Guest blog by RSPB NI farmland survey volunteer Alan Bates I’m no expert on identifying birds, but I do like watching them in their natural environment.
I got an email from RSPB NI back in March of last year to help out with surveys on a local farm.
They were trying to establish where breeding territories exist for six priority species (skylarks, linnets, tree sparrows, yellowhammers, lapwings and reed buntings) and the presence and number of all other species.
I’d never seen a yellowhammer before, so I was intrigued. So that was me on the road to my first farmland survey.
I was given some training by the conservation advisor and I was told that the best time to survey the birds was during the "dawn chorus" (or shortly after). So I was prepared for some pretty early starts!
I went to the farmer’s house and we chatted about the farm, its crops, and the area. We agreed on where I could park, how I’d get access to fields, and possible timings. “Rather you than me!” said David, when I told him I’d probably be out around dawn each time.
So that was it, I was all set to do my first survey. I contacted David in April to confirm that the following Saturday morning at daybreak I’d be tramping round his fields, binoculars in one hand and a clipboard in the other.
SURVEY ONE: 22 APRIL It was an early start that first Saturday. I was in the first field for just before 6am, and to see the stunning sunrise over Strangford Lough made it all worthwhile.
There was no wind, and not a cloud in the sky. It was going to be a lovely day. I set off into the field and down the hill. This field had winter barley sown and was starting to grow nicely. I could hear the distinctive call of a yellowhammer. My training was paying off. There it was, perched high above the hedge. I’d brought my camera as well as my binoculars so I took a few shots. My first sighting was a cracker.
I could hear another call I recognised from down in the valley, a pair of buzzards. They were perched on trees and then one of them flew over me.There were the usual blackbirds, chaffinches etc. but as I walked along the lower hedge I spotted another couple of yellowhammers, amazing. This was yellowhammer country all right. I did a circuit of my first field and I’d already seen more yellowhammers than anything else.
I moved the car to my next location and set off again. This field had winter wheat, but the tractor had left a pair of tracks just far enough out from the hedge that were perfect for me to walk in.
More yellowhammers, this time on the ground as well as on the hedge, and a dunnock beside me, some magpies in the tree up ahead.At the end of this field was a copse of trees, a pond and a man-made dam. In fact the trees were young and there was evidence of someone feeding pheasants in among them. As I got nearer the pond, I spotted a pair of mallards swimming. But closer inspection showed them to be decoys. Ah well, nothing to do with me.
The next field had young calves grazing in it. But wait, there was movement along the hedge up ahead. A little fox was walking alongside the hedge towards me, not a care in the world.The cattle were more interested in me and started to walk towards me. The fox gave me a casual glance, decided I was no threat and just sauntered into the hedge. Gone, I didn’t see it again.
The rest of the morning was spent watching more yellowhammers. I recorded their positions on my maps as I walked along, but also taking photos too. I was in my element, fresh air, glorious sunshine and not another human about. Just me and the wildlife. Bliss.
In the fields near David’s house, I also spotted a linnet. Wow, things were going well. But the most common bird on the farm was the yellowhammer. None of the other birds on my list were to make an appearance, but for me that didn’t really matter. I finished about 10:30am, well and truly knackered. I’d walked five miles up and down the steep sloped drumlins that pull the legs out of you. But it was fantastic. Roll on the next one in a couple of weeks. Only problem being, sunrise would be even earlier by then. But I had a cunning plan!
I contacted David again to chat about what time I’d need to be out at, and it was then I asked for permission to camp out overnight in one of his fields. That way I’d save travelling time in the morning and I’d be right where I needed to be. The birds could wake me in the morning, I’d have a quick breakfast, and I’d be ready to go. He agreed and we discussed the best place to pitch.
SURVEY TWO: 6 May I drove down on the Saturday night about 8pm, and pitched the tent beside some bales of hay. Not the most scenic of campsites, but highly practical as the bales made the perfect wind break and I could park close by.My camp was simple. I sat down with a cuppa and watched the sunset.
I could hear a tractor out cutting grass. It went on until dark, the working days are long when you are a farmer. The birds were all around me, the noisiest being the blackbirds. They were also the last to settle as it got dark. I went to bed.
At 4:30am Sunday I was woken by the blackbirds and chaffinches as the sun’s rays showed over the Ards Peninsula. I got up, heated some water and made my porridge. I moved my chair up the hill to watch the sun come over the horizon.There were birds singing all around me. But I could easily pick out the yellowhammers’ call. Keep singing guys, I’ll be round to count you shortly.
The first time I saw a yellowhammer was on this hedge, and here it is again. Brilliant, off to another good start.
The buzzards were in the valley again. Not so many yellowhammers in the first field this time. Down by the copse, I could see something moving near the pipes. I struggled to get the camera out. It was a stoat. It hadn’t seen me, so I took a few pics. Some of the grass fields had been cut and I watched starlings take advantage of the stubble as they picked up grubs and bugs.At the lower farm, I got some decent shots of more yellowhammers, pied wagtails and even shelducks on their way to the lough.
It was another perfect day to be out and about and the camping had been a complete success. I was looking forward to my next early start. * If you are interested in volunteering for a farmland survey as part of our Farming Together with Nature Project in east County Down, contact Colin Graham by emailing colin.graham@rspb.org.uk or calling 028 9049 1547. Full training will be delivered in March. And if such an early start isn’t for you but you’d like to volunteer with us, there are plenty of other opportunities for you - so do get in touch!ALL PICS BY ALAN BATES