Ptarmigan of Britain

The Ptarmigan, Lagopus muta, is the smallest species of grouse in Britain and only found in the higher altitudes, or arctic-alpine zone, of the Scottish Highlands.

Ptarmigans prefer to live in the cold and harsh rocky terrain of mountains where there are snow and open ground. The Ptarmigan is also known as the Rock Ptarmigan.

Ornithologists believe the future of Ptarmigans is threatened by warmer weather due to climate change.

Ptarmigans have adapted to the mountainous lifestyle by moulting three times a year.

The male is barred with grey-brown and black in the summer. The underparts and wings are white. The patch above the eye becomes red during the breeding season.

The dark plumage of the male is replaced with grey in the autumn. Males turn completely snow-white in the winter except for a dark eye patch and tail.

Females are similar to males except for becoming browner during the summer and autumn. They lack the dark eye patch in winter (British Birds – pictures of male and female - https://britishbirds.co.uk/article/ptarmigan-english-lake-district/ ).

The feet and legs of Ptarmigans are covered in feathers which insulate them against freezing temperatures.

The breeding age of the Ptarmigan is six months. Their average lifespan is between three and four years

Ptarmigans live in the highest ground of mountains where there are snow and open areas of ground with little vegetation. They live and breed among the bare rocks and scattered boulders.

The camouflage of Ptarmigans makes them difficult to see and are more often heard on the mountainsides (Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/10/ptarmigan-in-camouflage-a-daunting-quest).

The call of the male is a series of clicks while the female makes a cooing sound.

Pairs of Ptarmigans are found in the summer and family parties during the autumn. Flocks are formed during the winter which disperse during the spring, or March.

The main diet of the Ptarmigan is vegetarian. They eat the leaves, buds, berries and seeds of a wide range of plants which includes heather, crowberry, bilberry, birch and dwarf willow. Chicks and young eat insects in the summer.

Ptarmigans are ground feeding birds who use their feathered feet to dig and scratch for food in the frozen ground.

The stronghold of the Ptarmigan is Scotland where they are widespread across the higher ground of the Scottish Highlands. They are also common on Skye, Mull, Jura and Arran.

The range of the Ptarmigan has contracted in Scotland as there are no records of these birds breeding in the south-west since the nineteenth century. The same pattern occurred on the islands of Rum, Harris and Roy during the twentieth century.

They are fairly tame birds around humans who crouch on the ground rather than fly away if alarmed.

Ptarmigans are tough birds who can withstand the coldest temperatures of the mountainous lifestyle. They normally roost in the snow during both the summer and winter.

Some move to the shelter on the edges of forests when the winter weather is severe.

Males defend a breeding territory and declare their ownership with a song-flight and clicking calls. Pairs are only formed during the breeding season, or April and May.

Most pairs are monogamous while some males pair with several females.

The nest is a scrape in the ground made by the male and female, usually under a tree, shrub or boulder. One of the scrapes is lined with small amounts of leaves, grass and other vegetation.

Five to eight eggs are laid by the females which hatch after 3 weeks. The chicks leave the nest almost immediately as they can feed themselves. 

Males leave before the eggs hatch and the young are cared for by the female.

The young learn to fly within 15 days and become independent after 10 and 12 weeks.

Ptarmigans in Scotland rarely move far from their breeding sites. 

The Ptarmigan is classified as Least Concern by IUCN.

Europe holds only 10% of the global population and is classified as a Near Threatened species of bird. The population decreased by “30% in 12.6 years” (Birdlife International).

The Ptarmigan is a green-listed species of bird in Britain.

Scottish Ptarmigans are very sensitive to changes in their environment such as disturbance by grazing cattle and sheep, tourists, unusual weather events and increases in crows and other predators.

The British Trust for Ornithology said rubbish left on mountains by tourists is becoming an important factor in the decline of the Ptarmigan. The rubbish attracts crows who also attack and eat the chicks of Ptarmigans.

The remote lifestyle of the Ptarmigan makes them difficult to study.

Project Ptarmigan was set up in 2005 by the British Trust for Ornithology and the Scottish Ornithologists' Club.

The results showed the highest numbers were found in the Cairngorms in the Scottish Highlands.

The population is known to experience “highs and lows”. Studies of Scottish Ptarmigans suggested they have suffered a long term decline.

