Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust: Bellever Moorland
Bird Survey. Visit 1 2023
SURVEYS COMPLETED BY – Jude Dinham-Price
| 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). Added this year: Raven (RN), Hen Harrier (HH), Sparrowhawk (SP), Chiffchaff (CC). 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 | Male, Female, Pair, Juvenile, Unsexed or count | Behaviour Code | Notes |
| 01/05/2023
|
HH | 1F | PRESENT – Hunting | A ringtail observed hunting the western flank of Bellever Tor. First sighting here during the last three years especially late for Dartmoor |
| 01/05/2023
|
SC | 6P+4F+2M=18 | N,A,FL,S,P,T | Good population of Stonechat again this year. However close relative the winchat was missing this year perhaps due to similar reasons to tree pipit slow migration and unfavourable weather |
| 01/05/2023
|
TP | 1M however 3 were heard just outside the immediate survey area in the clear fell regions to the west of the survey site | S | Far fewer Tree pipit this year potentially due to weather conditions or slow migration this year. Hopefully more will be found on the second visit |
| 30/05/2023
|
MP | 11 | S,T,FY | Lots of meadow pipit in preferable tree habitat this year. The habitat north of Bellever Tor seems to be most favourable to the Meadow pipit due to their preference of more open ground with fewer trees and dense scrub |
| 30/05/2023
|
S | 3M | S,T | Similar territories to last year with a further male observed to the North of the Tor |
| 30/05/2023
|
WW | 13M + 1 confirmed pair = 15
|
S,P | Good number of this species on site and some could have been missed. Likes Moorland fringe habitat with a preference to broadleaved trees which are increasing on site |
| 30/05/2023 | LI | 2 | PRESENT | Flyover by pair |
| 01/05/2023
|
C | 5 | PRESENT | Active pairs on site |
| 01/05/2023
|
CK | 4 | PRESENT | Great view of four cuckoos covering most of the heath on Bellever Tor, territorial disputes between two males were observed for 15 minutes |
| 01/05/2023
|
RT | 3M | S | Three birds seen on site boundary to the west in the conifers. Favours woodland and Moorland fringe habitat. Increasing nationwide |
| 01/05/2023
|
GH | 2M | S | First confirmed sighting of two separate males over the last three years both reeling from western gorse to the eastern edge of the site |
| 01/05/2023
|
CC | 5M | S | Decided to start recording this species on site. Seemed to be marginally higher numbers this year and occupy a similar niche to willow warbler so competition may arise due to upslope shift |
| 01/05/2023
|
RN | 1 | C | 1 calling from tree at North end of site |
| 01/05/2023
|
SP | 1 | PRESENT – hunting | Not a specific moorland species but a good indicator of prey availability in the form of moorland passerines |
SECOND VISIT – Jude Dinham-Price
| 15/06/2023 | WC | Pair | A,FY | Same location to where a male was singing last year |
| 15/06/2023 | SC | 6P+1F+4fL=13 Adults and four fledglings | N,A,FL,S,P,T | Good population of Stonechat again this year in the usual territories. Souh of Bellever is optimal |
| 15/06/2023 | TP | 9M+1+1FL=11 adults and 1 fledgling
However heard 1 just outside the immediate survey area in the clear fell regions to the west of the survey site per usual |
S | Far fewer tree pipit during early visit but more in the second visit. Potentially slow migration. Potential fledging in Laughter Tor transect and female near nest on Lakehead Hill |
| 15/06/2023 | MP | 7P+3FL | S,T,FY | Lots of meadow pipit in preferable tree habitat this year. The habitat north of Bellever Tor seems to be most favourable to the Meadow pipit due to their preference of more open ground with fewer trees and dense scrub |
| 15/06/2023 | S | 1P+1MS | S.T,N | Similar territories to last year wih a probable nest near to Bellever Tor |
| 15/06/2023 | WW | 8M+2P=12 | S,P | Good number of this species on site and some could have been missed. Likes Moorland fringe habitat with a preference to broadleaved trees which are increasing on site. Fewer in late visit due to nesting or loss of passage birds |
| 15/06/2023 | LI | Pair | PRESENT | Flyover by pair |
| 15/06/2023 | CK | 1 | PRESENT, T | Active male on site near Bellever |
| 15/06/2023 | CC | 3M | S | Decided to start recording this species on site. Seemed to be marginally higher numbers this year and occupy a similar niche to willow warbler so competition may arise due to upslope shift |
