Mixed picture on breeding fortunes of Ring Ouzels at RSPB reserves in England and Scotland

                                               

This trio of Ring Ouzels were spotted in a field in Lincolnshire - a stop-off county on their migration from northern Africa to Britain's moorlands

A NOTE of disappointment has been sounded by the RSPB  on the breeding fortunes in England  of  Ring Ouzels.

The society is disappointed that at two of its reserves in the Lake District -  Geltsdale and Haweswater - only 11 birds were recorded  in the 2025 breeding season.

This is lower than in previous years when there have sometimes been 20-plus.

On the plus side, numbers  appear to be holding up at its Dove Stone reserve in the Peak District, not far from Manchester, where eight singing males were recorded last summer.

There is also good  news from its Abernethy reserve in the Scottish Highlands, with 15 singing males recorded last summer. This compares with six in the previous survey in 2021.

Ring Ouzels migrate here from wintering grounds - shared with Dotterels - in  the Atlas mountains in North Africa.

                                                   

Dove Stone is  owned by the United Utilities water company but managed by the RSPB 

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RSPB scientist warns: 'Dotterels are disappearing almost before our very eyes'

                                                             

Although it occurs on migration in  England and Wales, breeding is restricted to high ground in Scotland 

IT is now looking increasingly certain that the Dotterel will soon be lost as a breeding species in Britain.

When a survey of 217 potential site was carried out in spring and summer last year, only 22 contained breeding birds.

It  may be that there were nesting birds elsewhere, but researchers reckon that, at best, the breeding population of Britain is now no more than  just 112 pairs.

This compares with 981 pairs when a similar project was carried out in 1989.

But the decline is believed to date back at least to the 1950s.

The species is migratory and spends winter in the Atlas mountains of North Africa.

It is many years since  breeding Dotterels have been detected in England, Wales or southern Scotland. The surviving  population is now restricted to the eastern and northern Highlands of Scotland. 

A gloomy note is sounded by one of the researchers, Dr Leah Kelly of the  RSPB: "We are seeing Dotterels disappear almost before our very eyes. 

"The fact they need mountain tops to breed has made them particularly susceptible to habitat loss as climate change alters their montane environment.

"Importantly, Dotterels' preferred food, cranefly larvae, also appear to have undergone declines in UK montane sites."

Although prospects look bleak, the RSPB suggests  grazing management to keep habitat in good condition and reducing disturbance by hillwalkers and dogs, may provide some help.

Photos: RSPB

                                       

Mountain range in the Cairngorms - habitat favoured (until climate change) by the Dotterel

Publicity poster for Hitchcock's famous 'ornithological' movie fails to take flight at auction

                                                       

On the scarce occasions when birds are depicted in film poster imagery, they are sometimes cast  in an unfavourable light as in this publicity poster for Alfred Hitchcock's famous horror movie, The Birds, which went under the hammer at an auction conducted earlier today by auction house Ewbank's. The pre-sale guide price was that it would sell for between £200 and £400, but the price achieved (including buyers fees) ended up being a slightly disappointing £195.

Bumper price at Christie's auction for original 1859 copy of Charles Darwin's Origin of Species

                                              

In advance of a sale held earlier this week, auction house Christie's had high hopes for Lot 168 - an original 1859 copy of Charles Darwin's famous Origin of Species. In excellent condition, it is one of a print-run of just 1250 copies, so the pre-sale estimate was that it would fetch between £100,000 and £150,000. This proved to be an under-estimate - the price realised was a remarkable £190,500! The identity of the successful bidder has not been divulged.

Raptors galore! Woodland on edge of Derbyshire Dales on market with price tag of £36,000

      

It is not known which songbirds might nest in  Rowan Edge Wood

A BROADLEAF woodland with views across the Derbyshire Dales has been put on the market.

The price tag for freehold of the 1.55-acre Rowan Edge Wood, near Wirksworth, Derbyshire is  £36,000. 

Say the agents: "The skies above frequently host Red Kites, Buzzards and Hobbies, while, down at ground level, Badger, Fox and Roe Deer are regularly sighted. 

"After dark falls. the calls of the Tawny Owl and the high-pitched squeak of bats fill the summer nights." 

Could there also be Redstarts, Pied Flycatchers and Wood Warblers? Who knows

They continue: "The woodland is moderate to severely sloping with some flatter areas towards the top. 

While this does present some management and access challenges, with a little industry and a few weekends of graft, one could create some very useful plateaux. 

"This would make use of the flat space and take advantage of the incredible views over the dales, including the historic Wirksworth dream cave, a natural limestone cavern where 43,000-year-old Woolly Rhinoceros remains were found in the 1800s."

More details from Wood4Sale at:  info@woods4sale.co.uk                                

View over the Derbyshire Dales

Migrating Whimbrel makes presence felt in new movie set partly on scenic Irish Coast

                                                 

The seven-whistle call of an overhead Whimbrel and a brief glimpse of a Chough in tumbling flight are ornithological highlights of 500 Miles, now being screened in British cinemas.  It is a somewhat disappointing film featuring mostly unappealing fictional characters,  unconvincing acting (even by veteran Bill Nighy) and persistently abrasive and uncouth dialogue. However, it is just about redeemed by the beautiful scenery around Dingle on the Irish coast, a clever late twist in the plot and a moving, sentiment-packed final sequence. 

                                      

Heard but not seen in new movie - Whimbrel

Bygone birding: artist-illustrator Eleazar Albin reflects on that most curious of birds, the Wryneck

                                         

Below is an extract  from a description by Eleazar Albin of the Wryneck in one of the first ornithological books, A Natural History of British Birds, published in 1731:

It strangely and ridiculously turns its head back to its shoulders.

It feeds upon ants which it strikes with its tongue, and then, contracting it, swallows them without ever touching them with its bill, having a glutinous matter sticking on the tongue. 

The hen is paler than the cock, being of a more cinereous colour.