunton on Arrow on 11 Dec.
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Uncommon resident BoCC listed: Red
8 records from 5 sites
Far fewer birds were seen in the county this year than in previous years. The sightings were: two at Shobdon on 6 Feb; three at Yazor on 12 Feb; four in Coneygree Wood on 16 Feb; two at Great Doward (Miners Rest/White Rocks) on 8 Mar, 27 Apr and throughout May, and two feeding with other finches under beech trees at Bircher Common on 23 Mar. The only late season record was two at Great Doward on 26 Dec.
90 Bullfinch (Eurasian Bullfinch) Pyrrhula pyrrhula Common resident BoCC listed: Amber
421 records from 134 sites
Evidence of breeding was noted when four juveniles were seen during the HOC meeting at Wilton Ross-on-Wye on 3 Sep. Further possible breeding records were: a pair at Newton St Margarets on 15 Apr, 5 May and 6 Jun and a family at Backbury Hill on 27 Jul.
There were interesting behavioural records of: a female pecking blackthorn buds in a tall hedge at Walford on 2 Jan; two feeding on Virburnum berries at New Mills Ledbury on 4 Apr; two bathing in a bird bath at Easthampton Mortimer’s Cross on 15 Sep and three birds feeding on Forsythia buds on Weymore Lane Brampton Bryan on 21 Dec.
Groups of more than five birds were: six at Huntington near Kington on 2 Jan; eight throughout Haugh Wood on 2 Jan and nine there on 21 Jan; six males and four females at Mordiford on 14 Jan; seven across Evens/Mary Knoll/Climbing Jack Common area on 11 Feb; six at Ballingham Hill on 14 Apr and seven at Ewyas Harold Common on 15 Oct.
Greenfinch (European Greenfinch) Chloris chloris Abundant resident
638 records from 131 sites
Once again the large number of sightings would indicate that this species is beginning to recover from the very ‘low’ year of 2009 when, it was thought, the outbreak of trichomonosis had devastated the population nationally.
In spite of the large numbers of records received there were only two confirmed breeding records at Caradoc and Sellack Boat on 7 Jun and Falcon Lane Ledbury on 13 Jun. There were a number of records, of up to 24 adults and juveniles, on garden feeders at Clehonger during Oct – Dec.
The larger groups recorded were: 60 at Birtley on 5 Jan; 35 at Shobdon Court Pools on 5 Jan; 40 at Caradoc and Sellack Boat on 10 Aug; 26 at Hartleton Lakes on 15 Nov; 25 at Hergest Croft Arboretum on 22 Nov and 60 at Norton Canon on 4 Dec.
Linnet (Common Linnet) Linaria cannabina Common resident BoCC listed: Red
270 records received from 96 sites
No confirmed breeding records were received, although juveniles were noted at Arkstone Farm Kingstone on 28 Aug and 110 birds, including juveniles, were feeding in a field at Turnastone on 27 Sep.
The larger flocks reported were: 500 at Perrystone Hill on 12 Feb; 300 feeding on set-aside at Norton Canon on 15 Feb; 200 at Hartleton Lakes on 11 Aug; 300 at Weymore Lane Brampton Bryan on 28 Aug and 500 at Bromsash on 11 Oct.
91 Lesser Redpoll (Common Redpoll) Acanthis cabaret Fairly common resident and common winter visitor BoCC listed: Red
96 records from 30 sites
The last record in the first winter/spring period was a single at Stocklow on 17 Jun and the first record in the second winter period was of three at Bodenham Lake on 23 Oct. Interestingly 36% of sightings were on garden feeders.
The larger groups reported were: 30 at Bodenham Lake on 13 Jan and 31 there on 14 Feb; 50 at Bodenham Moor on 1 Mar; 30 across Evens/Mary Knoll/Climbing Jack Common area on 3 Apr and 40 there on 14 Apr and 22 feeding on niger seeds with Goldfinches at Garway on 13 Apr.
Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea Rare winter visitor
2 records from 2 sites
A single bird seen at Brockhall GP on the 11 Jan (P.H. Downes) was the 9th county record. Another single, feeding on a garden feeder with Lesser Redpolls, Siskins, Goldfinches and a Brambling, was reported at Bodenham Moor on 1 Mar (R. Hemming & M.C. Colquhoun); this was the 10th county record.
In the Atlas (“The Birds of Herefordshire”), this species waas considered to be a rare visitor to the county, only being recorded on three occasions during the Atlas survey period (in 2008, 2009 and 2010), and this year’s record is the first since then.
Crossbill (Red Crossbill) Loxia curvirostra Uncommon resident and fairly common winter visitor
38 records from 14 sites
The relatively few sightings this year, especially during the Apr – Oct period, would indicate that 2014 was a low influx year, unlike 2013 when the species was recorded in every month except Mar.
Haugh Wood and Wapley Hill accounted for 50% of the records. High counts in Wapley Wood during Jan – Mar varied from 35 on 2 Jan to 55 on 28 Feb and a final record of 22 on 7 Mar. Other high counts were: 20 at Bircher Common on 19 Jan; 20 at Climbing Jack Common on 21 Jan; 14 at Shobdon Hill Wood on 6 Mar and 15 at Great Doward on 8 Mar.
Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus Very rare vagrant BoCC listed: Amber
1 record
A female was noted at Wapley Hill on 2 Jan (P.H. Downes & S Coney) feeding in the larch trees among a flock of Common Crossbills (Loxia curvirostia). It was first seen there on 22 Dec 2013 and was the 1st County Record.
92 Goldfinch (European Goldfinch) Carduelis carduelis
Abundant resident
784 records from 162 sites
Five breeding records were received from three sites: Caradoc & Sellack Boat on 7 Jun; Weir Gardens on 16 Jul and 13 Aug and Bishopstone on 23 Jul and 16 Aug. An additional record came from a Bishopstone on 23 Oct where two nests were discovered in an Acer tree after the leaves had fallen.
The larger counts were: 50 at Caradoc and Sellack Boat on 10 Aug; 52 at Hartleton Lakes on 6 Sep; 85 at Staunton on Arrow on 21 Sep and 70 across Evens/Mary Knoll/Climbing Jack Common area on 19 Nov.
Siskin (Eurasian Siskin) Spinus spinus
Fairly common resident and common winter visitor
170 records from 58 sites
There was only one breeding record of an adult collecting nesting material at Bishopstone on 5 Apr. Although the species was recorded in every month there was no further indication of breeding activity.
Only one count of 100 birds was received this year from Central Haugh Wood on 6 Mar. Other large groups included: 40 at Hartleton Lakes on 7 Jan; 45 at Checkley on 15 Jan and 50 at R Wye Hampton Bishop to Mordiford on 30 Jan.
The number of records and sites this year were substantially lower than in 2013, possibly indicating fluctuation in the migratory habits of the species
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella
Abundant resident BoCC listed: Red
235 records from 98 sites
There was only one confirmed breeding record, from Madley Earth Station on 12 Jun, where two pairs were seen at their nests. However, 10, including juveniles, were noted at Garway Hill on 5 Jul and males were observed holding territory across Evens/Mary Knoll/Climbing Jack Common area on four occasions during Apr/May.
The larger counts were: 24 in a mixed flock of finches at Bishopstone on 6 Oct; 25 at Stocklow on 5 Nov and 30 at Didley on 5 Dec.
93 Reed Bunting (Common Reed Bunting) Emberiza schoeniclus Common resident BoCC listed: Amber
252 records from 46 sites
Only two confirmed breeding records were received: a pair was observed at their nest at Madley Earth Station on 12 Jun and two pairs were observed feeding young at Clehonger Church on 25 Jun. Evidence of breeding was also noted at Wellington GP on 18 May and 12 Jul. Parties of juvenile birds were recorded at: R Wye Castleton and Winforton on 6 Jun; Wilton Ross-on-Wye on 14 Aug and Ross Sewage Works on 3 Sep.
The larger groups seen were: 14 at Norton Canon on 7 Feb; 12 at Wellington GP on 14 Mar, 30 there on 13 Apr and 15 on 5 Jul and 10 at R Wye Hampton Bishop to Mordiford on 5 May.
[The systematic list scripts were written by the following authors: Peter Eldridge, Tony Eveleigh, Gareth & Una Morgan, Gerald Parker, John Pullen, Robert Taylor, Gerald Wells and Brian Willder]
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Addendum (to 2010 Systematic List)
The following record should be added to the 2010 Systematic List:
White-winged Black Tern (White-winged Tern) Chlidonias leucopterus Very rare passage migrant
1 record
An adult was seen feeding over the southern end of the main pool at Wellington GP on 8 Jun 2010 (G.M. Ireson). This was the 1st county record.
Interestingly, a bird of this species had been observed at Allscott, Shropshire on 6 Jun and also at Belvide, Staffordshire on 7 Jun – it could have been the same bird.
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94 Terry Hancock Terry A pair of Robins courtship feeding in April 2014 Terry Hancock Terry A Jay at Gorsley in May 2014
95 Terry Hancock Terry
A Tree Sparrow at Gorsley in April 2014 Mick Colquhoun Mick A female Crossbill at Joan’s Hill Farm, Checkley in February 2014
96 Mick Colquhoun Mick Black Redstart on Hereford Cathedral in November 2014
97 Terry Hancock Terry
A male Blackcap feeding on catkins at Gorsley in January 2014 Mick Colquhoun Mick
A Common (Mealy) Redpoll feeding in a Bodenham garden with Lesser Redpolls in March 2014 – this was the 10th county record
98 Exotica & escapes
This section includes those species observed during the year from BOU categories D (it is doubted that they have ever occurred in a natural state) and E (introductions, human-assisted transportees or escapees from captivity, and, if breeding, are thought not to be self-sustaining).
Chukar/Red-legged Partridge (hybrid)
2 records from 2 sites
One was seen at Fownhope on 6 May, also one was seen in Hampton Bishop on 19 Jun, possibly the same bird.
Reeves’s Pheasant Syrmaticus Reevesii
1 record
One was seen at Edwyn Ralph on 26 Feb.
Golden Pheasant Chrysolophus pictus
1 record
A male was seen at Stoke Prior Lane Leominster on 22 Jun.
Black Swan Cygnus atratus
1 record
One was seen at Hereford Quarry on 18 Oct.
White-fronted Goose (hybrid)
3 records from 2 sites
One was recorded at: Brockhall GP on 15 Jul; Wellington GP on 4 Oct and then at Brockhall GP on 5 Dec.
Greylag Goose (domestic) Anser anser
22 records from 1 site
One was seen regularly at Hartleton Lakes between 25 Sep and 22 Dec.
99 Small (Ridgway’s) Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii minima
8 records from 4 sites
Cackling Goose was formerly treated as conspecific with Canada Goose, but was split in 2004. The taxonomy of the group is still in a state of flux, but at the time of writing four sub-species of B. hutchinsii are recognised, of which minima is the smallest, only half the size of the Canada Goose commonly naturalised in Europe. While there have been recoveries this side of the Atlantic of North American-ringed Cackling Geese, the species is kept widely in captivity and it remains in category E of the BOU list at present.
