The Stiperstones Bird Walk 22 May 2016
Nine people joined Leo Smith, Bird Group organiser for the Upper Onny Wildlife Group, and Simon Cooter, Natural England’s Reserve Manager for the National Nature Reserve, on the annual joint Bird Walk on The Stiperstones. We ambled up the main track from the Knolls car park, almost to Cranberry Rock, then along the horizontal northward track across the top of the former Gatten Plantation and by the reserve boundary, down the path from Shepherd’s Rock towards the Hollies farm, then back long the all-ability trail to the cars, taking just over 3 hours. Weather was kind, with good visibility.
Red Kite was the first of three species of bird of prey seen, with two more Kites later. A Cuckoo was heard repeatedly, and gave several good close views, while Tree Pipit showed off its song and parachute display flight, demonstrating the differences between it and the similar, more common, Meadow Pipit.Skylarks, and four species of warbler, were in good song, and Red Grouse and Raven were also heard. A Green Hairsteak butterfly was also very obliging.
Simon explained several aspects of Reserve management, particularly the Back to Purple project, which has removed coniferous plantations from several parts of the Stiperstones ridge and restored the heathland there. Leo talked a bit about the Community Wildlife Groups, their annual Lapwing and Curlew surveys since 2004, and the Landscape Partnership Scheme Scheme’s Curlew Recovery Project and the depressing results of the nest monitoring carried out. A Curlew appeared on cue as we descended to The Hollies farm, part of the Curlew hotspot in the Upper Onny area.
All the target species listed on the poster publicising the event were encountered, except Lapwing, Whinchat and Reed Bunting. In total, 32 bird species were seen and heard (in alphabetical order):-
Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Cuckoo, Curlew, Dunnock, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Raven, Red Grouse, Red Kite, Robin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Stonechat, Swallow, Tree Pipit, Wheatear, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Wood Pigeon, Wren.
Participants enjoyed their introduction to the birds of this special area, and several said they had learnt a lot about bird behaviour and identification.