Uk bird I.d please (1 Viewer)

[Steve.Jonesy]

Hi
I Photo’d these two birds on the South West coast path on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall yesterday.
My first thoughts are that they look like female Cirl Buntings, could I be right many thanks

 

[Simon Wates]

I think you are correct. 2nd photo shows chestnutty "shoulders" and streaked crown.

 

[Andy Adcock]

A rare bird in the UK, wasn't aware we had a population in Cornwall?



A

 

[Nutcracker]

A rare bird in the UK, wasn't aware we had a population in Cornwall?



A

Released reintroduced population :t:

 

[Andy Adcock]

Released reintroduced population :t:

Ta very much,
are they thriving?


A

 

[BobbitWorm45]

Seem to be. It was an RSPB initiative about ten years ago.

 

[thomasclark1985]

Yes there are a few places in Cornwall on the south coast, and south Devon where they have been pretty successfull.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Yes there are a few places in Cornwall on the south coast, and south Devon where they have been pretty successfull.

They've been in Devon for a long time, just wasn't aware of the Cornish birds



A

 

[Richard Prior]

They've been in Devon for a long time, just wasn't aware of the Cornish birds

A

Here you go Andy:

www.rspb.org.uk/news/385883-a-recordbreaking-year-for-the-cirl-bunting-reintroduction-project

 

[RafaelMatias]

Just out of interest, do you know what was the source population for the Cornish re-introduction project?

 

[Andy Adcock]

Here you go Andy:

www.rspb.org.uk/news/385883-a-recordbreaking-year-for-the-cirl-bunting-reintroduction-project

Thanks Richard,

whilst they are a lovely bird and I do enjoy seeing them, I always find it a bit questionable, when such effort is spent on a species which is fairly common on the mainland. There are similarities to the Osprey project, one of the Worlds, most widespread birds of prey

Cirl Bunting is a farily demanding bird in terms of habitat preference, they don't survive on land that is intensively farmed and we are a small Island, I can't help thinking that the time and money, could be better spent, not sure on what though so don't put me on the spot?



A

 

[BobbitWorm45]

The way I see it is, we humans destroyed the habitat that was able to support them so it behooves us to try and rectify it if we can. If someone is willing to but the time and finances into it and provide the space, that can only be positive for me personally.

 

[Nutcracker]

Just out of interest, do you know what was the source population for the Cornish re-introduction project?

The Devon population

whilst they are a lovely bird and I do enjoy seeing them, I always find it a bit questionable, when such effort is spent on a species which is fairly common on the mainland. There are similarities to the Osprey project, one of the Worlds, most widespread birds of prey

Cirl Bunting is a farily demanding bird in terms of habitat preference, they don't survive on land that is intensively farmed and we are a small Island, I can't help thinking that the time and money, could be better spent, not sure on what though so don't put me on the spot?

A

By providing farmland that is less intensively treated, the project also helps a lot of other species as well as Cirls, so it is worth doing :t:

 

[RafaelMatias]

The Devon population

Thanks!

 

[nicklittlewood]

By providing farmland that is less intensively treated, the project also helps a lot of other species as well as Cirls

e.g. some invertebrates: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/icad.12106 (though full paper not available to those without institutional subscription, unfortunately).

 

[Nutcracker]

e.g. some invertebrates: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/icad.12106 (though full paper not available to those without institutional subscription, unfortunately).

Sci-hub is your friend :t:

https://sci-hub.tw/10.1111/icad.12106

 

[aeshna5]

The Devon population



By providing farmland that is less intensively treated, the project also helps a lot of other species as well as Cirls, so it is worth doing :t:

Yes, thoroughly agree with this point!

 

[Andy Adcock]

Yes, thoroughly agree with this point!

Yes, hard to argue with that.....



A

 

[Foxy]

I never got the Osprey projects with them naturally recolonising. It always felt like more of a publicity stunt for Rutland Water than anything that was necessary but I am sure there were sound reasons given the investment

 

[Steve.Jonesy]

I think you are correct. 2nd photo shows chestnutty "shoulders" and streaked crown.

Thanks Simon that’s made my day