Ptarmigans rely on the specialised habitat provided by the Scottish Highlands. Their numbers could decline further in the future because of warmer weather due to climate change.

General threats to the Ptarmigan include loss of habitat due to overgrazing by sheep, mountain tourism such as the building of ski resorts and climate change.

Hunting was not a factor in the decline of the European or British populations. Sadly, Ptarmigans can still be legally shot in the UK.

For more information on the birds of the gardens and countryside of Britain and Ireland, please visit

http://bird4u.mzzhost.com/index.html

Interesting Articles

BTO – Survey In Scotland - https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/shared_documents/publications/research-reports/2007/rr473.pdf

References

RSPB Handbook of Scottish Birds by Peter Holden, and Stuart Housden

Grey Wagtail: a Declining Bird of Britain and Ireland

The Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea, is a colourful, slender bird with grey and yellow plumage which is easily distinguished from its cousin, the Pied Wagtail.

The breeding habitat of Grey Wagtails is along fast-flowing rivers and streams. They move from higher ground in the autumn and winter to areas such as farmland and gardens in towns in the lowlands of England.

Ornithologists are concerned about the decline of Grey Wagtails in Britain and Ireland. The number of Grey Wagtails fell over a third in Britain over the last thirty years.

Grey Wagtails are "river specialists" who breed along clear, fast-flowing rocky rivers and streams on higher ground during the summer. They are also a common bird around weirs and locks in canals.

The autumn and winter is the time of year when Grey Wagtails move to lower ground. They spend the winter around sewerage works, slurry pits, wet ditches, flooded stubble fields on farmland, coastal marshes, the edges of lakes, small streams, canals, parks, gardens in towns and cities.

Grey Wagtails are common and widespread resident birds in Britain and Ireland. They are more plentiful in northern and western Britain in the summer. Fewer Grey Wagtails are found in central and eastern England during the breeding season.

The range of Grey Wagtails has expanded over the last 150 years in Britain. Grey Wagtails were once restricted to fast-flowing rivers on higher ground. They were able to move to the lowlands of England because of the improved quality of water in rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs.

Territories on higher ground are deserted between October and March. A few pairs stay on their breeding territories for the winter while others fly further to lowland areas.

Most Scottish Grey Wagtails move to the lowlands of England in the autumn. Wintering birds tend to return to the same site yearly and some defend a winter territory.

Grey Wagtails are attracted to small areas of water in the winter in a wide variety of habitat. They live around ponds in gardens in towns, puddles on farmyards, wet ditches on farmland, sewerage works and pools in roof-top gardens of buildings in cities.

The natural surroundings of shores of lakes, the banks of small lowland rivers and streams and locks in canals are also favoured by Grey Wagtails in the winter.

The Grey Wagtail is classified as of Least Concern by IUCN.

The population of Grey Wagtails in not Vulnerable due to the wide range of these birds (Europe, Asia, North Africa). The global trend is described as stable.

Europe holds 20% of the global population and the trend is described as stable between 1980 and 2013.

The population of Grey Wagtails in Britain reached a "high point" in 1974. Their numbers began to decline between the late 1970s and early 1980s. There was "some increases" during the 1990s and then there was a "steep drop" in 2010.

The British Trust for Ornithology reported the recent steep decline began in 2002, particularly in Scotland.

"The trends for Grey Wagtail are very similar to those for Pied Wagtail, suggesting that similar factors may be affecting these two species".

The charity said the Grey Wagtail population in Europe remained "broadly stable since the 1980s" (BTO - trends).

The Grey Wagtail is a red-listed species of bird in Britain. Grey Wagtails were moved from the green list to the amber list in 2002 and then, sadly, to the red list in 2015.

- declined by 31% between 1995 and 2011 (RSPB)
- increased by 1% between 2012/13 (BBS - page 17)
- increased by 50% between 2013/14 (BBS - page 13)
- declined by 13% between 2014/15 (BBS - page 13)
- declined by 4% between 2015/16 (BBS - page 15)
- increased by 29% between 2016/17 (BBS - page 15)
- declined by 25% between 2017/18 (BBS - page 15)

The British Trust for Ornithology said Grey Wagtails showed a long-term decline of 32% between 1995 and 2015. Grey Wagtails and Pied Wagtails both showed "a rapid decline...along rivers and canals" ( BTO - Wagtails).

The exact reason for drop in their numbers is unknown. The fluctuations in the Grey Wagtail population suggests prolonged cold winter weather may be responsible for the decline.