One was seen at Brockhall GP on 13 Jan. Another was seen at: Hartleton Lakes on 4 Jan, 17 Oct, 20 Oct and 4 Dec; Eccleswall Court on 21 Apr and 16 May and R Wye Wilton on 15 Sep.
As reported in the 2013 HOC Annual Report, there were two individuals in the county, one in the Hereford area and one in the Ross-on-Wye area.
Barnacle/Canada Goose (hybrid)
1 record
Five were seen at R Wye Ross Sewage Works on 23 Jan with Canada Geese.
Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata
2 records from 2 sites
One was seen in Clehonger on 28 Jul, also at Bowling Green Farm Clehonger on 23 Aug, which was almost certainly the same bird. Tony Eveleigh
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100 List of observers
J. Allen D. Coker V. Elphick J. Allsopp J.R. Coleman A.H. Eveleigh D.V. Avis P. Collins T. Eyles M. Bailey M. Colquhoun R. Facey T.G. Ball S.P. Coney J. Farrar L. Bannon T.C. Cooke C. Farrell S.R.J. Barker T.C. & VA. Cooke C. Fenton M. Becker A. Cooper N. Fincham D. Bennett S. Cooter S. French C. Bennett K. Coupland C. Furley A.J. Bevan L. Croose D. Gardiner G.S. Bilbao G.C. Cundale J. Gascoyne M.E. Bird A. Curtis C. Gibbs J.W. Birkinshaw R. Curtis S. Gill J. Birks B. Daniels M. Greening P. B on e J.C. Davies B. Gregory M. Boothman May Davies D. Griffith E. Bowen-Jones M.H. Davies A.C. Gutteridge P.G. Bradley Myfanwy Davies I. Hart F. Bradley N. Davies R. Hart C. Brooks R.T. Davies S. Haynes P. B row n Steve Davies R.F.W. Hemming F.S. Burge Simon Davies I.C. Herbert D. Burgoyne G.M. Davis S. Hicks D. Burr A. Dawson M. Highfield J. Butcher N. Devereux M. Hobson I. Buttriss S. Dewey C. Holt P. Cannings J.R. Diamond N. Hopkinson J. Carruthers J.A. Dix T. Hulme P. Chapman P.H. Downes R. Husbands N. Chapman I. Draycott L. Ison G. Clarkson M.J. East P.P. Jennings C. Clements P. Eldridge I. Jones
101 C.M. Jones R. Pearce S. Smith M. July N.C. Pegler N.A. Smith J. Kedward M. Peters S.M. Spriggs P.L. King C. Phelps S. Squires B. Lakin R. Phillips R. Taylor C.E. Lankester I. Phillipson R.C. Taylor C.E. Laurie N. Pinder S.L. Taylor B. Laws R. Piper A. Thomas G. Linscot R. Pote C. Thompson P. Loveridge S. Potter R. Thorndyke A.M. Lucas D. Potts J. Tilby P.F. Macrae G. Poulton B. Tragett A.R. Marfell G. Price C.E. Tudge W.J. Marler J.R. Pullen R. Tushingham C. Mason E. Quinto-Ashman D. Tyler P.D. Masters M. Ramsbottom S.J. Tyler K. McMahon C. Rapsey G. Uney J. McTague C. Reed P. Venvil C. Michael R. Rees S. Walker R. Miller K.F. Reynolds K. Walshaw J. Mills H. Richards A. Walton R. Morley F. Riddell W. Watson N.S. Morris D. Rippe T. Weale G. Mowe D. Roberts D. Webb D. Mullin C.M. Robinson G.A.H. Wells R. Nash I. Roe M.J. Wheeler S. Newsome I. Rose P. Whittaker F. Offer E. Ruff B. Wildey D. Page T.J. Russell J. Wilkinson S.M.T. Page R. Ruston B.C. Willder J. Paige A. Seabury M.J. Williams G.R. Parker J. Seaward S. Woolfenden S. Parkinson I. Shellard M. Wright C. Parr M. Sherman S. Young J. Parry P.A. Sketch D. Pearce A.P.J. Skull
102 Summer and winter migrants
Summer migrants – earliest and latest dates
Species Earliest Location Latest in Location in 2014 2014 Garganey 19 Apr Wellington GP 5 Oct Brockhall GP Osprey 28 Mar R Wye Wilton 11 Oct Wellington GP Little Ringed 29 Mar Hereford Quarry & 10 Sep Brockhall GP Plover Wellington GP Common 1 Mar Davies Meadows, 26 Dec Wellington GP Sandpiper Norton Canon Greenshank 4 May Brockhall GP & 20 Sep Kenchester Pools Wellington GP Cuckoo 15 Apr Bircher Common 31 Jul Bridge End Farm, Much Cowarne Swift 20 Apr Wellington GP 5 Sep Wellington GP Hobby 9 Apr Brockhall GP 28 Sep Hereford Quarry Sand Martin 19 Mar Wellington GP 14 Sep Wellington GP Swallow 22 Mar Brockhall GP 25 Oct Upper Breinton House Martin 24 Mar Ross-on-Wye Rowing 11 Oct Evens/Mary Knoll/ Club Climbing Jack Common Wood Warbler 21 Apr Wigmore Rolls 30 May Paradise Farm, Ewyas Harold Willow Warbler 29 Mar Brockhall GP 1 Oct Clehonger Garden Warbler 29 Mar Clehonger 15 Sep Bircher Common Lesser 15 Apr Caradoc & Sellack Boat 14 Sep Wellington GP Whitethroat Whitethroat 12 Apr Wellington GP 7 Sep Stocklow Grasshopper 16 Apr Haugh Wood - - Warbler Sedge Warbler 11 Apr Wellington GP 7 Sep Wellington GP Reed Warbler 19 Apr Wellington GP 18 Sep Pencoyd Ring Ouzel 6 Apr Black Darren 5 Oct The Darens Spotted Flycatcher 15 May Queenswood Country 19 Sep Bircher Common Park
103 Species Earliest Location Latest in Location in 2014 2014 Pied Flycatcher 14 Apr Dulas & 16 Jun Crow Wood, Evens/Mary Knoll/ Turnastone Climbing Jack Common Redstart 3 Apr Stocklow 11 Sep Eastnor Obelisk Whinchat 29 Jun Red Daren 22 Sep The Warren, Stonewall Hill Wheatear 10 Mar Milton Cross 19 Oct Brockhall GP Yellow Wagtail 12 Apr Wellington GP 11 Oct Wellington GP Tree Pipit 13 Apr Mowley Wood, Titley 3 Sep Stocklow
Winter migrants – latest and earliest dates
Species 1st winter Location 2nd winter Location period in period in 2014 2014 Bewick’s Swan 15 Feb Wellington GP - - Whooper Swan 7 Mar Goodrich 19 Nov Wellington GP Pink-footed - - 10 Nov Hereford Quarry Goose Wigeon 9 May Brockhall GP 5 Jul Brockhall GP Teal 28 Jun Brockhall GP 5 Jul Brockhall GP & Wellington GP Pintail 8 Apr Wellington GP 11 Sep Wellington GP Pochard 21 Apr Wellington GP 23 Jul Wellington GP Goldeneye 18 Apr Wellington GP 18 Oct Hereford Quarry Golden Plover 24 Apr Milton Cross 27 Aug Stocklow Jack Snipe 6 Apr Wellington GP 27 Sep Wellington GP Great Grey Shrike 6 Mar Shobdon Hill Wood - - Fieldfare 18 Apr Hereford Quarry 23 Oct R Wye Hampton Bishop to Mordiford Redwing 4 Apr Hampton Bishop 2 Oct Adleymoor Common, Buckton Brambling 20 Apr Bircher Common 7 Nov Stocklow
104 The birds of Haugh Wood
This article is an abridged version of Graham Cundale’s full report, including the results of his bird survey of Haugh Wood during 2010 – 2014.
Haugh Wood is a mixed woodland of nearly 350 hectares, located some 6 miles to the south-east of Hereford and managed by the Forestry Commission (FC). The purpose of this study was to list the bird species that use the wood, give an indication of their numbers, and when and where they are likely to be seen. To provide a fuller picture there are references to historical information and comments on changes that have taken place over the last 60 years or so. The study area comprises Haugh Wood, generally as defined by its SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) boundary, but also including Limburies Wood on the northern side.
Survey method
The study fell broadly into two parts. First, a survey was carried out to ascertain the present bird life of the wood. Secondly, some historical information was examined, from sources listed in the full report.
The survey began in October 2010. It involved systematically noting all the birds seen or heard within the wood while walking along a route that includes all four quadrants of the wood and a range of woodland types. The route took in all but two woodland compartments in each quadrant of the wood (Figure 1). The excluded compartments, with the exception of Citterdine, were covered by the supplementary survey visits referred to below. Moreover, the route included two additional tracts of the woodland, outside present FC ownership. The first is the belt of woodland sandwiched between the northern and southern halves of Haugh Wood, and the second is Limburies Wood, which lies at the north end and was sold off by the FC a few years ago.
The route made use of a variety of forest tracks and paths with various levels of use by the public. Each visit took three to four hours or more, depending on the number and variety of birds present. From October 2010 to September 2014, a total of 179 systematic visits were undertaken. The visits were well distributed over the months, as shown in Table 1 below. In addition to these visits, some casual supplementary visits were made to various parts of the wood and at various times in order to gain a more comprehensive picture of its bird life.
Table 1: Monthly distribution of the systematic survey visits. Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Number of visits 16 14 14 13 15 16 18 16 16 15 12 14
With regard to the historical information, it is of course necessary to be cautious in making references to survey counts carried out by others. This is because it is not clear that the counts concerned were consistent or comparable. In particular, Herefordshire Ornithological Club (HOC) carried out twice-yearly (spring and autumn) counts during the period 1959 – 1981. These involved various people and included birds “immediately adjacent” to the wood and also birds “using the air space above”. The latter were reported to be excluded from its 1982 – 1994 counts, which were limited to an area above the 450 foot contour.
The 2010 – 2014 survey count figures are conservative. They represent the minimum number of each species seen and/or heard during the visit, and reflect great effort to avoid double-
105 Figure 1: Map of Haugh Wood showing the survey route in red (Source: Forestry Commission). counting. Clearly, the counts are not estimates of the total numbers of birds in the wood, but they do provide an indicator to show how observed numbers changed over time.
106 Survey results
Table 2 lists all species that have been recorded at Haugh Wood, both in the 2010 – 2014 survey and in the previous documented lists. For those species observed during the 2010 – 2014 survey, a maximum count and a percentage of visits on which each was observed (frequency %) are given.
The Table includes the following notations: -* species not found in the 2010 – 2014 survey but recorded previously F§ species only seen flying over the wood (in the 2010 – 2014 survey)
Table 2: Maximum count and frequency of species recorded.
