It was one of my Hebridean holiday aspirations to see a corncrake, a secretive little bird, that at one time used to live in our meadow, here in north Derbyshire so Freddy the farmer told me. Fre…
CORNCRAKE
The first comprehensive and accessible account of the life cycle and ecology of this fascinating bird which provides up-to-date information on the geographical status and habitat requirements for the continued survival of this iconic bird species.\nChanges in farmland management throughout the twentieth century, including agricultural intensification and increasing mechanisation, have resulted in the loss of habitat for many species. The Corncrake is one such species that has faced multiple challenges to its survival. Although it was once a common bird throughout northern Europe, the breeding areas of Corncrakes have been steadily reduced to a fraction of what they once were, and in many areas their continuation as a regularly breeding bird is in serious doubt. In addition, the behaviour of the Corncrake, nesting under the cover of tall grass and undertaking annual long-distance migrations, means that for most of the last hundred years, its detailed ecology has remained mysterious and little understood. Although there have been millions of words written about the Corncrake in scientific papers, until now there has been no full-length book that attempts to capture all the aspects of its ecology, and to present this information to non-specialists. As a result, until very recently, many important facts about its lifestyle and behaviour have not been widely known, even among ornithologists. Although scarcely seen in its natural habitat, the Corncrake is well-known in many rural areas due to its characteristic (and persistent) night-time calling, but new discoveries with the aid of acoustic science have proved surprising, and may offer new ways of improving the location, identification, and management options to protect and enable the population of this iconic species to recover, even to thrive in our countryside. A new appreciation of the requirements of this species and the ways in which our sensitive management of the whole landscape, both in its potential breeding areas across Europe and Asia and in the seasonal quarters in regions of Africa, offer new hope for the future of this fascinating bird.
One of Britains rarest nesting birds. I took this photo on Iona, an island off the coast of Mull in Scotland, in June 2006, many birdwatchers spend an entire lifetime seeking this elusive bird....I was very lucky I saw six in total!!!
A detailed painting of a corncrake, a bird species which is hardly ever seen now in Ireland when it was once very common, it is believed that modern farming has decimated its numbers. In the summer of 2019, two pairs were spotted on Rathlin Island. Corncrakes hide in long grass and this gouache painting shows the bir
It is thought that the elusive bird is breeding on the island for the first time since 2000.
Skulking in the undergrowth. Iona 2015
June has been a bumper month for finding new and old friends. Many of the visitors have had their broods and are already feeding up for their very long journey back to long distant lands. The Swifts stay only a few weeks before setting off back to Africa in family groups. Resident birds are now into their second broods but our unfortunate Blue tits decided not too. It is wonderful to hear the songbirds singing again such as the Thrush, Blackbird, Wren and Dunnock, as the last few weeks have been so silent with increasingly exhausted parents having to feed their young. At Ness Botanic Gardens I saw my first ever RSPB red status bird, the Linnet. Red status because they have been in massive decline. The excitement at taking this photograph is far more memorable than coming out of the EU. Another red status bird is the Corncrake which again I had never seen but heard, but was fortunate to see one at Simonswood Moss when undertaking a follow up survey. It was running a few feet ahead of the landrover but as soon as I got out to take a photo it disappeared into the undergrowth. Will try again next time. We do have a Tree Bee nest in the eaves this year. Last year they settled in the bird box, but the box was occupied by the tits this time. The bees do not cause any bother and ignore us completely when we are in the garden. The male bees do not live long maybe only 3 weeks, so there are many corpses around under the nest. Last years queen will be replaced by a new queen from this years brood who will take over the cycle for next year. Mallow July is the month for full-time wildflower spotting as the the meadows come into full bloom. It is also the time when all the insect larvae hatch into biting insects. Unfortunately this seems to be a good year for them. I was stung by a bee recently and the first cream I put my hands on was a cream used for mouth ulcers. It was truly amazing, the pain went as fast as it came and the swelling went down within 15 mins. I wonder if the company know about this additional beneficial side affect. Juvenile Goldfinch It is fashionable for the growing of wildflower plots and meadows for the benefit of the bee population, but there is a serious knock on affect for ground nesting birds such as the Corncrake, Oyster catcher, Lapwing and Skylark. Undisturbed grassland is just what they need to breed safely, so we may see some birds come off the red list over the next few years.
Another sketch of a corncrake this time a hen #sketchaday no.1751. My #Etsy shop http://etsy.me/1rARc0J
Poster Print of Corncrake Crex crex in Iris bed on Balranald RSPB Reserve North Uist Outer Hebrides Scotland May #MediaStorehouse
Despite hearing the call of a corncrake on many occasions during my time in the Outer Hebrides, I never saw one. This is the closest I got – it can only have been a few yards away from the ca…
Photographic Print of Corncrake Crex crex in Iris bed on Balranald RSPB Reserve North Uist Outer Hebrides Scotland May #MediaStorehouse