Grey Wagtails are among the wildlife in Britain and Ireland which depend on rivers and streams for their food. Pollution by chemicals and plastic in more recent times is of concern to conservationists.

Greenpeace found "high concentrations of plastics", including microplastics in a survey of 13 British rivers in June 2019. Plastic straws, bottletops and microbeads were found in the rivers Exe, Thames, Severn, Great Ouse, Trent, Mersey, Aire, Derwent, Wear, Conwy, Wye, Clyde, and Lagan.

"During this campaign we witnessed voles eating plastic, swans using it to build their nests, and caddisfly larvae using it to make their protective casings” (Independent).

The Grey Wagtail is a red-listed species of bird in the Republic of Ireland.

Birdwatch reported a large decline in the population of Grey Wagtails between 1998 and 2010 in Ireland (Birdwatch - page 6 and 7).

The cold winter of 2009/10 is thought be the main reason for the decline in Ireland. The population was also reported as declining in Ireland in 2013 (Southern Star).

Purple Herons in Britain

The Purple Heron, Ardea purpurea, is a large, attractive heron who is closely related to the Grey Heron and Bittern in Britain. A few Purple Herons fly to southern and eastern England in the spring and summer. 

A pair of Purple Herons successfully bred for the first time in Kent in 2010. Ornithologists believe Purple Herons may become a new resident breeding species in Britain in the future.

Purple Herons are smaller and slimmer than Grey Herons and described as having a snake-like appearance.

Males and females are alike with a ginger head and neck. The crown is black and there are black lines on the face and along the neck. 

The chest and flanks are light brown with long plumes on the chest. The back is grey which sometimes appears as purple.

Adults are large birds who reach a height of 90 centimetres, or nearly 3 feet. The wingspan is up to 1.5 metres or 5 feet

Purple Herons are solitary birds who are most active at dusk and dawn. They are generally silent except for the breeding season when they make a loud croaking sound.

“Widespread in continental Europe and across Asia, purple herons migrate every autumn to spend the winter in Africa south of the Sahara (Independent - https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/european-herons-relocate-to-kent-as-temperatures-rise-1976458.html ). 

Purple Herons are rare visitors in Britain as some adults are seen in southern and eastern England between April and May. They visit reedbeds, marshes, riverbanks, estuaries and sometimes sea coasts.

Juveniles in Europe are nomadic. A few reach the shores of Britain after the breeding season. They spend the rest of the summer in Britain before migrating to their wintering grounds in Africa.

Purple Herons sulk in reedbeds and marshes where they forage for fish such as perch, carp and sticklebacks as well as eels, insects (dragonflies, water beetles) and amphibians. Small mammals (shrews and water voles) are sometimes eaten.

They are often seen with their necks coiled or stretched over the water while hunting for their prey.

Pairs return to their breeding areas between March and May. Breeding takes place in colonies in Europe. 

The nest is made on the ground among vegetation or in a tree in wetlands.

The Purple Heron is classified as of Least Concern by IUCN.

The trend for the global and European population is described as decreasing.

Purple Herons “increased its population and expanded its range in north Europe during the last century, especially into Germany and the Netherlands". 

"However, a downward numerical trend occurred since the 1970’s across west and east Europe, with a few countries as exceptions..The Dutch population is now isolated. In Russia the expansion of in the 1970’s proved short term”

“The Spanish population in the Ebro Delta dropped from 1,000 pairs in the 1970’s to about 60 in early 1970’s recovering to 400 by the 1990’s..The recovery in Spain was continuing into the 1990’s”. 

“In Mediterranean France, a decline from the early 1980’s was reversing in the mid 1990’s”

(Heron Conservation – Status – https://www.heronconservation.org/herons-of-the-world/list-of-herons/purple-heron).

A pair of Purple Herons caused a stir among ornithologists in England when they successfully bred for the first time in Britain in 2010. The male and female chose a nest site in the Dungeness peninsula in Kent. 

There have been reports of Purple Herons in Britain although none were breeding birds.

A juvenile Purple Heron visited Ruan Lanihorne in Cornwall in 2017. An adult was seen at Leighton Moss Nature Reserve in Lancashire also in 2017.

Avalon Marshes in Somerset played host to an adult Purple Heron in July 2018. Another adult was seen in Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve in Somerset in May 2018.