Species Max. Frequency Species Max. Frequency count % count % Blackbird 43 100 Great Spotted 13 100 Blackcap 45 55 Woodpecker Black-headed Gull -* - Great Tit 34 100 Blue Tit 57 100 Green Woodpecker 4 34 Brambling 22 4 Greenfinch 9 59 Bullfinch 17 92 Grey Wagtail 2 1 Buzzard 7 88 Hawfinch -* - Canada Goose F§ 1 Hobby -* - Carrion Crow 10 96 House Martin 18 12 Chaffinch 33 83 House Sparrow 8 64 Chiffchaff 62 59 Jackdaw 70 29 Coal Tit 53 99 Jay 15 96 Collared Dove 4 17 Kestrel 1 1 Common Crossbill 28 39 Kingfisher 1 1 Common Gull -* - Lesser Black-backed F§ 2 Cormorant F§ 1 Gull Cuckoo 2 1 Lesser Redpoll 14 25 Curlew -* - Lesser Spotted Dunnock 14 91 Woodpecker 2 13 Fieldfare 168 19 Lesser Whitethroat 1 1 Garden Warbler 11 21 Linnet 8 3 Goldcrest 62 99 Little Owl -* - Goldfinch 42 62 Long-eared Owl -* - Goshawk 3 37 Long-tailed Tit 23 85 Grasshopper 1 1 Magpie 2 21 Warbler Mallard 3 9 Great Grey Shrike -* - Mandarin Duck F§ 1
107 Species Max. Frequency Species Max. Frequency count % count % Marsh Tit 7 59 Spotted Flycatcher 3 15 Meadow Pipit -* Starling -* Melodious Warbler 1 1 Stock Dove 2 12 Mistle Thrush 13 59 Stonechat -* Nightingale -* Swallow 12 27 Nightjar -* Swift 1 1 Nuthatch 16 98 Tawny Owl 2 6 Peregrine 2 1 Tree Pipit 3 16 Pheasant 18 86 Tree Sparrow -* Pied Flycatcher -* Treecreeper 7 36 Pied Wagtail 1 2 Turtle Dove -* Raven 4 75 Whimbrel -* Red Kite 1 1 White-fronted -* Red-legged Partridge -* Goose Redstart 2 4 Whitethroat 2 11 Redwing 132 24 Willow Tit -* Robin 93 100 Willow Warbler 20 40 Rook F§ 1 Wood Warbler 4 8 Sedge Warbler -* Woodcock 2 5 Siskin 80 69 Woodlark -* Skylark F§ 8 Woodpigeon 400+ 99 Song Thrush 30 78 Wren 80 99 Sparrowhawk 1 5 Yellowhammer -*
Brief overview of selected species
A detailed account of all species listed in Table 2 can be found in the full report (available from HOC), but here some notes on selected species (in alphabetical order) are presented, covering those species which were less common and/or had interesting observations or comparisons with previous HOC surveys.
Blackcap: a summer migrant and one of the most numerous breeding species in the wood, but numbers fell significantly from July onwards. Although a few birds remain in the locality over winter, the species was recorded only once in the wood during the winter (on 28 February 2012). In comparison with its present status, historical counts appear to be relatively low – usually in single figures.
Brambling: their numbers vary greatly from winter to winter. During this survey they were present in winters 2010/11 and 2011/12, but not in 2012/13 or 2013/14, with a maximum of 22
108 birds on 21 December 2011. Historically, the largest sightings in Haugh Wood were of circa 100 birds on 22 December 1997 followed by circa 80 birds on 8 February 1998.
Bullfinch: a common breeding species, limited in numbers but present throughout the year. Numbers were notably high (usually in double figures) during winter 2011/12.
Buzzard: this species was seen in the wood throughout the year, either perching or flying overhead and was easily the most regularly recorded raptor. The present day frequency of Buzzard sightings may reflect a significant and favourable change, as count records were surprisingly sparse prior to 1993.
Chiffchaff: an abundant, breeding summer visitor present continuously from mid-March until mid-October. It was the most numerous of the summer visitors, although counts were sometimes exceeded by those of Blackcap. A few birds overwinter in the locality, but the 2010 – 2014 survey produced no winter records in Haugh Wood.
Common Crossbill: they make irregular migratory movements and their numbers in Haugh Wood were subject to substantial fluctuations. There were lengthy periods when they appeared to be absent from the wood – for example, the first and second quarters of 2013 and the second and third quarters of 2014 – and it was not until April 2012 that the survey found proof of successful breeding.
Cuckoo: the only 2010 – 2014 survey records were of two together on 22 May 2012 and of one on 23 April 2014. The two birds were in an area of establishment phase plantation with some scattered trees surviving from the felling. It was interesting to note historically that during 1982–94 there were “regular spring records”.
Garden Warbler: a summer visitor that breeds in the wood and was recorded in modest numbers on nearly all visits during the late April to late June breeding period, after which it became more difficult to observe.
Goldfinch: probably a regular breeder in the wood and seen on 62% of visits with no obvious seasonal variation or pattern. The status of this species appears to have improved, as the HOC 1982–94 report describes it as “infrequent”.
Grasshopper Warbler: recorded on only two survey visits – on 23 April 2012 and 16 April 2014. On both occasions it was ‘reeling’ from scrubby areas in the southern half of the wood.
Green Woodpecker: recorded on 34% of visits, but usually as one or two birds and mostly on the south-facing slopes in the southern half of the wood.
Jay: a regular breeding resident of the wood recorded on nearly every visit. They were well distributed throughout the wood and most counts were in the range one to 10 birds. There appears to have been a notable influx at the beginning of October 2012 when all counts were in double figures.
Kestrel: seen in the wood on only two occasions as single birds on 14 June 2011 and 6 January 2012.
Kingfisher: they occasionally ventured up the Pentaloe stream and Checkley Brook with occurrences mainly in late summer.
109 Lesser Redpoll: this species maintained a variable presence during the autumn, winter and spring, but was barely present at all in the summer. Maximum counts declined year by year during this survey, as did frequency of sightings.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker: this resident was present in limited numbers and probably breeds regularly in the wood. It was recorded on 13% of visits with most sightings in the spring and late summer/early autumn periods. They occurred in all four quadrants of the wood, but one or two areas appear to be favoured.
Marsh Tit: breeds in the wood in small numbers and was seen on 59% of visits, at all times of year and in all sectors of the wood. Mick Colquhoun Mick
Melodious Warbler: there was one record of this rarity in the wood in 2010 (2nd county record). It sang vigorously from a small territory containing an open area of rank ground vegetation, scrub and mixed trees on the west side of the wood between 22 June and 2 July.
Mistle Thrush: breeds regularly in various parts of the wood, although in smaller numbers than Song Thrush. Numbers and frequency appeared to decline during the survey period.
Nuthatch: this species appears to be more numerous now than it was during the 1959–81 period, when it was reported to be present on only 50% of the twice-yearly counts.
Peregrine: recorded on only one survey visit to the wood, but seen over the northern part of the wood on two other occasions.
Raven: recorded on 75% of visits and at all times of year. Sightings were usually of one to four birds and there was observed (successful) nesting on the north-west side of the wood. With the lack of reference to Ravens in the earlier HOC count reports, it is concluded that this species was less frequently encountered during 1959 – 1994.
110 Red Kite: this species was recorded only twice – on 21 April 2011 and 28 May 2012. On both occasions a single bird was flying fairly low over both the wood and adjacent farmland, seemingly in hunting mode. Red Kites were not mentioned in the earlier HOC survey reports.
Siskin: present all the year round and observed on 69% of visits. After breeding it forms flocks and numbers tend to be highest in the autumn and early winter – the highest count was of 80 birds on 2 December 2013. Despite the occurrence of some big flocks in the past, their present status in the wood appears to be relatively good and the habitat most suitable.
Sparrowhawk: there were occasional sightings of this species (5% of visits) and at least one pair nested in the wood in 2010 and 2011. During the historical surveys, Sparrowhawks were recorded here on 20% of counts during 1959–81, mainly in the spring, but then not at all during the following ten years (1982–91), although they again appeared in three counts during 1992–94.
Spotted Flycatcher: a late-arriving migrant seen in the wood between May and September. During each of the first two survey years, 2011 and 2012, they were recorded on 40 – 45% of visits, but this reduced to 21% in 2013 and 32% in 2014. Because numbers have been in national decline in recent years, it is surprising that there was no historical mention of this species in the two HOC reports covering the period 1959 – 1994.
Starling: not recorded during any survey visits to the wood. They were present in the wider locality but probably in reduced numbers, reflecting their national decline. Historically, this species was present in about a quarter of the counts during the period 1982–94, the highest counts being 51 birds (in autumn 1984 and 1992).
Tawny Owl: one or two birds were seen or heard in various parts of the wood on 6% of visits. But, bearing in mind that the systematic survey visits all took place in the day time, this was no doubt an inadequate indication of their presence and numbers. In the early spring of 2011 and 2012, a single bird occasionally roosted at a nestbox on the northern side of the wood.
Tree Pipit: this summer migrant was recorded on most visits from mid-April to early August up until 2013, but 2014 was a poor year with only a single record. In 2011 and 2012, two territories were established by singing males, both in establishment phase plantation. Casual records indicated more substantial numbers in earlier years (pre-1990).
Treecreeper: recorded on 36% of visits, with usually one to three birds counted and a maximum count of seven birds in spring 2014.
Whitethroat: surprisingly few records during the survey with most in 2012, involving only one or two birds.
Willow Warbler: observed on all visits from its arrival in April through to the end of August. Maximum counts ranged from 13 in 2011 to 20 in 2014. The birds were present in all quadrants of the wood, with preferred areas being scrub and young (late establishment phase) plantations. There can be little doubt that numbers of this warbler were markedly lower than in the earlier HOC surveys.
Wood Warbler: this summer migrant visits the wood in very limited numbers, but was seen in three of the four summers of the survey. In 2012 it was noted on seven visits, with a maximum of four birds on 8 May singing in different parts of the wood.
111 Woodcock: on some supplementary evening visits to various parts of the wood during the breeding season, several birds were seen ‘roding’. However, on the systematic survey visits they were recorded on only 10 occasions.
Conclusions
A total of 95 bird species have been reported at Haugh Wood. This is an impressive total for a woodland containing little water or wetland habitat. However, it cannot be concluded that all these species made use of the woodland habitat. A total of 72 species were recorded in the wood during the 2010 – 2014 survey.
The full report outlines how, where, when and in what numbers each species was observed making use of the woodland habitat. It provides a context for considering the interest of individual bird sightings at Haugh Wood. It also highlights some changes in the status of species that have taken place here over the last 60 years or so. Of course these changes reflect wider changes in populations and geographical ranges of species, as well as changes in the composition and management of the wood itself.
References
HOC (1981). Report on the Status of Birds in Haugh Wood, Autumn 1959 – Autumn 1981 (I. Preece). Herefordshire Ornithological Club Annual Report 1981, pp. 12 – 16.
