The Game & Wildlife
Conservation Trust’s (GWCT) 2016 Big Farmland Bird Count (BFBC) has been an
incredible success. Nearly 1,000 farmers spotted 130 species across the UK.
This year the count not only beat the last two years’ records, but also
included the spotting of several rare birds over the week. The highlights were
a ring ouzel and snow bunting.
The ring ouzel was spotted by
NFU’s Vice President, Guy Smith, in a field adjacent to his house. Ring ouzels
usually migrate from the Mediterranean to the west of the UK to breed. This
ouzel was ahead of the game, as breeding does not usually occur for this
species until mid-April to mid-July. Guy’s sharp eyes and ears led him to spot
the bird singing with the resident thrushes and blackbirds.
While Guy Smith was spotting birds
in his paddock in Essex, Matt Willmot and Jenny Parsons from Natural England
saw a rarity of their own. As they were taking part in the count with farmer
Hugh Darbishire, on his farm in Warwickshire, Matt and Jenny managed to get a
rare and exciting view of a snow bunting.
Hugh Darbishire is a young farmer
who, for over a decade, has dedicated his sheep and arable farm to helping
farmland bird numbers. By using key techniques such as bird seed mixes and wild
flower patches, Hugh has encouraged farmland birds to take up residence on his
farm.
Matt Willmot, Natural England
Advisor, said; “This was my third year of taking part in the Big Farmland Bird
Count and I will definitely be counting again next year. The time you put in
really counts towards the support of our farmland birds. It is always a
pleasure not only to take part in the event, but to encourage local farmers to
count their resident birds as well.”
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