An adult Purple Heron was spotted in Blacktoft Sands Nature Reserve in Yorkshire in June 2019. The last sighting of a Purple Heron on the Reseve was 30 years ago.

Experts believe the warmer weather due to climate change will cause Purple Herons and other species of bird to regularly breed in Britain, particularly southern England.

The main threat to Purple Herons is loss of reedbeds because of agricultural changes and harvesting of reeds.

For more information on the birds of the gardens and countryside of Britain and Ireland, please visit,

http://bird4u.mzzhost.com/index.html

Interesting Articles

Birdguides: https://www.birdguides.com/news/purple-heron-breeding-success-a-uk-first/

Chiffchaff: A Summer Visitor to Britain

Chiffchaffs, Phylloscopus collybita, are small olive-green warblers who arrive from their wintering grounds in the Mediterranean and West Africa in the spring. Their arrival is one of the earliest of all the summer visitor that fly to Britain to breed.

Happily, the Chiffchaff population has shown a strong increase since the 1990s because of milder winter weather.

The Chiffchaff is also known as the Common Chiffchaff.

Adults are alike and about the size of a blue tit. The upper body is a dull olive or brown-green during the spring and summer. The lower body is yellowish with a pale rump. There are yellow lines on the short wings. Adults are duller in the autumn and winter.

Chiffchaffs are small, hyperactive birds who arrive in Britain from their wintering grounds in the Mediterranean (Iberia and North Africa) and West Africa between March and April.

Over a million Chiffchaffs arrived on the shores of Britain in the early spring. They leave during the last 20 days of September.

”Growing numbers of chiffchaffs are wintering in the British Isles where, if the weather stays mild, they can find enough insect food to sustain them during the coldest months.

If they survive, they will have less distance to travel to their breeding grounds and can secure the best territories” ( BBC - http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150223-singing-chiffchaffs-in-winter ).

A few wintering Chiffchaffs from Germany leave Britain in the spring.

Wintering Scandinavian Chiffchaffs pass over Britain in the autumn with some also staying until the spring.

The huge numbers of  Chiffchaffs that arrive in the spring ensure they are the most abundant species of warbler that breed in Britain.

Chiffchaffs live and breed among shrubs and trees in woods, scrub, parks, cemeteries and gardens. Conifers are generally avoided.

They enjoy constantly flicking their wings and wagging their tails as they forage for food in shrubs, bushes and trees.

The diet of the Chiffchaff is a wide variety of insects and spiders. The most common insects eaten include flies, aphids, moths and caterpillars. They sometimes eat seeds and berries.

Foraging Chiffchaffs often leave the safety of shrubs and trees to catch insects by hovering in the air or picking them from a leaf.

Chiffchaffs are one of the few birds which sing their name loudly from a perch in a tree. Their repetitive “chiff-chaff” call makes them easily recognisable in the spring.

Pairs breed among the dense shrubs understorey of mature deciduous woodland and places where there are dense low-lying shrubs and a few tall trees such as rough areas of gardens.

The nest is hidden low down among the dense foliage of shrubs, bushes and bramble thickets.

The female builds a domed nest of grasses and leaves with a small entrance at the side.

Five to six eggs are laid between April and May which hatch after 2 weeks.

The chicks are fed mostly by the female in the nest for another 12 to 15 days.

Each parent often rears half the brood until they become independent after between 10 and 19 days. Both parents look after the young and raise 2 broods a year.

Weasels are among the predators who prey on eggs and chicks.

The Common Chiffchaff is classified as of Least Concern by IUCN.

The population of Chiffchaffs in Europe has shown a “moderate increase” between 1980 and 2013.

The Chiffchaff is a green-listed species of bird in Britain.

The population declined during the 1960s and 1970s but later made a strong recovery. There has been a widespread increase in the Chiffchaff population in Britain since the 1990s except for the eastern areas of Northern Ireland.

A shallow increase was recorded in England since 1994. The number of Chiffchaffs in Wales has also risen.

Milder winters due to climate change may be a reason for the increase in Chiffchaff numbers.

A “widespread moderate increase” was recorded in the number of Chiffchaffs in Europe

(BTO - https://app.bto.org/birdtrends/species.jsp?&s=chiff ).

The British Trust for Ornithology said the number of Chiffchaffs in Scotland has risen by “an amazing 550% since 1994“ (BTO - https://twitter.com/_bto/status/750992808668868608 ).