HOC (1994). Report on the Status of Birds in Haugh Wood, Spring 1982 – Autumn 1994 (P.J. Eldridge). Herefordshire Ornithological Club Annual Report 1994, pp. 163 – 169.
For those interested in further reading, an electronic copy of the full 30-page report can be obtained from HOC.
Graham Cundale
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112 Winter thrushes survey in Herefordshire, 2012 – 2014
The Winter Thrushes Survey was a national survey organised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) which ran for the two winters of 2012/13 and 2013/14. The survey periods for both winters were from mid-September to mid-April and were comprised of two parts:-
• “Core” surveys (to be carried out between 27 Dec and 10 Jan) based on pre-selected, random 1-km squares, and
• “Winter walk” surveys based on surveyor-selected 1-km squares which could be made whenever and as often as surveyors wished.
Survey methods were the same in both cases and surveyors were asked to record the number, location, activity and food being taken (if any) of any thrush species seen, these being: Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Redwing and Fieldfare. Ring Ouzel was also on the list (although not really relevant to Herefordshire!) and optionally, Starling and Waxwing.
Much is already known about the distribution, population size and movement of the five major thrush species, so the aim of this survey was to discover more about the following:-
• How does thrushes’ use of habitats (including gardens) vary, by species, geographically and through the winter?
• How do feeding behaviours vary, again by species, geographically and through the winter?
• What is the relative importance overall of key habitats, such as farmland, gardens and orchards and of the various feeding resources?
• In what ways do thrush numbers, distribution and feeding behaviour differ between successive winters?
At the time of writing, a full national analysis has not been completed, but some findings from the first year may be found on the BTO website at http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/winter- thrushes/results and there is a preliminary report in BTO News 317, Nov – Dec 2015 (BTO, 2015).
Over 4,000 different survey areas were surveyed nationally, so the relatively few covered in Herefordshire do not provide a sufficiently large set of data to be able to draw any county-specific conclusions with any degree of reliability. Despite some fairly lengthy analysis of the Herefordshire data by the author, it has not been possible to answer the above questions in any great detail. This report is therefore somewhat brief and ‘top level’ in nature.
Survey coverage and overall results
Nineteen surveyors took part in Herefordshire covering 38 squares over the two years (31 in the first and 35 in the second). These surveyors gathered 1,597 records in 2012/13 and 1,461 records 2013/14, a ‘record’ being defined as a sighting of one or more birds of the same species in one group. This could therefore be anything from a lone Mistle Thrush to a flock of 300 Fieldfare.
113 The tables below show the number of records of each species (Table 1) and the number of birds counted in each year (Table 2):
Table 1: Number of records by species by year
Year Blackbird Fieldfare Mistle Redwing Song Starling Waxwing Thrush Thrush 2012/13 1,004 258 49 112 96 77 1 2013/14 893 230 60 133 80 64 1 Total 1,897 488 109 245 176 141 2
Table 2: Number of birds by species by year
Year Blackbird Fieldfare Mistle Redwing Song Starling Waxwing Thrush Thrush 2012/13 2,452 8,929 67 1,853 114 2,065 8 2013/14 1,385 6,833 90 1,783 99 1,740 10 Total 3,837 15,762 157 3,636 213 3,805 18
Comparing the two tables shows the differences in nature (flocking or solitary) of each species with average flock sizes of 32 for Fieldfare, 27 for Starling and 15 for Redwing.
From Table 2 it would appear that, with the exception of Mistle Thrush, numbers of birds during the second survey season were significantly lower than in the first, but when viewing this table it should be borne in mind that the counts take no account of the actual number of survey visits undertaken in each season. However, once these are taken into account (146 visits in 2012/13 and 164 visits 2013/14), these declines are actually even more pronounced. A possible explanation for this may be the difference in weather between the two winters – 2012/13 was very close to the 30-year average for temperature, rainfall and sunshine, whereas 2013/14 was excessively wet (165% of the 30-year average rainfall) and stormy with widespread flooding, a factor which may not only have affected the birds but the surveyors as well!
Food preferences
For more than two-thirds of all records, surveyors were unable to record what food was being taken, either because the bird was not feeding or because it was impossible to ascertain. The author on his surveys frequently encountered such situations and undoubtedly this would have been a common experience among other surveyors too. Typical scenarios included flocks of Redwings or Fieldfares “resting” in treetops and Blackbirds or Song Thrushes disturbed from hedgerows before food type (if any) could be seen. Figure 1 below shows the distribution of food type by species.
114 250
200
Blackbird 150 Fieldfare
100 Mistle No. of of records No. Thrush Redwing
50 Song Thrush
Starling 0 Cotoneaster Other berries Other Yew Rowan Bramble Hawthorn Holly Pear Rosehips Apple Earthworms Provided food Other fruitOther Other invertebrates Elder Guelder rose Ivy Sloe/blackthorn Snails
Figure 1: Winter thrush food preferences by type and species
The difficulty of accurately assessing food type is clearly seen from this chart. The easiest and most predominant records were of ground feeding birds, with hawthorn being the most common hedgerow forage. Note also that, of the 770 records where food type was recorded, 58% were for Blackbirds, with this species having the majority of records for all food types, the only exception being apples, where Fieldfare predominated (just) – a reflection of the number of orchards in the county and a probable explanation for the high abundance of this species in Herefordshire (Davies et al., 2014).
Habitat preferences
Of the 10 types of habitat which were listed on the survey form, one (coastal habitats) was not relevant to Herefordshire and two more (brownfield sites and moorland/heath) provided too few records to be meaningful. Figure 2 below shows the relative usage between species for the remaining seven. Note that the vertical axis has been plotted on a logarithmic scale to reduce the variation in bar size caused by the large difference in record numbers between species.
115 1000
100 Blackbird Fieldfare
No. of of records No. 10 Mistle Thrush Redwing Song Thrush
1 Starling Woodland Orchard Cropped farmland Cropped Private gardens Open parkland Open Amenity landAmenity Pastoral land
Figure 2: Habitat preference by species
Once again Blackbirds provided the majority of records in all habitats, except orchards where Fieldfare was just predominant. Because of the log scale used, the chart perhaps gives a somewhat distorted picture of habitat usage by different species. In some cases record numbers varied by an order of magnitude and the small sample size for some of the counts, particularly for Song and Mistle Thrush, may not make comparison by species at the habitat level statistically reliable. However, habitat comparisons for the two migrant species, both clearly show preference for farmland or orchard, whereas the other thrush species appear more catholic in their choice.
Variation in food preference throughout winter
Various attempts were made by the author to demonstrate variations in food preferences but these were somewhat limited by the small size of the dataset. Any results that did emerge were largely predictable, for example, 90% of records of birds eating apples occurred before mid-January with an even higher proportion (96%) for those eating berries from hawthorn – no great surprise to know that these are a limited resource and that earthworms and other invertebrates take their place as winter progresses. Figure 3 shows these trends for Fieldfare over the first winter period, this species and time period being chosen as it most clearly illustrated the point, although similar patterns are apparent for Redwing and Blackbird. Data for Mistle and Song Thrushes were too few to provide reliable analysis.
116
400
350
300
250 Apple 200 Hawthorn 150
Highest weekly count 100 Earthworms or Invertebrates 50
0 Feb 2013 Feb Jan 2013 Jan Oct 2012 Oct Mar 2013 Mar Nov 2012 Nov Dec 2012 Dec Apr 2013 Apr
Figure 3: Changes in food preference of Fieldfare during first winter period
Variations in numbers over the winter
Maximum counts of both Mistle and Song Thrush varied hardly at all, only reaching double figures on three occasions making it difficult to assess any trend. However it may be instructive
14
12
10
8
6
Max weekly count 4
2
0 Mar 2013 Mar Mar 2014 Mar Nov 2012 Nov Nov 2013 Nov Sep 2013 Sep Dec 2012 Dec Dec 2013 Dec Apr 2013 Apr Apr 2014 Apr Feb 2013 Feb Feb 2014 Feb Jan 2014 Jan Jan 2013 Jan Oct 2012 Oct Oct 2013 Oct
Figure 4: Weekly variation in maximum counts of Song Thrush
117 to examine the weekly variation in Song Thrush numbers (Figure 4) as it may give a clue as to why numbers of records for this species were relatively few. Although slight, counts in both winters show some rise around January/February. Could this be due to increased detectability as birds start to sing?
Blackbird counts varied widely with one extreme example being an estimate of 400 in an orchard near Ledbury. That record is not included in Figure 5 below in order to hide its effect on this variation but it would appear that Blackbirds were considerably less numerous during the second winter.
80
70
60
50
40
30 Max weekly count 20
10
0 Feb 2013 Feb 2014 Feb Jan 2013 Jan 2014 Jan Oct 2012 Oct 2013 Oct Mar 2013 Mar 2014 Mar Nov 2012 Nov 2013 Nov Sep 2013 Sep Dec 2012 Dec 2013 Dec Apr 2013 Apr 2014 Apr
Figure 5: Weekly variation in maximum counts of Blackbird
Figure 5 is effectively just a graphical interpretation of the data presented in Table 2 but, whereas the numbers of Blackbirds dropped by 50% (adjusted for variation in number of visits) between the two winters, it is puzzling to see that the year effect for the other species was significantly less. Possibly the low counts in the early part of 2013/14 provides some explanation. That winter, as well as being excessively wet and stormy was also extremely mild, which may have delayed or inhibited seasonal influxes. A weak but similar trend can be seen for Fieldfare (Figure 6 below), but not Redwing, so this explanation may not hold for the migrational thrushes and other factors are probably involved. However the mid-December peak of 1,000 birds could possibly indicate a storm-driven influx.
118 1200
1000
800
600
400 Max weekly count
200
0 Mar 2013 Mar Mar 2014 Mar Nov 2012 Nov Nov 2013 Nov Sep 2013 Sep Dec 2012 Dec Dec 2013 Dec Apr 2013 Apr Apr 2014 Apr Feb 2013 Feb Feb 2014 Feb Jan 2014 Jan Jan 2013 Jan Oct 2012 Oct Oct 2013 Oct
Figure 6: Weekly variation in maximum counts of Fieldfare
References:
BTO (2015). Winter wanderers: an update on findings from the Winter Thrushes Survey. BTO News, 317: 12–14.
Davies, M., Eldridge, P., Robinson, C., Smith, N. & Wells, G. (eds) (2014). The Birds of Herefordshire 2007 – 2012: an Atlas of their breeding and wintering distributions. Liverpool University Press.
