We are now coming up to halfway through the corncrake season in Orkney. A survey of all suitable habitat on the islands has been carried out once (it will be done twice before 10 July) and so far, a total of around 20 calling male corncrakes have been located - both through the surveys and from reports from the public. Here are the corncrake numbers (so far) on different islands:
West Mainland: 5 East Mainland: 1Burray: 2South Ronaldsay: 1 Sanday: 2Westray: 6 Papa Westray: 1Shapinsay: 2We have also had reports of birds on North Ronaldsay and Rousay – but only calling very briefly. We were 2-3 weeks later than usual in getting the first corncrakes calling this year, probably due to cold weather, so this might affect the overall total (just over 30 last year). A couple of spots where people have been able to hear corncrakes include near the kirk at Eastside, South Ronaldsay (HY4690) and north of the playing field at Sanday School (HY6640) - both still calling at time of writing.
(Pic: Andy Hay)
The RSPB is now working with the farmers whose land the corncrakes are on, to protect the birds. Measures taken under the Corncrake Initiative include delaying the mowing or grazing of the land until 1 August or later and 'corncrake-friendly' mowing patterns. Encouragingly, some birds have returned to locations where they were in previous years.
Following the survey methodology, I have been carrying out the corncrake survey between midnight and 3am - listening for the distinctive call from the roadside. Although this is an anti-social time to be working, in Orkney at this time of year it barely gets dark between these hours and birds of all types are surprisingly noisy all night - with curlew, oystercatcher and lapwing very active and the unusual sound of snipe drumming heard most nights. Here is a photo I took last night at 2:44am, looking north from near Dingieshowe bay to Tankerness (the white dots near the bottom are sheeps' eyes!).
As ever, if you do hear (or, much more unlikely, see) a corncrake in Orkney please let me know: Amy.Liptrot@rspb.org.uk or the Corncrake Hotline: 01856 852 029.