The RSPB said in 2017 that “chiffchaffs have increased by …104% …since 1970. Milder winters in the UK and Europe, where increasing numbers of both species stay for the winter, boost overwinter survival”.

“chiffchaffs are expanding their breeding range northwards and into higher altitudes, as the climatic conditions become more favourable” (RSPB – State of the Birds – page 15 -

https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/publications/state-of-uk-birds-_2017.pdf ).

The main threat to the Chiffchaff is stormy and unsettled weather during migration.

For more information on the birds of the countryside and gardens of Britain and Ireland, please visit

http://bird4u.mzzhost.com/index.html

Difference Between Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers

Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs are very similar in appearance, possibly because they belong to the warbler family of birds. Chiffchaffs have black legs and a pale eye-stripe.

Pied Flycatcher: A Rare Breeding Bird in Britain

Pied Flycatchers, Ficedula hypoleuca , are summer visitors who breed in the woods and forests of northern and western Britain. They arrive from the winter grounds in West Africa in the spring and begin building their nests in trees.

Sadly, Pied Flycatchers are becoming a rare bird in many areas of Britain where once they were common. Birdlife charities are concerned about the decline in their population since the 1990s. The reasons for the fall in their numbers is generally unknown.

The Pied Flycatcher is smaller than a sparrow. Males are black on the upper-parts with white on the lower parts. A white patch is noticeable on the wings. Females are browner (pictures – Birdguides - https://www.birdguides.com/species-guide/ioc/ficedula-hypoleuca/ ).

Pied Flycatchers arrive on their breeding grounds in northern and western Britain between late April and early June. Males arrive before females and also depart before females.

The stronghold of the Pied Flycatcher is the higher ground of the hills and valley of Wales.

Breeding also takes place in Devon in areas such as the woods at Dunsford in Dartmoor National Park, Padley Gorge in Derbyshire, the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, Burnham Thorpe village in Norfolk, Lowther Castle in Cumbria,

Scotland became a regular breeding ground of the Pied Flycatchers during the 19th century with range expansion in the 20th century. The nesting areas of Pied Flycatchers are now southern and central Scotland.

Pied Flycatchers can be seen in the southern and eastern counties of England while on passage to the wintering grounds. A few pairs stay and breed in areas such as Sussex.

Two pairs of Pied Flycatchers were found breeding in Lydford Gorge in Devon ( BBC – please scroll down the page - https://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-england-devon-48607516 ).

The return journey to their wintering grounds in Liberia and the Ivory Coast in West Africa takes place between August and September. British Pied Flycatchers fly directly to Spain and Portugal where they “fatten up” before flying across the Sahara Desert.

Pied Flycatchers are absent as an established breeding species from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. They are considered a rare bird in Ireland.

One or two pairs have been breeding the Republic of Ireland since the 1970s. Pied Flycatchers are amber-listed due to a “very” localised breeding population. Warmer weather due to climate change is thought to be responsible for a few pairs breeding in Ireland.

Pied Flycatchers are active birds who can be seen flying quickly in and around trees in woods, forests and towns. They sometimes quarrel with other small birds such as Redstarts and Great Tits while foraging for food in trees.

The diet of the Pied Flycatcher includes small invertebrates and some seeds and fruit. Insects such as flies, beetles and caterpillars are important when feeding chicks. Spiders and millipedes are also eaten.

Pied Flycatchers can be seen hovering while catching insects in the air. They often dart from a perch to catch insects and then return quickly to a different perch. Food is sometimes found among branches or on the ground.

The loud, melodious tune of the Pied Flycatcher can be heard in woodlands in the spring. The song consists of a series of “whit” and “tic” sounds.

Pairs breed in deciduous woodland where they favour oak trees. Ash and birch woods are also used on higher ground. Some males enjoy the company of two or even three females and help raise their broods.

The nest is built by the female in a hole in a tree or a nest box. Some females use an old woodpecker's nest. The nest is made of leaves, grass, roots and moss.

Six or seven eggs are incubated for two weeks (Twitter - https://twitter.com/piedflynet/status/593172927471845376). The young learn to fly after 16 or 17 days. Both parents care for the young and raise only one brood a year.

Parents and their young disappear into the higher branches of trees or among shrubs before undertaking their long migration.