Chris Robinson
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119 Bird ringing in Herefordshire 2014
This is a summary of birds ringed in Herefordshire in 2014, together with brief details of significant recoveries of birds previously ringed in the county and of ‘controls’ in Herefordshire of birds ringed outside its borders. Ringing provides information essential to science, conservation and government on bird movements, migration, survival, longevity, breeding success and habitat use, among other aspects. More details on the Ringing Scheme, its objectives, methods and results can be found on the British Trust for Ornithology website at http://www.bto.org (look under ‘Volunteer Surveys’ or ‘Core Surveys’). Ringing totals
Species Pulli Juv. Adult Not 2014 Retrap. Recov. aged total Mute Swan 3 Red Kite 1 Goshawk 10 10 Sparrowhawk 1 1 2 Buzzard 6 6 Black-headed Gull 1 Stock Dove 9 9 Woodpigeon 2 2 Collared Dove 4 4 Cuckoo 2 2 Tawny Owl 12 1 13 Kingfisher 4 4 Green Woodpecker 1 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 13 11 1 25 27 Hobby 2 2 Magpie 6 3 4 13 2 Jay 3 9 12 2 Jackdaw 8 2 10 Carrion Crow 6 1 7 Goldcrest 18 16 9 43 11 Blue Tit 752 415 304 2 1,473 337 3 Great Tit 297 204 141 1 643 267 2 Coal Tit 8 10 22 1 41 18 2 Marsh Tit 8 4 6 2 20 12 Sand Martin 15 44 59 6 2 Swallow 51 1 7 59 1 Long-tailed Tit 61 26 64 151 60
120 Species Pulli Juv. Adult Not 2014 Retrap. Recov. aged total Wood Warbler 2 2 Chiffchaff 10 182 75 267 20 2 Willow Warbler 21 8 29 4 Blackcap 5 109 59 173 11 Garden Warbler 4 2 6 12 3 Lesser Whitethroat 2 2 Whitethroat 1 1 Sedge Warbler 4 4 Reed Warbler 39 6 1 46 9 2 Nuthatch 41 5 5 51 21 Treecreeper 13 14 2 29 28 Wren 4 49 17 1 71 32 1 Starling 4 4 1 Dipper 125 5 8 138 13 4 Blackbird 26 112 134 272 132 Fieldfare 4 4 Song Thrush 24 30 22 76 7 Redwing 2 4 6 Mistle Thrush 1 4 9 14 8 Spotted Flycatcher 4 2 6 1 Robin 30 216 117 363 151 2 Pied Flycatcher 589 87 676 51 11 Redstart 39 5 40 84 28 2 Dunnock 13 42 29 84 38 House Sparrow 16 12 2 30 3 Grey Wagtail 22 1 23 Pied/White Wagtail 16 1 2 19 Meadow Pipit 1 1 Chaffinch 14 22 46 82 20 Bullfinch 22 17 39 9 1 Greenfinch 5 1 10 16 1 Linnet 4 4 Lesser Redpoll 5 25 30 4 4 Goldfinch 15 3 78 96 3 Siskin 48 48 3 4 Reed Bunting 2 5 7 1 Grand Total (63 species) 2,172 1,663 1,494 91 5,420 1,344 48
121 ‘Pulli’ are birds ringed as nestlings; Juveniles (‘Juv.’) are those identified as being in their first calendar year, whereas ‘Adult’ are birds in their second or later calendar year; birds of some species cannot be aged in this way, and are listed separately (‘Not aged’). ‘Retrap.’ are birds recaptured (for most species) within 5 km of the place of ringing; Recoveries (‘Recov.’) are birds found dead, or found alive away from the place of ringing.
The overall ringing total for the county is somewhat lower (-10%) than for 2013. A major part of this seems attributable to a marked reduction in the number of Siskins ringed, from 571 to 48 – as noted last year, Siskin is a very itinerant species.
When the BTO released these 2014 data, they also updated the division of the country into reporting areas, with the result that Herefordshire is finally separated from Worcestershire! This has significantly eased preparation of this report and the provision of reliable figures. My thanks to all county ringers who contributed their individual ringing totals for earlier reports. Additional data can now be provided on numbers of birds subsequently recaptured or recovered – see the two right-hand columns. Comparable totals for other areas, and for the whole country, for recent years, are available on the BTO website at: http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/ ringing/publications/online-ringing-reports.
BTO monitoring schemes
CES: Part of this ringing has previously been undertaken at Much Marcle as part of the BTO’s Constant Effort Sites (CES) Scheme to provide data on changes in population size and breeding success and on adult survival rates for 24 species of common songbird. The annual catching effort from May to August is kept constant at a CES, so variations in numbers of birds caught should relate to actual changes in the avian population. As explained below, Much Marcle is not currently a formal CES.
RAS: Some ringing of Pied Flycatchers formed part of the BTO’s Retrapping Adults for Survival (RAS) Project, for estimating survival of species that cannot be monitored so effectively by other ringing projects, such as CES.
More details and national results of both these on-going surveys can be found on the BTO website (http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/ringing/surveys/ces and http://www.bto.org/volunteer- surveys/ringing/surveys/ras), and in particular in the BTO magazine ‘Life Cycle’, available for download on the website.
NRS: The ringing of nestlings often also generates complete nest histories which are submitted to the BTO’s Nest Record Scheme, enabling monitoring of nest success and productivity of nesting birds – see http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/nrs and ‘Life Cycle’.
The 2014 season (summarised from Life Cycle)
After two challenging seasons, the settled weather that most of Britain & Ireland experienced in 2014 was a welcome change for CES ringers and nest recorders alike. The year started badly, with flooding experienced across much of the UK thanks to winter rainfall totals that were more than double the average for the preceding five years. However, by March things had dried up and temperatures were a degree or two above the five-year average. The warm weather continued into late summer and, after a wet May, the June and July rainfall totals fell well below mean values.
122 However, this good news was set against a backdrop of disastrous breeding seasons in 2012 and 2013, the consequences of which were apparent from the outset. CES results indicate that numbers of migratory species returning to breed in 2014 were low, with four of the long-distance migrants monitored (Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler) displaying a statistically significant decrease in abundance; fewer Sedge and Willow Warblers were caught than in any year since CES began in 1983. Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat also showed a decline, though not statistically significant. Willow Warbler was the only species to exhibit a significant decrease in adult survival rates, suggesting that the fall in numbers was primarily due to a lack of recruitment.
Blackcap and Chiffchaff, short-distance migrants that typically winter around the Mediterranean basin and into North Africa, displayed opposing trends. While Blackcap mirrored the drop in numbers exhibited by long-distance migrants, Chiffchaff abundance was significantly higher than average. The long-term trends (1983 – 2014) indicate that all six long-distance migrants monitored through CES are declining, while Blackcap and Chiffchaff numbers have increased by more than 50%. Common Bird Census (CBC) and Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) results for Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat and Garden Warbler correlate strongly with the CES results, but both Whitethroat and Reed Warbler are exhibiting opposite trends, possibly due to range changes and/or differential habitat sampling.
Migrant RAS species exhibited mixed fortunes in 2014. House Martin continued to demonstrate a decline in survival rates, but results for Pied Flycatcher, Sand Martin and Swallow were more positive, with Sand Martin in particular exhibiting another sharp increase. The RAS survival rates for Sand Martin and Swallow are currently as high as they have been since the start of their respective RAS periods (1990 and 1998 respectively).
Summary of Much Marcle results
Since 1995 a Constant Effort Site has been operated at Much Marcle, courtesy of Westons Cider. Maintaining a stable CES is often a battle against habitat progression, and we are currently losing that battle: a significant pathway through a reed bed, where several mist nets are located and we catch a major proportion of warblers, deteriorated to the extent of being unsafe to use. We therefore had to rearrange the layout of nets so much that the “effort” could no longer be described as constant, and for the time being the site is no longer a formal CES. However, new holding ponds have been constructed and planted with reeds, and we are hopeful that new, stable net sites will develop over the next year or so. Accordingly we have continued ringing at the site, to maintain the momentum until a CES can operate there again.
At Much Marcle, a total of 570 individual birds were captured in 2014, of 26 different species. Of these, 513 birds were unringed when caught, while 52 were recaptures of birds ringed at the site in earlier years and five were birds that were originally ringed elsewhere. In addition, during the year there were 75 other recaptures of some of these 570 birds, giving a grand total of 645 bird records for the year. These figures are much lower than the corresponding totals for 2013 (808 individual birds plus 255 additional recaptures and a total of 1063 records). This mostly reflects the habitat changes at the site discussed above, and the consequent need to use less optimal mist netting sites.
123 Noteworthy points included:
• Despite the use of less effective net sites and the overall reduction in total birds handled, some warbler totals were noticeably higher. Willow Warbler did relatively well, with 20 individuals this year compared to nine in 2013 (but 113 in 2012). For Chiffchaff, 135 individuals were caught, of which only one was re-caught from an earlier year, and 124 of the 135 were birds hatched in 2014. Blackcaps increased to 61 birds (52 in 2013). Not surprisingly Reed Warbler numbers fell from 110 individuals to 52, as this species stays very much among the reeds, where we could not catch so effectively.
• Amongst the resident species, there were 26 Wrens compared to 21 in 2013. • On a brighter note, we caught two Kingfishers and our 12th Grey Wagtail.
Recoveries and controls
This section gives details of birds ringed or subsequently encountered in Herefordshire and felt to be of particular interest. In the interests of brevity only selected records are included here. Many more recovery summaries are available on-line at the website given above for ringing totals. Summary information for the whole of the country is also given in the annual report on Bird Ringing in Britain and Ireland included in the journal Ringing & Migration (BTO).
The recoveries are arranged by species, with the ringing information on the first line and one or more subsequent recoveries below. The symbols and conventions used are as follows:
(i) Age when ringed (and when recaptured if still alive); mostly determined by examination of condition and pattern of plumage:
• Nestling: ringed as a chick, typically in or close to the nest (Euring age code 1)
• Juv.: caught in year of hatching, ‘post-juvenile’ moult incomplete (Euring age code 3J)
• 1st-yr: caught in year of hatching, after post-juvenile moult (Euring age code 3)
• F-grown: full-grown: year of hatching not determined (Euring age code 2)
• 2nd-yr: caught in the calendar year after the year of hatching (Euring age code 5)
• Adult: caught after the year of hatching (Euring age codes 4, 6, 8, etc.)
(ii) Sex: M = Male, F = Female
(iii) Circumstances of recovery: mostly self-explanatory, but in particular:
• Ct. alive: caught and released by a ringer, some distance from the site of ringing
• Recap’d: caught and released by a ringer at or close to the site of ringing
• Fnd. Dead: freshly dead
• Read in field: ring read in the field (e.g. with binoculars or telescope)
124 For recoveries involving movement over a significant distance, details are given of the time elapsed in days between ringing and recovery, the distance between ringing and recovery site and the compass bearing of the recovery site from the ringing site. Elapsed time is stated as calendar years, months and days, for ease of reading, these years may contain 365 or 366 days (leap years), which should be borne in mind when making precise age comparisons.
‘Much Marcle’ refers to the CES discussed above, at grid reference SO6533. ‘Glos.’ is used as an abbreviation for Gloucestershire.
