Continuing our look back at the breeding season just gone, today sees stonechat, linnet and meadow pipit under the spotlight. Half of Ramsey is covered in heathland, a special 'coastal heathland' mix, not quite lowland heath and not quite maritime heath which has puzzled the experts over the years. It's classification is currently under review, but whatever pigeon hole it gets assigned to one thing is sure, it is a vital habitat in itself and for many of the bird species that call it home.
European Stonechat
Resident in small numbers year round, the island comes in alive in spring when the breeders set up territory with their incessant 'chakking' (2 stones being struck together hence the name). A bold bird they won't hesitate to warn you away from a nest site even when you are innocently passing by on the footpath. Continuing on the theme of their cousin the wheatear, 2020 was also a record year for stonechat on Ramsey with 34 pairs. This is up from 26 pairs last year (10 year average is 23 pairs and there were just 10 pairs when the RSPB took over in 1993). This species is highly susceptible to harsh winters and following two successive cold winters which saw snow even this far west, numbers plummeted to just 6 pairs in 2010. Generally mild and wet winters since have seen a marked recovery
Meadow Pipit
A ground nesting bird that generally does well on Ramsey in the absence of any mammalian ground predators. 2020 saw 89 pairs breed, the second highest on record after 93 pairs in 2016 (the 10 year average is 71 and there were 31 pairs when the RSPB took over Ramsey in 1993). Listen out for their descending call as they 'parachute' from on high back to ground
Linnet
Red listed in Wales due to their level of decline over the past 25 years, this finch still thrives on Ramsey. 2020 saw 50 pairs breeding (up from 31 pairs in 2019, 10 year average 55 with 20 pairs in 1993). One of the more difficult species to monitor as they often nest in loose colonies with males mating with multiple females.
Stay tuned for more updates from the 2020 breeding season.....