The Pied Flycatcher is a red-listed species of bird in Britain. They were moved from the amber list to the red list because the population has “decreased steeply since 1994 (Birdtrends - https://app.bto.org/birdtrends/species.jsp?&s=piefl ).

Some figures state the population of Pied Flycatchers has fallen by 53 % since the 1990s. Other sources claim a decline of 25% has occurred in the last 25 years.

The number of Pied Flycatchers has fallen in Scotland except for the south and west where they remain stable.

The population in Europe has also fallen since the 1980s.

The European Pied Flycatcher is classified of Least Concern by IUCN.

Europe hold 75% of the global breeding population and a “moderate decline” has been recorded between 1980 and 2013.

The reasons for the decline in Britain is unknown. A map showing the decline of the Pied Flycatcher may be seen on page 14 of Climate change Phenology by the BTO (https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/u37/downloads/about_birdtrack/BTO_294pg12-14.pdf )

Researchers in the Netherlands recently found “As European winters have become warmer, pied flycatchers travelling from Africa to reach breeding grounds in the Netherlands are arriving to find that resident great tits have already claimed nesting sites for the season. As a result, the number of flycatchers killed in great tit nests has risen dramatically “ (Science Daily - https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190110141908.htm ).

However, the BTO has yet to find a mismatch in their ongoing investigations into the decline of the Pied Flycatcher in places such as Wytham Woods in Oxfordshire.

Oak moth caterpillars are fed to the chicks of Pied Flycatchers in the summer. Climate change has caused Oak moth caterpillars to hatch earlier in recent years and thought to be one of the reasons for the decline in the population of Pied Flycatchers ( Telegraph - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2018/04/23/warming-climate-leaves-birds-hatching-late-caterpillar-harvest/ ).

For more information on the birds of the gardens and countryside of Britain and Ireland, please visit
http://bird4u.mzzhost.com/index.html

The Rock Pipit of Britain and Ireland

Rock Pipits are small songbirds who live along the rocky sea coasts and offshore islands of Britain and Ireland. Resident Rock Pipits are common and widespread birds along the coasts of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Wintering Rock Pipits from Scandinavia join resident birds in the autumn.

Other names for the Rock Pipit include the Eurasian Rock Pipit and “Rockets” among birdwatchers.

The Rock Pipit is a stocky bird which is slightly larger and darker than its cousin, the Meadow Pipit, The plumage of adults is olive-grey with heavy streaking on its breast, and dark legs. The fine bill is also dark.

Most Rock Pipits remain on their territories throughout the year while a few gather in small groups during the winter.

Rock Pipits typically forage and breed along rocky shorelines, pebbly beaches, offshore islands, sea cliffs and estuaries, They avoid sandy beaches and mudflats and are rarely seen inland.

The harsh environment along the coast has been chosen by Rock Pipits because there is less competition for food and nest sites with other species of songbirds.

The main diet of the Rock Pipit is small invertebrates small shrimps and sandhoppers), shellfish (periwinkles), insects (flies and beetles) and small fish,

Rock Pipits are inconspicuous as they forage among the stones, boulders and seaweed between the tides. They spend most of their time on the ground where they walk and run like other pipits. They can sometimes be seen on prominent rocks, piers and roads near beaches.

They are tame birds who generally take little notice of people (Birdguides – a short video of Rock Pipit - https://www.birdguides.com/species-gui…/ioc/anthus-petrosus/ ).

Rock Pipits are common, resident birds in their strongholds of Scotland and Wales. Most resident birds remain in the areas where they were hatched. A few British residents move more than 100 kilometres, or eighty miles, or more during the winter.

Resident birds are either absent or found in smaller numbers in the south, east and north-west of Britain.

Rock Pipits are found along the whole coast of both the Republic of and Northern Ireland.

Rock Pipits are particularly vulnerable to cold, harsh winter weather.

Large numbers of wintering Rock Pipits leave their breeding grounds in Scandinavia (Norway) and arrive on the coasts of Britain and Ireland in the autumn.

Wintering birds are widespread around the coasts where they also visit saltmarshes. Some are seen inland while foraging on the banks of rivers, reservoirs and gravel pits.

Most Rock Pipits in Europe head south for the winter to Greece, Algeria and Morocco.

Rock Pipits are generally quiet birds except between March and July when they make a “pseep” call.

Pairs begin breeding in April when males perform a song flight which is similar to that of the Meadow Pipit. The breeding season ends in July.