Mute Swan W16565 Adult M 29-04-2007 River Lugg, Leominster Fnd. Dead 27-11-2014 Tasley, near Bridgnorth, 7y 6m 29d 40 km NNE (disease) Shropshire
Canada Goose 5272905 Adult M 28-06-2014 Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria Alive (colour 09-10-2014 Barnfields, near 0y 3m 11d 256 km S rings seen) (& 10-10) Swainshill 5274032 Adult F 28-06-2014 Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria Alive (colour 09-10-2014 Barnfields, near 0y 3m 11d 256 km S rings seen) Swainshill
Red Kite GR47538 Nestling 02-07-2013 Confidential site, near Kingsland Alive (wing- 12-03-2014 Cefn Coch, Llanfair 0y 8m 10d 57 km NW tag seen) Caereinion, Powys
Black-headed Gull EN82043 1st-yr 15-02-1986 Stretton Sugwas landfill Read in 09-06-2014 Hallig-Norderoog, 28y 3m 25d 799 km ENE field North Frisian Islands, Wadden Sea, Germany
Blue Tit L518471 Juv. 25-09-2010 Much Marcle Recaptured three times in 2011, not encountered in following two years, but most recently: Recap’d: F 15-10-2014 Much Marcle
125 Great Tit X258690 1st-yr: M 13-09-2009 Queenswood, Hope under Dinmore Recaptured at Queenswood in 2010 (twice), 2011 and 2013, and most recently: Recap’d 13-12-2014 Queenswood, Hope 5y 3m 0d under Dinmore
Sand Martin V824387 Adult: M 01-07-2008 Backney Common Recaptured at Backney Common in 2009 and 2010, and most recently: Recap’d 20-07-2014 Backney 6y 0m 19d X698678 Adult: F 21-06-2009 Backney Common Recap’d 11-08-2013 Backney Recap’d 20-07-2014 Backney 5y 0m 29d Y350098 1st-yr 09-09-2012 Hengistbury Head Centre, Bournemouth, Dorset Ct. alive 20-07-2014 Backney 1y 10m 11d 148 km NNW Y947563 1st-yr 07-08-2013 Pett Level, East Sussex Ct. alive 20-07-2014 Backney 0y 11m 13d 255 km WNW Y950016 1st-yr 25-08-2013 Pett Level, East Sussex Ct. alive 20-07-2014 Backney 0y 10m 25d 255 km WNW Paris Adult: F 04-08-2012 Hiers-Brouage, 2J0740 Charente-Maritime, France Ct. alive 20-07-2014 Backney 1y 11m 16d 686 km N D251649 Juv. 02-08-2013 Backney Ct. alive 08-08-2014 Hiers-Brouage, 1y 0m 6d 686 km S Charente-Maritime, France
A ringing session at a Sand Martin colony at Backney in July 2014 was very productive! X698678, featured in the 2013 report, was encountered again; V824387 was caught for a fourth year; three birds ringed in Dorset and East Sussex were caught and a French-ringed bird was encountered. Finally, another bird ringed at Backney in 2013 was caught in the same French department in 2014.
126 Swallow D301203 Adult: F 13-07-2013 Foy, near Ross-on-Wye Recap’d 18-07-2014 Foy, near Ross-on-Wye 1y 0m 5d 0 km
On the face of it, nothing remarkable – caught in the same place as it was ringed the year before. Except, of course, we know from other ring recoveries that this bird flew to South Africa and back between the two encounters.
Chiffchaff EVC461 Adult 29-09-2014 Bodenham Lake Nature Reserve Ct. alive 17-10-2014 Southampton Common, 0y 0m 18d 164 km SSE Southampton
Obviously, this Chiffchaff was beginning its migration to Africa for the winter.
Reed Warbler D089556 1st-yr 01-09-2012 Much Marcle Ct. alive 15-08-2014 Fleetwood, Lancashire 1y 11m 14d 214 km N Z065835 Not aged 13-07-2014 Much Marcle Ct. alive 11-09-2014 Mata Nacional Do 0y 1m 29d 1,386 km SSW Choupal, Coimbra, Portugal
Dipper RF54169 Nestling: F 28-05-2009 Llanwonog, near Longtown Ct. alive 11-09-2009 Llanwonog 0y 3m 14d Ct. alive 02-05-2013 Olchon, Longtown 3y 11m 4d 2 km Ct. alive 11-06-2014 Olchon Brook, 5y 0m 14d Penrhewy & Pontynys
Blackbird CW95364 2nd yr: M 25-06-2006 Much Marcle Recap’d 28-05-2011 Much Marcle 4y 11m 3d Recap’d 15-06-2014 Much Marcle 7y 11m 21d LB61379 Juv. M 04-07-2009 Much Marcle Caught at the site in 2011 and 2013, and most recently: Ct. alive 15-06-2014 Much Marcle 4y 11m 11d
127 Spotted Flycatcher Y500873 Juv. 01-08-2012 Much Marcle Recap’d 29-06-2014 Much Marcle 1y 10m 28d
We catch comparatively few Spotted Flycatchers, so any encounter is pleasing, this one especially so, as it was a recapture of a bird first ringed at the site two years previously when it had recently fledged.
Robin L049281 Adult: M 12-06-2010 Much Marcle Recap’d 21-07-2013 Much Marcle Recap’d 08-06-2014 Much Marcle 3y 11m 27d
Pied Flycatcher L651199 Nestling 28-05-2011 Wigmore Rolls Ct. alive: F 11-06-2014 Paradise Farm, 3y 0m 14d 11 km WSW Presteigne, Powys R560370 Nestling 07-06-2012 Nagshead, Glos. Ct. alive: F 15-06-2014 Leeping Stocks, Doward 2y 0m 8d 10 km NW T613666 Nestling 03-06-2010 Court Wood, Bredwardine Recaptured subsequently at Mary Knoll, near Ludlow (34 km NNE): in box 76 in 2011 and box 89 in 2013, but most recently: Ct. alive:F 30-05-2014 Paradise Farm, 3y 11m 27d 20 km N Presteigne, Powys V202887 Nestling 30-05-2009 Bryn, Longtown Recap’d: M 09-06-2014 Bryn, Longtown 5y 0m 10d X760243 Nestling 31-05-2010 Paradise Farm, Presteigne, Powys Ct. alive: F 09-05-2014 Woodhampton Wood, 3y 11m 9d 11 km ENE near Wigmore X760302 Nestling 03-06-2010 Crow Wood (box 2) Recap’d: F 17-05-2014 Crow Wood (box 22) 3y 11m 14d X760411 2nd-yr: M 14-06-2010 Whitney Court (box 31) Recaptured subsequently at Whitney Sawmills: in box Q in both 2011 and 2012, in box R in 2013, and most recently on 31-05-2014 in box X, 3y 11m 17d after ringing.
128 Y148001 Nestling 06-06-2011 Near Rhos-y-Meirch, Knighton, Powys
Caught alive at Mansel Lacy: in box 47 in 2012 and box 17 in 2013, and most recently:
Ct. alive: F 20-05-2014 Mansel Lacy (box 49A) 2y 11m 14d 29 km SSE
Y190210 Nestling 12-06-2012 Mansel Lacy
Ct. alive: M 28-05-2014 Moccas, Bredwardine 1y 11m 16d 9 km WSW
Y190646 Nestling 09-06-2013 Mansel Lacy
Ct. alive: M 05-06-2014 Paradise Farm, 0y 11m 27d 23 km NW Presteigne, Powys
Y190662 Nestling 09-06-2013 Mansel Lacy
Ct. alive: F 09-06-2014 Bryn, Longtown 1y 0m 0d 19 km SSW
Y190703 Nestling 12-06-2013 Paradise Farm, Presteigne, Powys
Ct. alive: F 20-06-2014 Wellington Wood 1y 0m 8d 23 km SE
Y613271 Nestling 14-06-2013 Badger Moor, near Newcastle, Shropshire
Ct. alive: F 14-06-2014 Mary Knoll, near 1y 0m 0d 31 km ESE Ludlow
Multiple examples here of birds beginning their breeding efforts at a site other than their natal site; if they breed successfully at the first attempt they tend to return to that same site in later years. In 2014 there was a hint of some increase in the Pied Flycatcher population. Several sites had good numbers of breeding pairs and, for example, a pair bred at Leeping Stocks for the first time in several years (see R560370 above). T613666 moved to a different site, possibly to evade the author of this report; it didn’t work – he rings at that site as well!
Chaffinch
Y896544 1st-yr: F 03-09-2012 Logie Hill, Ballchraggan, nr Kildary, Highland
Ct. alive 10-02-2014 Moccas 1y 5m 7d 636 km S
Hawfinch NW60845 Adult: M 11-04-2013 St Pierre Wood, Monmouthshire Sick 25-06-2014 Knill 1y 2m 14d 72 km NNW (disease)
129 Lesser Redpoll D862710 Adult: M 08-04-2014 Cradley Ct. alive 17-04-2014 Peck Farm, Devon 0y 0m 9d 192 km SSW
Siskin D156093 1st-yr: F 08-03-2013 Cradley Ct. alive 21-03-2014 near Kildary, Highland 1y 0m 13d 635 km N D156494 1st-yr: F 13-03-2013 Cradley Ct. alive 29-03-2014 Oxwich Marsh, Swansea 1y 0m 16d 135 km WSW D156718 Adult: F 06-04-2013 Cradley Ct. alive 01-04-2014 Stranraer, Dumfries & 0y 11m 26d 355 km NNW Galloway D511894 1st-yr: M 21-03-2014 Cradley Ct. alive 18-06-2014 Shebster, Highland 0y 2m 28d 720 km N Y079981 1st-yr: F 03-03-2013 Birchwood, Warrington Ct. alive 26-02-2014 Cradley 0y 11m 23d 147 km S
More examples of the well-known itinerant behaviour of this species, all movements taking place in less than a year.
Acknowledgements
The continuing efforts of all the ringers who operate in the county and contribute to this aspect of monitoring its birdlife are gratefully acknowledged. Thank you to those ringers who continue to send me details of interesting retraps and recoveries – these are welcome. If any reader is interested in participating in ringing activities in the county, please feel free to contact me ([email protected]).
David Coker
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130 Herefordshire Nestbox Recording Scheme 2014
Background
The Nestbox Recording Scheme (NRS) started when the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust (HWT) came into being in 1962 via the Woolhope Club. A member, Dr Charles Walker, with others set up the Trust – at first merged with Radnorshire. The logo adopted was the Pied Flycatcher as one aim was to erect nestboxes in suitable oak woodlands and so encourage Pied Flycatchers to move eastward from Wales.
In the following year, 60 nestboxes were made by pupils of Whitecross School under the supervision of Dr Walker. As this was before any reserves had been acquired by HWT, they were set up in promising hilly woodlands, such as Moccas, Mary Knoll and Shobdon. The first volunteer recorders were HOC members who had joined HWT and had the expertise. Therefore, some of the early woodlands have long-term records with equally long-term recorders and ringers, some of whom have been involved for 40 years and their dedication is much appreciated.
