Farm and Lodge
Every year we will be carrying out bird and wildlife surveys to see the impact (hopefully positive) that the reforestation and biodiversity projects are having.
| Species | Territories 2021 | Territories 2022 | Territories 2023 | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackbird | 6 | 5 | 5 |  |
| Blue Tit | 5 | 8 | 6 |  |
| Chaffinch | 3 | 4 | 5 |  |
| Coal Tit | 2 | 2 | 1 |  |
| Crow | 1 | 1 | 1 |  |
| Goldcrest | 1 | 2 | 2 |  |
| Goldfinch | 1 | 1 | 1 |  |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | 1 | 2 | 1 |  |
| Great Tit | 5 | 4 | 4 |  |
| Meadow Pipit | 2 | 2 | 2 |  |
| Mistle Thrush | 3 | 3 | 2 |  |
| Nuthatch | 2 | 2 | 2 |  |
| Pheasant | 0 | 0 | 1 |  |
| Pied Flycatcher | 4 | 0 | 4 |  |
| Pied Wagtail | 1 | 2 | 2 |  |
| Raven | 1 | 1 | 1 |  |
| Redstart | 6 | 6 | 5 |  |
| Robin | 2 | 2 | 2 |  |
| Siskin | 2 | 2 | 2 |  |
| Skylark | 1 - Off site | 2 - Off site | 2 - Off site |  |
| Song Thrush | 0 | 0 | 2 |  |
| Stock Dove | 1 | 1 | 1 |  |
| Stonechat | 1 | 1 | 1 |  |
| Swift | 1 | 1 | 1 |  |
| Treecreeper | 1 | 1 | 1 |  |
| Tree Pipit | 0 | 0 | 1 |  |
| Willow Warbler | 2 | 2 | 2 |  |
| Wood Pigeon | 2 | 2 | 2 |  |
| Wren | 4 | 4 | 3 |  |
Common Bird Census (CBC) territory mapping of the breeding birds at Pantpurlais was carried out on 15/06/23. Twenty-six different species were recorded to be holding territory on site in the following numbers
Number of territories, on the whole, the same as previous year or higher – which is good news. The Pied Flycatchers are back (who knows what happened last year). Strangely I’d never recorded Song Thrush – but there were two territories this year. Tree Pipit was another new species. So that takes you to 25 species (+Skylark, just off site). Stonechats with 3 fledged young was a good sight.
Common Bird Census (CBC) territory mapping of the breeding birds at Pantpurlais was carried out on 24/04/22 and again on 06/06/2022. Twenty-three different species were recorded to be holding territory on site in the following numbers.
Numbers were roughly the same. Blue Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Goldcrest and Skylark – all slightly up. (The two Skylark territories were just off site on the hills to the southwest.)
Again I didn’t explore around the house – but there may well be House Sparrow, House Martin and Swift.
Ravens nested again in 2022. There were juveniles near the nest, but it was hard to say how many.
I have seen both Buzzard and Red Kite at Pantpurlais, of course – but haven’t found a nest of either.
Two Willow Warbler territories were again found around the stream – which is great. As are the Stonechats and lots of Redstarts. Twenty-three breeding species this year. (+ Buzzard, House Martin, Swift, House Sparrow?)
The absence of Pied Flycatchers is a worry. Perhaps they were overlooked (although they were very obvious last year). It may just be a blip. But more hole-fronted nest-boxes sited in the mature trees to the south of the house wouldn’t be a bad thing.
Common Bird Census (CBC) territory mapping of the breeding birds of Pantpurlais was carried out on 17/04/21 and again on 22/05/2021. These dates, just over a month apart, would allow both the resident species and visiting summer migrants to be recorded.
Twenty-four different species were recorded to be holding territory on site in the following numbers.
| Species | Territories | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Blackbird | 6 | |
| Blue Tit | 5 | |
| Chaffinch | 3 | |
| Coal Tit | 2 | |
| Crow | 1 | |
| Goldcrest | 1 | |
| Goldfinch | 1 | |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | 1 | |
| Great Tit | 5 | |
| Meadow Pipit | 2 | |
| Mistle Thrush | 3 | |
| Nuthatch | 2 | |
| Pied Flycatcher | 4 | |
| Pied Wagtail | 1 | |
| Raven | 1 | |
| Redstart | 6 | |
| Robin | 2 | |
| Siskin | 2 | |
| Stock Dove | 1 | |
| Stonechat | 1 | |
| Treecreeper | 1 | |
| Willow Warbler | 2 | |
| Wood Pigeon | 2 | |
| Wren | 4 | |
There is one Skylark territory just off site on the hill to the southwest.
I didn’t explore around the house, gardens, and outbuildings – but there may well be House Sparrow, House Martin, and Spotted Flycatcher (also a very late arriving migrant) in these areas.
Song Thrush was an unexpectedly absent; it is perhaps present but was overlooked / had ceased singing. Chiffchaff, Blackcap, and Garden Warbler can hopefully all be expected as the habitat develops into the young tree / scrub stage.
The highest density of birds – including three Pied Flycatcher territories – occurred in the mature block of trees at the southern end of the site. Maintaining (and increasing) that mixture of mature trees and younger trees / scrub is the key to maximising bird diversity and territories.
The Raven are noisy! But it’s great to have them on site. I recorded three fledged juveniles.
Two Willow Warbler territories were found around the stream. It would be nice to keep a good portion of this vegetation in place if / when this wetland area is developed in order to hold onto to these birds.
Twenty-four breeding species is a very respectable total. The Redstarts and Pied Flycatchers are the stars of the show. As the habitat develops in excess of 30 species can be expected with hopefully an increase in territories for all species.
