MarkyMark's Nature Blog:- The Curlew #19

Curlew in seaweed - Photo by Mark Appleton

Today I am going to be a little bit selfish and talk about my favourite bird, the Curlew and raise awareness to the reasons for its decline and how we can help. Why is it my favourite, because it is so different with its huge bent bill and evocative, sad, eerie, bubbling, song, that can often be heard during the winter time along the coast when the tide is out.

The Curlew song and flight call can be heard by clicking on this link:-

Curlew Song

Curlew Call

 When I show people the Curlew through my spotting scope the general reaction is  "WOW". Its not only their bill but their beautiful plumage when seen close up that dazzles. Not everyone can get to a green space, but now some of the lock down restrictions have been relaxed and people are able to drive to locations to exercise, it is important we are aware of our ground nesting birds and the impact we can have on them. Think twice we before you trample off into the undergrowth or let your dog off the lead in what maybe a very sensitive area, especially in forest and heathland.

Curlew looking for food - Photo by Mark Appleton

Unfortunately the breeding population of the Curlew is on a downward curve and they are now endangered and placed on the red list. The RSPB recognizes the Curlew as one of the highest priority conservation species in the UK.

I worked as a  Bird Aware Solent ranger last winter. See more here:- Bird Aware Solent. I often saw Curlew feeding at low tide looking for marine worms and crustaceans in the sand. I was involved with engaging with the public to help them enjoy the coast but at the same time making people aware of the effects of  disturbance to the overwintering birds. Disturbance could be due to walkers, dog walkers, watersport users, joggers etc etc. If a bird flies, once disturbed, it will use valuable energy flying off and a days worth of feeding can soon be easily wasted. They may not return to the valuable feeding area.  One reason I took the job as a ranger was to try and help with the conservation of wildlife for future generations to enjoy.


The Curlew is our largest breeding wader with a very long deeply downcurved bill and long legs. Its head is rather plain lacking the bold stripes on the crown of the similar looking but smaller Whimbrel. The female has a longer bill than the male.

Curlew - Photo by Mark Appleton

So why am I talking about the Curlew now, especially when you are most likely to spot one on the shoreline in winter. Well because their breeding season is now (April/May) and they are very vulnerable as a ground nesting bird to human disturbance and natural predators. They are still moderately common coastal birds but they have declined greatly on their (generally) moorland nesting grounds. Figures released by conservation group Wild New Forest (WNF) show a decline of two thirds in breeding pairs in the New Forest national park in the last 10 years. Disturbance is likely to be one of the major causes of the decline. It’s vital that we do all we can to reduce instances of these birds being startled by people and the nests and young being abandoned.

Curlew flying - Photo by Mark Appleton

Conservationists say that people out and about in the New Forest can take simple steps to help save these rare birds. Anyone can play a vital part in protecting curlews by minimising disturbance on their breeding grounds in spring and summer. Curlews and other New Forest breeding waders typically nest in open areas of heath and bog, so it is here that special care is needed by sticking to the main paths and keeping dogs on the lead to avoid adults being disturbed and abandoning their chicks.

Curlew - Photo by Mark Appleton

Did You Know:-

• Curlews are migratory, but are present all year in the milder climate of the British Isles and the adjacent European coasts.
• Within its range the Curlew is most similar to the Whimbrel, but the latter is smaller and has a shorter bill that is less smoothly curved.
• They eat mostly worms, crabs and invertebrates, which they find by touch using their long curved bill to probe soft mud.
• Curlews are long lived birds and adults can reach 30 years of age.
• The end of a Curlew’s bill is sensitive and acts independently, acting like tweezers which enables it to feel around in the mud for prey.
  

As mentioned previously Curlews are ground nesters. The male makes several scrapes and one is selected and lined by the female. The 2-5 eggs are laid in April or May and are incubated for 27-29 days by both adults. Curlew chicks are up and running and looking for food within hours of hatching. The chicks need vegetation where their undeveloped bills can pick insects of plants, but Curlew chicks also need space. If there it too much tightly packed vegetation, they can't move through it and if dense plants get waterlogged by rain, the chicks will get too cold and wet and wont survive.

Curlew -Photo by Mark Appleton

The good news is that plenty of work has been done with signage to raise awareness in the New Forest. These signs make it clear that walkers and their dogs, runners, cyclists and horse riders should all stay on the main tracks when crossing heathland from now until August.

So remember our wildlife when going for a walk. It is the nesting time of year for our fabulous ground nesting Curlew, as well as others such as Meadow Pipet, Nightjar, Dartford Warbler. Lapwing and Skylarks to name a few.