The duties of recorders are to maintain the boxes, provided by HWT, to clear them ready for occupation and, once nesting has started in April, to make as near weekly visits as possible, recording the species nesting, their eggs, hatching and fledging numbers which are passed on to the HWT Co-ordinator for collating. They also notify named ringers for certain species, such as Pied Flycatchers, Nuthatches and Redstarts.
Please contact Beryl Harding if you feel inspired to become a volunteer in the Nestbox Recording Scheme, as she is always looking for help with either existing locations or new sites. Her email address is: [email protected]
Overall results for 2014 compared with previous years
Results for the last 10 years are as follows:
2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 Sites recorded 23 26 26 26 29 30 29 33 30 27 Boxes available 731 741 805 820 818 939 961 943 983 825 Boxes used 447 453 478 521 510 508 519 639 578 510 % used 61.1 61.1 59.3 63.5 62.3 54.1 54.0 67.8 58.7 61.8
Compared with 2013, one site was no longer recorded as it was not very productive being in an orchard rather than in oak woodland. Another site had been changed but the new boxes were not ready in time, and one site had no recorder for this year but a new couple have kindly taken it on for 2015.
The take-up of the boxes available was the same as last year, despite the fact that the spring was not as cold as in 2013. Several Pied Flycatcher nests in 2014 were started but came to nothing.
131 Species results for 2014 compared with 2013:
Species Sites Nests Eggs Hatched Fledged % success 2014 2013 2014 2013 2014 2013 2014 2013 2014 2013 2014 2013 Pied 11 14 86 135 468 773 381 637 304 563 65.0 72.8 Flycatcher Blue Tit 23 26 194 209 1,545 1,474 1,247 1,140 936 1,019 60.6 69.1 Great Tit 22 26 140 98 896 719 749 579 639 489 71.3 68.0 Coal Tit 1 1 1 1 5 9 5 9 5 9 100.0 100.0 Marsh Tit 0 1 - 1 - 5 - 4 - 4 - 80.0 Tit species 3 0 6 - 49 - 31 - 15* - 30.6* - Nuthatch 5 5 13 11 78 70 66 56 55 30 70.5 42.8 Redstart 3 4 5 7 26 43 18* 32 14* 31 53.8* 72.1 Wren 1 0 2 - 9 - 3 - -* - -* - * Eggs were predated or the outcome was unclear from one or more nests
Most species got off to a fairly good start but then the cool wet weather later in May greatly affected hatchlings, so that parents were unable to feed them adequately and some abandoned the attempt to maintain the body warmth of the young and to keep up with food supplies, and also to avoid wetting the young and nests material on their return. Their food was also affected by the cool weather as invertebrate numbers dropped. Despite fewer sites taken up by Great Tits, they had a more successful year than most.
Comparative success rates in fledging for various species:
Species 2014 2013 2012 2011 Sites % Sites % Sites % Sites % success success success success Pied Flycatcher 11 65.0 14 72.8 9 63.7 11 65.2* Blue Tit 23 60.6 26 69.1 26 58.7 26 68.0* Great Tit 22 71.3 26 68.0 26 67.4 26 60.3* Marsh Tit 0 - 1 80.0 1 -* 1 62.5 Coal Tit 1 100.0 1 100.0 0 - 0 - Tit species 3 30.6* 0 - 0 - 0 - Nuthatch 5 70.5 5 42.8 9 41.5 8 81.5 Redstart 3 53.8* 4 72.1 2 100.0 3 63.1* Wren 1 -* 1 -* 1 58.3 0 - * Eggs were predated or the outcome was unclear from one or more nests
132 Pied Flycatcher results summary, 2000 – 2014
Year Sites Nests Eggs Fledged % success 2014 11 86 468 304 65.0 2013 14 135 773 563 72.8 2012 9 75 477 304 63.7 2011 11 87 543 354 65.2 2010 12 82 539 404 74.9 2009 13 93 525 353 67.2 2008 13 81 582 367 63.0 2007 12 107 636 263 41.4 2006 16 88 520 503 96.7 2005 14 85 574 423 73.7 2004 14 89 620 443 71.4 2003 14 109 708 376 53.1 2002 14 96 685 263 38.4 2000 24 140 669 494 73.8 [N.B. In 2001 there was no recording due to Foot & Mouth restrictions]
The average success rate over the 14 years has been 65.7%.
Males were heard calling and several nests started but not taken up, which may imply fewer females were available?
The best sites for Pied Flycatchers are unfortunately not within the HWT reserves, but those in more hilly areas, such as Mary Knoll, Moccas Park, Shobdon Hill, The Leathers at Aymestrey, Yatton Court and Whitney Court Wood with its accompanying Sawmills Wood. Together these sites had a total of 73 nests with 399 eggs and a 68% success rate this year. In the HWT reserves, there were only three sites with 12 nests, 63 eggs and a 46% success rate. It would be expected that the Doward reserves should provide suitable sites, but this does not seem to be the case.
General comments
In addition to the weather, predation posed another difficulty this year and was repeatedly reported by recorders. With the previous mild winter and a good crop of beech mast, the mouse population remained high. At the Whitney Court Wood site, the initial check of nest boxes in April revealed active mouse nests in several. Despite clearing these, usurpation and predation continued allowing only two successful Pied Flycatcher nests on this part of the estate. The problem of mouse predation also occurred at Brilley with the loss of all six eggs in one Great Tit nest, total egg loss in two Pied Flycatcher nests and in a Redstart nest. Mice usually attack nests at the egg stage, not the actual hatchlings. There were no reports of woodpecker damage attack
133 anywhere. At Nupend predation occurred in four nests when the hatchlings had nearly reached fledging stage. Human interference with two nest boxes did not help either.
At White Rocks, the Nuthatches laid fewer eggs this year and came through with better results than other sites. One nest was difficult to record as the outer mud seal made by the parents had to be broken, which the recorder feared may deter the parents from further activity, but it did not. Provided the inner mud seal is left, the birds do not seem to mind.
At Merryhill in Mansel Lacy, predation caused nine nests to fail. The results of some Wren nests were unclear as one built a second nest in the same box, but the three eggs failed, possibly predated, and the result of the first nest was not known. In a second box, a Wren made a second nest – possibly the first brood fledged, but the second clutch failed.
Three Treecreeper boxes have been erected where there is evidence of Treecreeper activity – one at Mary Knoll, one at Presteigne (outside our Nestbox Scheme but a productive site) and one last year at Mansel Lacy. They have a narrow slot on one side as an entrance. They were put up in April in the hope that the birds would become accustomed to them during the summer and use them next year.
Acknowledgements
As usual, our thanks go to the recorders who visit their sites regularly during April and May to obtain results. Again, it was disheartening for them to find many broods eventually failed after a promising start. We also thank the few ringers who keep the detailed records which are fed into BTO. Ringing is a task that requires careful timing from mid-May onwards to both ring the young before they leave the nest and to check any previous ringing of the parents. It is always interesting to see how site-faithful many of the birds are and to note how the partnership of the parents can vary slightly within individual sites.
For those interested in details of individual nestbox sites, an electronic copy of the full report can be obtained from HOC or Beryl Harding.
Beryl Harding, HWT Co-ordinator
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134 Garden Birdwatch report 2014
The Garden Birdwatch scheme is HOC’s own design to monitor the number of species appearing in the gardens of participants living in Herefordshire, as well as to record the maximum number of each species seen during any one week. As such, it is very similar to the RSPB Garden Birdwatch conducted in January every year, but rather than just one weekend, this survey aims to record throughout the year sectioned into four quarters each of 13 weeks. Only birds seen within the confines of a participant’s garden, including on their house and outbuildings, are included. ‘Garden’ also means any yard, balcony or structure attached to the house or flat, as well as overhead service cables and branches from trees overhanging the household boundary. Birds feeding in the airspace over participant’s properties, such as House Martins, are eligible, but not birds flying over, such as Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
Recorders are provided with a two-page form which lists all usual garden bird species (with an ‘other’ section for rarities) divided into 13 week-columns. The maximum number of each species seen at any one time is included in the appropriate week. For example, if in one week a Blackbird is seen on its own every day except one day when thee different Blackbirds are seen at the same time, the entry for that week will be three (not nine which would be the total seen over the whole week).
The premise of the survey is that the total acreage of all the gardens taking part in the Garden Birdwatch is considerable and of immense benefit to birds in terms of the food, water, shelter and nesting sites provided by this man-made habitat. The survey was not set up to produce robust scientific data; its biggest weakness is the inability to provide species trends over time because the numbers of gardens and participants is continually changing. However, with the dedicated volunteer effort involved, it does give a strong indication of how species are faring in garden environments in the county.
Overview of results
The overview of collated results from 2014 (with numbers in brackets from 2013 for comparison) is shown below:
Quarter No. gardens No. species Max. no. recording recorded birds recorded Q1 (Jan – Mar) 30 (28) 57 (60) 3,234 (3,618) Q2 (Apr – Jun) 32 (26) 61 (69) 2,879 (2,914) Q3 (Jul – Sep) 30 (27) 62 (66) 3,509 (2,938) Q4 (Oct – Dec) 36 (34) 64 (56) 3,721 (3,710)
There were more gardens participating for each quarter in 2014 than 2013. The number of species records decreased in the first three quarters compared to 2013, but interestingly in the fourth quarter there was an increase in number of species recorded. This may have been due to weather variation between the two years but this was not formally recorded. There were only small differences in the maximum number of birds seen at any one time for quarters 1, 2 and 4 between both years, although there were more gardens participating in 2014. Quarter 3, however, does show a marked increase from the previous year.
135 Species data
Each quarter, a newsletter is provided which shows a league table of species seen in greatest numbers (not necessarily frequency). For 2014 these data were as follows:
Rank Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4 Species No. Species No. Species No. Species No. 1st House 386 House 357 House 504 House 541 Sparrow Sparrow Sparrow Sparrow 2nd Goldfinch 235 Starling 204 Swallow 341 Starling 444 3rd Starling 231 Blue Tit 177 House 319 Goldfinch 277 Martin 4th Blue Tit 205 Goldfinch 169 Starling 302 Blackbird 221 5th Chaffinch 175 Blackbird 149 Blue Tit 165 Long-tailed 217 Tit 6th Blackbird 169 Woodpigeon 142 Blackbird 145 Blue Tit 197 7th Long-tailed 151 Great Tit 127 Goldfinch 133 Collared 150 Tit Dove 8th Siskin 137 Chaffinch 98 Jackdaw 117 Woodpigeon 140 9th Woodpigeon 113 Collared 94 Long-tailed 111 Chaffinch 139 Dove Tit 10th Fieldfare 111 House Martin 89 Magpie 106 Jackdaw 114
As with last year, House Sparrow topped the list in all quarters. Species that made a top ten appearance across all quarters, besides House Sparrow, included Starling, Goldfinch, Blue Tit and Blackbird. Most of the other species wrestled for rankings from quarter to quarter but by and large stayed consistently in the top ten. Fieldfare appeared in just Q1.
