Below are the results from our first bird survey of the year – excellent results to date
Note high numbers of Tree Pipit and new Winchat territories – red listed moorland bird species!
Our management plan is working even against heavy visitor numbers, dogs and campers. The number of glades we cut in last winter and the ongoing pony grazing are continuing to improve the extent of biodiversity on site.
Next Survey will be in July 2022
Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust:
Bellever Moorland Bird Survey. Visit 1
Species Codes: Meadow pipit (MP), Linnet (LI), Stonechat (SC), Whinchat (WC), Reed Bunting (RB), Tree Pipit (TP), Willow Warbler (WW), Grasshopper Warbler (GH), Cuckoo (CK), Carrion Crow (C), Kestrel (K), Whitethroat (WH), Wheatear (W), Dartford Warbler (DW), Redstart (RT).
Behaviour codes: P: Present in breeding season N: Visiting probable nest site A: Agitated behaviour B: Carrying nest material FL: Recently fledged young FY: Carrying food for young S: Male singing P: Pair in suitable habitat T: Territorial behaviour
|
Visit |
Species code (see below) |
Male, Female, Pair, Juvenile, Unsexed, or count |
Behaviour codes |
Notes |
|
WC |
1P+1M= 3 |
S, P, N, FY |
A pair of Whinchats located on the North easterly outcrop of Bellever tor, seen to be visiting a probable nest site with food. A second male was observed singing south of the tor in some scattered rowans. Whinchat require a mosaic of structural vegetation and scattered trees are important perches |
|
SC |
9P/M+ 4J= 22 |
N, A, FL, S, P, T |
Good population of Stonechat with several fledged young accompanying parent birds. Gorse and dense dwarf shrub cover found on site offers good nesting potential for this increasing Dartmoor bird. |
|
TP |
12M+1F+1J=14 |
S, T, FL, FY |
A high density of Tree pipits can be found within the Lakehead hill survey area. The Willow trees here offer some good perches, and a female was seen delivering food to a recently fledged juvenile close to a path. Two other males were heard in the clear-felled areas out of the survey area. |
|
MP |
10 |
S, T, FY |
Fewer meadow pipits than Tree pipits observed on this survey. The habitat north of Bellever tor seems to be most favourable to Meadow pipit due to their preference of more open ground with fewer trees and dense scrub. |
|
S |
1M |
S |
Only one Skylark was located on this survey, this is probably due to the sparseness of open grassland habitat which this species favours. The one bird located was displaying on the boundary between a neighbouring newtake which was largely grass moor (A species poor habitat however.) |
|
WW |
7M |
S |
Good numbers of this species on site and some could have gone missed. Likes moorland fringe habitat with a preference of broadleaved trees which are increasing on site. |
|
LI |
1 |
PRESENT |
Only 1 was seen on site. On moorland it is mostly found at lower altitudes, likes to nest in gorse. |
|
C |
1 |
PRESENT |
One flyover |
|
CK |
1 |
PRESENT |
Only 1 bird was seen, probable female. Observations of this species begin to decline in June as adult birds leave their breeding grounds. |
|
RT |
1M
|
S |
One bird seen on site boundary. Favours Woodland and Moorland fringe habitat. Increasing. |
Observers: Visit 1: Jude Dinham-Price, Dru Butterfield and Oscar Hendrickson.