For more information on the Curlew click on the following links:-

RSPB - The Curlew

The Wildlife Trusts - The Curlew

BTO - The Curlew

and lastly

A BIG SHOUT OUT FOR ALL OUR ESSENTIAL KEY WORKERS WHO ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES

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MarkyMark's Nature Blog:- The Thrush #18

Song Thrush in woodland - Photo by Mark Appleton

Now is a great time of year to listen to the Dawn chorus, with International Dawn Day just having occurred on Sunday May 4th. If you can get up before there is any light  in the sky, it really is worth hearing the Dawn Chorus build up to a crescendo.  Not everyone can get to a green space or has a garden so I will try and bring a little bit of nature to you

I was outside on a couple of occasions at 4.45 am last week, a good hour before sun rise. On these two occasions one of the first birds to start the dawn chorus was the Song thrush. Therefore I have decided to write a blog on the Song Thrush with comparisons to the  Mistle Thrush. The Song Thrush is less common than the blackbird but is still a very common bird found in many gardens. The Mistle Thrush is the scarcest of our three garden thrushes. It has a preference for larger gardens with tall, mature trees.

Song Thrush perched on a garden bush - Photo by Tony Tiller

There are six regularly occurring 'British' larger thrushes. These are Blackbird, Ring Ouzel, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Redwing and Fieldfare. Redwing and Fieldfare are termed winter thrushes and the Ring Ouzel is usually a passage migrant.

All feed on a variety of insects, invertebrates and fruit. Blackbirds are woodland and parkland birds. feeding in leaf litter or on lawns and they eat plenty of worms, insect larvae but also plenty of fruit. Song Thrushes on the other hand are shyer birds with a greater preference for the cover of woodland and a higher proportion of invertebrates in their diet. They particularly favour snails and you may find shells in your garden where the snails have been bashed on stones which have been used as an anvil.

People do sometimes confuse  the Song Thrush with the Mistle Thrush and can be hard to identify in photographs.

Song Thrush
It has dark spots that are neat, dark arrow shapes that point upwards towards its head and usually arranged in neat rows. The breast also has a slight yellow/brown colour which the Mistle Thrush does not have. The contrasting pale belly should also rule out the female Blackbird, In flight the Song Thrush has pale yellow/brown on its underwing closest to its body.

Song Thrush running - Photo by Paul Willis

Song Thrush looking for food - Photo by Mark Appleton

Key Features of Song Thrush are:-

• Warm brown on top with a speckled underside
• Speckles are upward pointed arrow shapes arranged in neatish lines
• Plain looking face
• Yellow/brown infusion on upper breast

Mistle Thrush

Mistle Thrush - Photo by Mark Appleton

Mistle Thrush looking for food - Photo by Mark Appleton

The Mistle Thrush is larger than a Song Trush with longer wings and tail.
Sometimes it is useful to identify the bird in its surroundings as well as by its actual appearance. A Mistle thrush often feeds in fruit trees which is a big help for identification. Also has a long thick bill. The jumbled arrangement and shape of breast spots, not being as arrow shaped as in a Song Thrush is also a good clue. In flight the underwing is white unlike that of the Song Thrush.

Key Features of Mistle Thrush are:-

• Typical speckled thrush appearance
• Spots are 'blob-like' and scattered, rather than in neat rows
• Upper parts have a lighter or colder tone
• It has a large, strong bill

One feature that is unmistakeable in identification between the Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush is its song. Song thrushes have a most distinctive song which is very loud. It has a similar tone of a blackbird but each short phrase is repeated two, three or four times before a slight pause, then the repetition of a new phrase. As mentioned at the start of this blog, it can be  heard very early at the beginning of the day when there is little light in the sky, but also at the end of the day rather than during the middle of the day. For a Song Thrush song, click on the following link:- Song Thrush

The Mistle Thrush songs are similar to Blackbird, but more stereotyped and simple in structure and rhythm. Has been described as a sadder sound than the Blackbirds. Again sings most frequently at dawn and dusk, usually singing from the tops of tall trees. For a Mistle Thrush song, click on the following link:- Mistle Thrush Song


For further information on the Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush click on the following links:-

RSPB - Song Thrush

Garden Birds - Song Thrush

WoodlandTrust - Song Thrush

RSPB - Mistle Thrush

Garden Birds - Mistle Thrush

WoodlandTrust - Mistle Thrush

and lastly

A BIG SHOUT OUT FOR ALL OUR ESSENTIAL KEY WORKERS WHO ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES

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MarkyMark's Nature Blog:- Terns #17

Roseate Tern

This blog is slightly different to previous blogs, with respect to it not being about garden or woodland wildlife. As a change, I thought I would talk about the arrival of our spring, ground-nesting seabirds. This may help with tern identification for those who can walk to the coast now or when lockdown relaxes. Like a lot of people, I cannot visit the coast at present as I do not live close enough to do my daily exercise. Therefore I will try and bring a little bit of the coast to you in this blog. The Solent hosts three species of our most elegant breeding seabirds; Sandwich, Common and Little Terns. The Roseate Tern also used to breed here, but hasn't done so since 2006. The Roseate Tern is Europe's rarest nesting sea bird. In recent years all tern populations have unfortunately declined.