Unusual species
Participants in 2014 highlighted a few unusual bird visitors to gardens.
Quarter Species Location Q1 Lesser Redpoll Bromsash Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Much Dewchurch Q2 Mandarin (3) Coughton Lesser Whitethroat Stretford Bridge Black Headed Gull (2) Credenhill Q3 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Pencoyd Little Owl Ledbury Yellow Wagtail (2) Peterchurch Q4 Kingfisher Strangford
136 Garden data
Clearly the size of the garden coupled with the variety of habitats will influence the number of species seen in a garden, however these factors are not recorded in the survey data. In 2014, the two highest counts for the number of species recorded in a quarter came from two households known for their large garden areas in remote rural settings: Guy Poulton and Sue Evans at Moreton Eye with 46 species and Archie Buttriss at Pencoyd with 43, both in Q2. Special mention is due of the garden with the third highest number of species from recorder Geoff Davies in Clehonger, who had 35 species in his village garden in Q4. However, records from urban areas and smaller gardens, as well as rural locations, are also important to complete the picture for the county.
Interesting observations
Q1: Linked to the mild weather there were several observations regarding the early nesting of birds. In Bishopstone, a Blackbird was carrying nesting material on 24 February, a Robin started nest building on 2 March and a Dunnock was displaying on 12 March.
Q2: There were a couple of similar reports about the lack of House Martins and Swallows this quarter, but a garden in Hereford reported a large number of Swifts for the first time in ages. A recorder from Presteigne was delighted to have a Lesser Redpoll on his feeder for the first time, but in Stretford Bridge there was disappointment that the Coal Tits seemed to have disappeared.
Q3: In Eardisley, a Spotted Flycatcher was observed with a second brood which fledged successfully after the first brood was predated. There were reports of significantlyt less birds in gardens towards the latter part of this quarter and hirundine numbers were down in some areas compared with previous years.
Q4: Several garden recorders commented on the lack of birds in the garden again this quarter and that seed in feeders was not going down as quickly as usual. This may have been due to more abundance of natural food as a result of the mild weather.
Further information
Forms and newsletters for the Garden Birdwatch survey are provided in both paper form (posted when a SAE is provided) and electronically. If new participants are interested in becoming involved (or indeed past participants that wish to rejoin), please email: [email protected] or inform Ian Buttriss at HOC meetings.
Finally, thanks to all Garden Birdwatch recorders in 2014 – both for your records and your interesting and often amusing comments which make the job of results collation so much more enjoyable. Ian & Natalie Buttriss
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137 Index to systematic list
Avocet ...... 48 Grebe, Great Crested ...... 43 Blackbird ...... 82 Little ...... 43 Blackcap ...... 78 Greenfinch ...... 91 Bluethroat ...... 84 Greenshank ...... 55 Brambling ...... 90 Grouse, Red ...... 40 Bullfinch ...... 91 Gull, Black-headed ...... 58 Bunting, Reed ...... 94 Common ...... 59 Buzzard ...... 46 Great Black-backed ...... 60 Chaffinch ...... 90 Herring ...... 60 Chiffchaff ...... 78 Lesser Black-backed ...... 59 Coot ...... 47 Little ...... 58 Cormorant ...... 41 Mediterranean ...... 58 Crossbill ...... 92 Yellow-legged ...... 60 Parrot ...... 92 Harrier, Hen ...... 45 Crow, Carrion ...... 72 Hawfinch ...... 90 Cuckoo ...... 66 Heron, Grey ...... 42 Curlew ...... 50 Hobby ...... 70 Dipper ...... 82 Jackdaw ...... 72 Dove, Collared ...... 65 Jay ...... 72 Stock ...... 65 Kestrel ...... 69 Duck, Long-tailed ...... 38 Kingfisher ...... 68 Mandarin ...... 29 Kite, Red ...... 44 Tufted ...... 37 Kittiwake ...... 57 Dunlin ...... 53 Knot ...... 52 Dunnock ...... 87 Lapwing ...... 49 Egret, Little ...... 42 Linnet ...... 91 Fieldfare ...... 83 Magpie ...... 71 Flycatcher, Pied ...... 85 Mallard ...... 35 Spotted ...... 84 Martin, House ...... 76 Gadwall ...... 30 Sand ...... 75 Garganey ...... 36 Merlin ...... 70 Godwit, Bar-tailed ...... 51 Moorhen ...... 47 Black-tailed ...... 51 Nuthatch ...... 80 Goldcrest ...... 73 Osprey ...... 46 Goldeneye ...... 38 Ouzel, Ring ...... 82 Goldfinch ...... 93 Owl, Barn ...... 66 Goosander ...... 39 Little ...... 67 Goose, Barnacle ...... 28 Tawny ...... 67 Brent ...... 28 Oystercatcher ...... 48 Greater Canada ...... 27 Partridge, Grey ...... 40 Greylag ...... 27 Red-legged ...... 40 Pink-footed ...... 26 Peregrine ...... 70 Goshawk ...... 45 Pheasant ...... 41
138 Pigeon, Feral ...... 65 Mute ...... 26 Pintail ...... 36 Whooper ...... 26 Pipit, Meadow ...... 89 Swift ...... 67 Tree ...... 89 Teal ...... 35 Plover, Golden ...... 49 Tern, Arctic ...... 57 Little Ringed ...... 50 Black ...... 57 Ringed ...... 50 Common ...... 57 Pochard ...... 37 Sandwich ...... 57 Red-crested ...... 37 White-winged Black ...... 94 Quail ...... 40 Thrush, Mistle ...... 84 Rail, Water ...... 47 Song ...... 83 Raven ...... 73 Tit, Blue ...... 73 Redpoll, Common ...... 92 Coal ...... 74 Lesser ...... 92 Great ...... 74 Redshank ...... 55 Long-tailed ...... 77 Spotted ...... 54 Marsh ...... 75 Redstart ...... 85 Willow ...... 74 Black ...... 85 Treecreeper ...... 81 Redwing ...... 83 Turnstone ...... 52 Robin ...... 84 Wagtail, Grey ...... 88 Rook ...... 72 Pied ...... 88 Ruff ...... 52 White ...... 89 Sanderling ...... 53 Yellow ...... 87 Sandpiper, Common ...... 54 Warbler, Cetti’s ...... 77 Curlew ...... 52 Garden ...... 79 Green ...... 54 Grasshopper ...... 80 Wood ...... 55 Reed ...... 80 Scaup ...... 38 Sedge ...... 80 Scoter, Common ...... 38 Willow ...... 78 Shelduck ...... 29 Shoveler ...... 36 Wood ...... 77 Shrike, Great Grey ...... 71 Wheatear ...... 86 Siskin ...... 93 Greenland ...... 86 Skylark ...... 75 Whimbrel ...... 50 Snipe ...... 56 Whinchat ...... 86 Jack ...... 55 Whitethroat ...... 79 Sparrow, House ...... 87 Lesser ...... 79 Tree ...... 87 Wigeon ...... 30 Sparrowhawk ...... 45 Woodcock ...... 55 Starling ...... 81 Woodpecker, Great Spotted ...... 69 Stint, Little ...... 53 Green ...... 68 Temminck’s ...... 53 Lesser Spotted ...... 69 Stonechat ...... 86 Woodpigeon ...... 65 Swallow ...... 76 Wren ...... 81 Swan, Bewick’s ...... 26 Yellowhammer ...... 93
139 Special ornithological sites in Herefordshire
Key Location NGR Type of Habitat Access 1 Berrington Hall SO510638 Lake, woodland & farmland National Trust 2 Bircher Common SO460670 Common & woodland Public access 3 Bodenham Gravel Pits SO527511 Lake & wetland Public access 4 Bradnor Hill NT SO282584 Hill & common Road & PRW 5 Bringsty Common SO702550 Common & woodland Public access 6 Brockhampton NT SO684549 Farmland, woodland, parkland National Trust & PRW 7 Brockhall Gravel Pits SO451423 Gravel pits PRW 8 Bunch of Carrots, River Wye SO551381 River & farmland Public access 9 Credenhill Park Wood SO454441 Woodland Public access 10 Coneygree Wood, Ledbury SO718375 Woodland Public access 11 Coppet Hill SO573178 Common & woodland Public access 12 Croft Ambrey Fort SO445667 Hill Fort & woodland National Trust & PRW 13 Croft Castle SO451657 Parkland & woodland National Trust & PRW 14 Eastnor Deer Park SO745378 Parkland PRW 15 Ewyas Harold Common SO385300 Common Public access 16 Garway Hill SO437251 Common Public access 17 Harley’s Mountain SO345690 Open farmland & hill Public footpaths 18 Hartleton Lakes SO652254 Lakes PRW 19 Haugh Wood SO593365 Woodland Public access 20 Holme Lacy, River Wye SO567347 River & farmland PRW 21 Hergest Ridge SO255562 Hill & common Public access 22 High Vinnals SO472731 Woodland Public access 23 Kenchester Pools SO432427 Farmland & pools Road & PRW 24 Leominster by-pass SO505585 Farmland & river Road & PRW 25 Letton Lakes SO354477 Farmland & wetland PRW 26 Lugg Meadows SO532418 Farmland & wetland PRW 27 Lyepole, River Lugg SO398654 River & farmland Public access 28 Mary Knoll Valley SO497718 Woodland Public access 29 Mathon Gravel Pits SO739454 Gravel pits PRW 30 Merbach Hill SO304447 Common & woodland PRW 31 Midsummer Hill & Hollybush SO760375 Hill & woodland Public access 32 Milton Cross & Shobdon Ind. Est. SO382606 Farmland & industrial estate Road only 33 Olchon Valley SO288317 Farmland PRW 34 Queenswood Country Park SO506514 Woodland Public access 35 Red Daren and Black Darren SO297300 Moorland Public access 36 Sellack, River Wye SO565277 River & farmland PRW 37 Shobdon Court Pools SO401626 Lake, woodland & farmland PRW 38 The Sturts HWT, Kinnersley SO336485 Farmland & wetland Public access 39 Titley Pool HWT SO324594 Pool & wetland Public access 40 Wapley Hill SO358623 Woodland Public access 41 Wellington Gravel Pits SO509480 Gravel pits PRW 42 Welsh Newton Common SO515175 Common & woodland Public access 43 Wigmore Rolls SO397688 Woodland Public access 44 Wilton, River Wye SO590242 River & farmland PRW 45 Winforton, River Wye SO293462 Farmland & river PRW
140 Key to abbreviations: HWT = Herefordshire Wildlife Trust; NGR = National Grid Reference; PRW = Public Rights of Way.
Please respect the access to some of these areas because they may be on private land for which the landowner’s permission must be sought. Please also remember the Birdwatchers’ code concerning access on land and disturbance of birds. www.herefordshirebirds.org