The female builds a nest in a hole in a cliff, a crevice in the rocks or on the ground hidden among vegetation along rocky shores, steep sea cliffs, offshore islands and harbours.

A cup-shaped nest is made of seaweed, grass and leaves with a finer lining of feathers.

Four or five eggs are laid in May which hatch after 2 weeks. The young leave the nest after 12 days and learn to fly after 15 or 16 days. Both parents look after the young who often raise 2 broods a year.

Breeding birds often forage on grasslands near the coast whereas these areas are deserted at other times of the year.

Young birds disperse after the breeding season and move further than adults when searching for new territories. They regularly visit nearby agricultural land.

Adults begin breeding when they are 1 year old. The average lifespan of the Rock Pipit is up to 5 years.

The Rock Pipit, Anthus petrosus, is a green-listed species of bird in both Britain and Ireland.

The population of Rock Pipits has declined on the Shetland Islands and parts of the east coast of Scotland in recent years.

Some of the threats to Rock Pipits are disturbance on beaches by holidaymakers, pollution and a lack of food in their coastal habitats.

The Rock Pipit is classified as of Least Concern by IUCN.

The whole breeding population of Rock Pipits is confined to Europe and described as “stable”.

For more information on the Meadow Pipit of Britain and Ireland, please visit
http://bird4u.mzzhost.com/index.html

Crested Tit of Britain

Crested Tits ( Lophophanes cristatus) are notoriously elusive birds who can only be found in the Highlands of Scotland. They are some of Scotland's most endearing and hyperactive birds who have happily increased in numbers in recent years.

Crested Tits are easily recognised by the lack of colour in their plumage as well as the distinctive black and white crest on their heads. The crests are often referred to as “Mohican tufts”.

Adults start breeding when they are 1 year of age. The typical lifespan of the Crested Tit is 2 years.

Crested Tits are resident birds that only live and breed in conifers and pine trees of the ancient Caledonian pine forests of Scotland. A few are found in mixed woodland.

Scots Pine is a habitat requirement as they attract Crested Tits more than any other species of tree.

Most of the population inhabit Speyside and in Inverness. Adults rarely move more than a kilometre, or less than a mile, from the areas when they were hatched.

A few sometimes move to feeders in gardens in the winter where they generally ignore humans.

Crested Tits are much more common among the coniferous forests in central and northern Europe. They prefer Scots Pine but also live happily among deciduous trees in woodland environments. However, Crested Tits in Britain only live in woods and forests where Scots Pine is available.

Scottish Crested Tits are pine specialist who share the same acrobatic characteristics as other members of the tit family. Foraging takes place by clinging to the trunks of trees and hanging upside-down on twigs.

Heather is another essential habitat requirement as they also feed on the ground, particularly during the winter.

The main diet of Crested Tits consists of insects, spiders, seeds and berries. The seeds of pines are particularly favoured in the winter. Food is hidden during the early winter and retrieved later as a store.

They are sociable birds who join flocks of small birds that roam around woodland during the autumn and winter months.

The breeding season is between March and June. Pairs are monogamous and form life-long bonds. They make their nests in the hollows and branches of dead trees. Nest boxes are regularly used.

The female excavates and removes the bark from an old tree. The nest is made of lichens, feathers, moss or other soft material.

Five or six eggs are laid in April and take between 13 and 16 days to hatch. The young learn to fly after 20 or 25 days. Both parents look after the young who raised 1 or 2 broods a year.

The young are able to fly from late May onwards although they rarely travel far. 

The Crested Tit is a green-listed species of bird in Britain. They were moved from amber-listed species of bird to the green list in 2015 because of “improvements” in their population.

The current population is small with only 1000 and 2000 pairs breeding in the UK. However, there has been a small range expansion in recent years.

The Crested tit is classified as of Least Concern by IUCN.

Europe holds over 95% of the population. The population of Crested Tits has undergone a “moderate decline” between 1980 and 2013.

The main threats experienced by Crested Tits are cold winters and loss of their woodland habitat.

For more information on the Blue Tit of the UK and Ireland, please visit
http://bird4u.mzzhost.com/bird_bluetit.html

Interesting Articles

BTO – Song of the Crested Tit - https://twitter.com/_BTO/status/1090344524617076737
RSPB -
https://community.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/b/scotland/posts/five-facts-about-crested-tits