Common Tern feeding chicks - Photo by Paul Willis

I have previously worked for Bird Aware Solent working as a ranger along the Solent coast line, helping people to enjoy the coast without disturbing the thousands of birds hat over-winter here.

Common Tern - Photo by Mark Appleton

Before the lockdown occurred, I was due to work as a Tern Warden for the RSPB Roseate Tern Life Recovery Project along the South coast. Unfortunately due to the Corona Virus outbreak this had to be cancelled. A lot of people have worked very hard for many years to help this tern conservation and have seen successes in Ireland and North East England. This work is still on going along the South coast to try and expand the Roseate Tern's range. I will describe a little bit about the project as well as the different Terns we are likely to encounter along the Solent. The overall purpose of the RSPB Roseate Tern LIFE Recovery Project is to improve the conservation prospects of Roseate erns throughout its range in the UK and Ireland by improving its breeding status in the UK and helping the species reclaim its former habitats. For this to happen it is important all species of tern thrive. Roseate Terns never breed on their own, so the larger the colonies of neighbouring tern species, the better. Roseate Terns are relatively timid and prefer to nest among the more assertive Common Tern colonies where they gain some protection from predators.




Conservation efforts aim to improve the Common Tern colonies within the former range of Roseate Terns in the hope that big thriving colonies of Common Terns will lure Roseate Terns to settle there once again.

Sea Bird Threats

• Eroding Nesting Habitat:- This is a big problem, due to the sea level increase and extreme weather events a lot of nests get washed away, or chicks perish with adverse weather
• Food Shortages:-Due to climate induced changes in the marine environment eg. dwindling stocks of small fish such as sandeels.
• Human disturbance:- Nest disturbance by humans, dog walkers and they still suffer from egg collectors
• Predation:- Natural predators include foxes, otters, rats, large gulls, crows and peregrine falcons
  

The North-West Solent is the principal breeding location for Common, Sandwich and Little Tern in the Solent and Southampton Water special protected area (SPA). This is where I would have been working, especially around the Lymington and Keyhaven Nature reserve. I have not included the Artic Tern in this blog as it tends to be a more northerly breeder.

Gulls and Terns 
A lot of people confuse Terns with Seagulls. Firstly there is no such species as a seagull but there are many different types of species of gull. Secondly a tern is not a gull and there are also several species of tern. Some differences between terns and gulls are described below:-

Wings:- Terns have long-pointed wings while gulls have broad wings. 
Bills:- Terns have sharp bills while gulls have hooked beaks. 
Body:- Terns are smaller. 
Predatory practice :- Terns tend to dive to the water to grab fish while gulls float on water to pick up prey.

All Terns are migratory, often seen outside their breeding areas in spring and autumn, but absent from Europe in winter as they return to Western Africa

The Terns of the Western Solent

Roseate Tern
Sometimes referred to as a 'sea swallow'. Approximately over 100 pairs on Coquet island in the North East of England.

Roseate Tern calling - Photo by Amanda Boyd (USFWS)

Roseate Tern flying - By NatureFramingham

Identification:- Similar in size to a Common Tern, much much whiter, with a pale grey back and wings . Roseate has features similar to the Common and Artic Terns, having a long bill and relatively long legs and even longer tail streamers than the Artic Tern. The all dark bill is a strong feature of the spring Roseate Tern, which usually develops a red base as the summer progresses. It is a very pale tern, looking whitish except for a darker wedge on the leading edge of the longest flight feathers in late summer. Often has a pinkish or slight rosy flush to its underparts.

The sounds of a Roseate Tern can be heard here:- Roseate Tern Sound

Key Features:-

• Very pale, almost ghostly white tern

• Very long, loose tail streamers

• Nearly wholly black bill

Habits:-

• In flight has a stiffer action than Common and Artic Terns.
• It also has faster shallow wingbeats that are almost kestrel like.
• When fishing, it looks more confident as it turns and flies from a greater height into water than the Common Tern

Breeding:-

• Normally nests on small marine islands close to shore
• Nesting begins in June, shallow scrape made by both birds, usually in shelter of rock or vegetation
• Clutch of 1 or 2 eggs, incubated by both parents, with female main incubator
• Eggs hatch after 21-26 days, young stay near nest for up to 20 days, usually fly by 30 days
• Remain dependant on parents for at least 8 weeks after fledging.

Unfortunately now rarely seen on the Solent. Keep your eyes peeled. 

