More Birds, More Diversity

As the alarm sounds at 5am I can already hear the earliest of birds tweeting away. Like pretty much all aspects of this project, I have a lot to learn when it comes to identifying birds by sight, let alone by sound. Thankfully, I am accompanied by bird conservationist Nick Myhill, who has kindly volunteered to help monitor bird populations at Lofftwen, and to teach me what he can along the way.

Although birds were noted on our general ecological survey 4 years ago, which counted 22 different species, this is the first dedicated bird survey we’ve conducted at Lofftwen. Nick tells me it’s been a slow start for birds this year, perhaps due to the late cold snap and lack of rain reducing the number of insects that draws them here. It’s also earlier than usual to be conducting a bird survey, as many are still arriving from their winter feeding grounds, so we will be repeating the exercise in about three weeks. Having two surveys that span this transition phase, Nick says, will give us a more complete picture of Lofftwen’s bird populations. It’s only 6.10 in the morning and I’ve learned a lot already.

As we traipse around the hills we stop regularly and listen. Nick attempts to isolate certain calls for me. It is a lot to take in, but my first hit is a singing Chaffinch somewhere in the orchard, now firmly etched in my brain as having the rhythm of a medium-paced bowler’s run up in cricket. There are some I would have walked straight past – Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Blackcap for instance – and others that I think I’ve grasped, such as Tree Pipit, only for them to escape through the backdoor as I wrestle with a Willow Warbler, who, with its easily identifiable falling lilt is at least here to stay, I hope...

Between us, although mostly Nick, we identify 39 different bird species, an increase of over 43% on May 2017. Many of the birds identified are on the BOCC amber and red list species of concern (full list below). Of particular note were the high number of Willow Warblers, Tree Pipits, and Redstarts. One of our challenges, as the mix of scrubland, meadow, wetland and woodland habitats mature, is to make sure we don’t lose what has attracted these pioneers to settle here in the first place. As we complete the final leg of our survey, I mention the idea of sowing a couple of fields with arable. Nick’s eyes light up. This is the single greatest thing we could do, he explains, to increase the number and types of birds who would summer at Lofftwen. Is anyone out there good with a plough?

LOFFTWEN SURVEY 21/4/21

Canada Goose (Branta Canadensis): Only overflying, A group of 4 and 2 at different times.

Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus): Calling males throughout, some on surrounding farmland.

Buzzard (Buteo buteo): Only 1 bird seen flying.

Red Kite (Milvus milvus): 3 sightings of flying birds.

Stock Dove (Columba oenas): 2 sightings, flying pairs, Ffos-y-fign and path after burial ground.

Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus): A dozen sightings or calling birds, throughout.

Barn Owl (Tyto alba): By Ffos-y-fign, 7 am.

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major): Heard drumming throughout except on peak.

Skylark (Alauda arvensis): Heard and seen in rough grassy habitat in higher plantations, unplanted peak, beyond boundary west. At least 4 different singing males.

Swallow (Hirundo rustica): A few birds seen flying in and out of Lofftwen buildings.

Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis):Several singing males throughout the new plantations (see comment).

Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis): Only half a dozen confirmed sightings and 1 singing male.

Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba): Male seen by Lofftwen buildings.

Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes): Common throughout, not counted.

Dunnock (Prunella modularis): One pair seen by bramble near quarry-hole.

Robin (Erithacus rubecula): Frequently heard except on highest ground, not counted.

Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus): Several singing males by old hedges (see comment), 2 ♂♂ chasing by Ffos-y-fign deserted buildings.

Stonechat (Saxicola torquata): 2 different males seen, neither singing: 87104733 (gorse in plantation); 87444721 (bottom of plantation above lower path). None were observed after autumn.

Blackbird (Turdus merula): Not counted, but large number of males singing on Lofftwen and Geufron.

Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos): 4 different singing males in lower parts of Loftwen.

Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus ): 1 singing male somewhere near Lofftwen buildings (not located precisely).

Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla): 1 singing male in dense woodland by Coach House.

Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita): 1 male heard in copse by Lofftwen farm.

Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus): At least 25 different males heard, mostly but not only in plantations (see comment).

Pied Flycatcher (Ficedul hypoleuca): 1 female seen in trees up track from Lofftwen Farmhouse.

Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus): Common in old hedges including in plantations, where clearly finding natural nest-holes; most birds seen in pairs, but not counted; at least 15 sightings.

Great Tit (Parus major): In same habitat as BT, but much less commonly observed on this survey, just 3 sightings with 1 singing.

Nuthatch (Sitta europaea): Noisy and heard more or less continually across lower parts of survey area, no attempt at distinguishing territories.

Magpie (Pica pica): Only seen in field towards village.

Jackdaw (Corvus monedula): Presumed to be nesting both at Lofftwen and Ffos-y-fign, at least 6 birds in each of these sites. At Ffos-y-fign, chased Barn Owl.

Carrion Crow (Corvus corone): Seen singly and in small groups throughout, not counted.

Raven (Corvus corax): Only 2 single birds seen, near peak.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus): Only 3 or 4 birds seen around Lofftwen buildings, less observed on this than some previous occasions.

Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs): Several males heard in lower parts of survey, not counted.

Linnet (Carduelis cannabina): At least 3 different birds (1+2) seen near quarry, no singing male heard.

Lesser Redpoll (Carduelis cabaret): 1 bird seen in mature conifer above Lofftwen farmhouse, probably male.

Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula): Pair seen in trees beside track just above Lofftwen farmhouse, and at least 1 bird overflying lower path below quarry. Interestingly has been observed on every visit to date.

Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus): 1 ♂ singing weakly in hedge by pony field, Ffos-y-fign; 1 other bird in rushy area of plantation between Ffos-y-fign and Geufron boundary, not singing, not sure of sex.