Some like it cold! But Snow Buntings seem to have adapted well to climate warming - so far

                                 

'Resilent little polar birds' - Snow Buntings on the Lincolnshire Coast 

AN update on the current status of Snow Buntings in Britain has come from the RSPB.

The society says that around 60 pairs breed in the Cairngorms and others parts of the Scottish Highlands.

However, the population soars in winter when "10,000-15,000" birds migrate south, mostly from Iceland and Scandinavia.

The latest edition of  The RSPB Magazine states that this figure "has increased by a third over the past 40 years".

Potential places to see them include coastal fields, dunes and saltmarsh, especially along the North Sea.

Says the report: "They are tough birds, breeding further north than any small passerine.

"With dense feather insulation and a crouched walking habit to keep feet warm, Snow Buntings are well adapted to the cold.

"But they must feed constantly to sustain their high meabolism, so habitat protection and minimal disturbance is crucial."

The article concludes: "Climate change in their Arctic breeding grounds poses a serious challenge to these resilient little polar birds."

                         

Snow Bunting in  The Cairngorms where they breed on high ground