Common Tern
Common Terns frequently breed along the Solent. They will use a wider range of breeding sites than the Roseate Terns. They will nest inshore and will readily use artificial sites, including floating rafts. Approximately 10,500 UK pairs. 

Common Tern - Photo by Amanda Boyd (USFWS)

Common Tern flying Photo by Tony Hisgett

Identification:-
This is the tern most likely to breed inland as well as the coast. It has classic tern features with grey wings, black cap and red bill but its the wings that give a lot of clues to its identification. The inner wings (called the secondaries) form a narrow dark band. The outer primary feathers instead of being pale and translucent have a dark, smudgy, wedge. Its body looks moderate in proportion, with mid-length tail streamers.

The sounds of the Common Tern can be heard here:- Common Tern Sound

Key Features:-

• Classic tern pattern of grey wings, black cap and red bill
• Tail streamers of moderate length
• Long bill is red with a black tip
• Dark 'wedge' in the outer primary feathers

Habits:-

• Flight more direct and powerful than other smaller terns
• When fishing, flies with bill pointed down and often rises gently before hovering and diving head first
• A social species breeding in colonies and often seen in flocks
• Sometimes seen carrying a fish crossways in its bill to feed young or as a courtship offering to the female.

Breeding:-

• Breeding begins in May, with both adults constructing a scrape in the sand
• Sometimes pebbles and vegetation are added to the rim of the nest before and during incubation
• Incubation of 2 or 3 well-camouflaged eggs is by both sexes and lasts for 21-22 days
• Young leave the nest after 3-4 days and hide in nearby vegetation or in hollows in the sand whilst waiting to be fed
• They fly after 22-28 days and are fully independent after 2 or 3 months
  

Sandwich Tern

The sandwich Tern is the largest breeding tern in the UK. You can usually recognize it by its shaggy black crest. Approximately 11,000 UK pairs.

Sandwich Tern perched - Photo by Ron Knight

Sandwich Tern Flying - Photo by Richard Enfield

Identification:-
It has a front-heavy look, compounded by having a relatively short tail and large head, with a shaggy crest at the back. The bill is long and thick, black with a small yellow tip and the legs and feet are black.

The sounds of a Sandwich Tern can be found here:- Sandwich Tern Sound

Key Features:-

• Pale wings
• Relatively large head and short tail
• A long bill which is black with a yellow tip

Habits:-

• Often flies higher than other terns and can look very 'angular' and less buoyant
• Looks short tailed and will often fly with head and  bill pointing down
• Seldom hovers, but frequently dives with quite a large splash and usually stays under for longer than other terns
• Colonies can seem fickle and appear to move for no apparent reason

Breeding:-

• Breeds exclusively in coastal locations. using shingle, sandy and sometimes rocky beaches and also islands close to the shore
• Breeding begins at end of April and nests in large colonies with both adults making a simple scrape on the ground with little or no special lining
• 1 or 2 eggs are incubated by both adults for 21-29 days
• The young fly at 28-30 days and remain dependant on their parents for about 3 months

Little Tern

The Little Tern, as its name suggests, is the smallest of the terns and is the UK's second rarest breeding seabird. Approximately under 2000 pairs in the UK.

Little Tern - Photo by David Raju

Little Tern flying - Photo by Stefan Berndtsson

Identification:-
A tiny localised tern, much smaller than the other sea terns. It has a relatively large sized head in comparison with rest of the body. The forehead is white and the bill is yellow with a black tip. Legs are also yellow but usually hard to see. Its slightness is also emphasised by the extremely pointed wings and narrow bill giving it a 'spiky' appearance.

The sounds of a Little Tern can be found here:- Little Tern

Key Features:-

• Very slim wings and relatively large head
• Yellow bill
• White forehead extending over eye
• Fine black leading edge of underwing

Habits:-

•  Wingbeats are very fast
•  It frequently hovers before diving into the water
•  Does not normally form very large communal flocks like the larger terns
•  Breeds in colonies of average 30 pairs

Western Solent Status
The EU life Roseate Tern Recovery Project is trying innovative habitat creation and restoration techniques to improve the breeding success of our terns. Hopefully this will encourage the beautiful Roseate Tern to nest along the Solent once again. This work is being carried out in partnership with organisations including Hampshire County Council, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Lymington Harbour commissioners, National Trust, Natural England and the RSPB.

For more information on the Roseate Tern project, click on this link:-

Roseate Tern Life Recovery Project

For more information on Gulls and Terns, click on this link:-

RSPB - Gulls and Terns

and lastly

A BIG SHOUT OUT FOR ALL OUR ESSENTIAL KEY WORKERS WHO ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES

STAY AT HOME   HELP THE NHS   SAVE LIVES