There’s nothing like an surprising fowl to get the heartbeat racing, as I used to be reminded on a current heat and sunny summer time’s night. I used to be driving my small open-top automobile on a neighbour’s farm to see what I might discover. The farm in query is massive – 1,000 acres – and primarily arable, although a small herd of Redpolls (not birds, however a particular breed of cattle native to Suffolk) are a brand new addition.
What makes this farm particular is the unconventional method to farming that has been adopted by its proprietor, James Bucher, who’s a convert to regenerative agriculture. Apprehensive in regards to the state of his soil, his farming practices at the moment are in marked distinction to most of his neighbours. He now not ploughs however drills instantly, and tries to by no means have naked soil uncovered. He avoids the pointless use of what he calls “cides” (herbicides and pesticides), and isn’t afraid to innovate with totally different crops. Agro-forestry is new to the farm, with small blocks of bushes planted in cereal fields. As well as, he has in depth areas of wild-bird cowl, making this by far the very best farm for wildlife in my space.
My automobile is about as removed from an off-roader as you may get, however pushed slowly it could possibly handle the farm tracks, whereas being convertible makes it superb to be used as a cellular disguise. I hadn’t visited the farm for some time, so was uncertain which crops had been harvested, and what I’d discover. At first I noticed little. Skylarks breed in good numbers on the farm, however in August after they have stopped singing they’re much much less apparent: I noticed a solitary particular person. There’s a great inhabitants of Gray Partridges, too, however I found that there was nonetheless numerous unharvested crops, so loads of cowl for the partridges to cover in.
Juvenile Lapwing. The brief crest signifies its age
No fowl is extra symbolic of the farmed panorama than the Lapwing. As soon as one of many commonest and most widespread of farmland birds, it has suffered a marked decline within the newest 50 years, so has change into an indicator of a wholesome farmland atmosphere. Thus I used to be delighted to see a flock of those good-looking waders feeding on one of many harvested fields. The birds had been extensively scattered, feeding over a broad space, whereas there was a excessive proportion of juveniles within the flock, which numbered round 200 birds. One teenager posed properly for my digital camera.
Driving on a brief distance, a Wheatear dashed throughout the observe, flashing its distinctive white rump. This fowl, an early autumn migrant, was one I used to be on the lookout for, so this was a minor triumph. It was the earliest Wheatear that I’ve recorded on the farm. Then, a second later, my coronary heart skipped a beat: a trio of Stone Curlews flew low throughout the sphere, earlier than touchdown once more within the golden stubbles. Stone Curlews are a Breckland particular, and the most effective birds of my space, so are at all times a thrill to see, particularly when they’re surprising, as these birds had been.
I scanned the sphere with my binoculars, looking for extra. Stone Curlews have a contented knack of disappearing from view, as they’re masters of utilizing their cryptic plumage to merge with their background. I appeared, then appeared once more, ultimately counting seven birds, although I’m certain that there have been eight altogether. They had been an especially satisfying discover, as this was the primary autumn gathering I’d seen on the farm. In 2022 a pair nested right here, and so they tried to do once more in 2023, however their chicks had been most definitely predated.
Stone Curlews usually lay two eggs in a clutch. The nest is only a scrape within the floor
I had been proven their 2022 nest by a good friend who screens (beneath licence) Stone Curlews within the Brecks. A few weeks after admiring the eggs my good friend known as once more: “Would I prefer to see the chicks?” he requested. “They’re on account of hatch tomorrow.” By weighing the eggs, he advised me, it’s attainable to foretell virtually precisely when they’ll hatch. I jumped on the alternative. Stone Curlew chicks don’t remain within the subsequent scrape for lengthy after hatching, so this was a one-off alternative.
Younger Stone Curlews, just a few hours after hatching. They hatched from the eggs proven above
As soon as the younger have left the nest they’re tough to observe, because the mother and father are inclined to hold them in cowl the place they’re tough (if not unimaginable) to see. It’s not often till they’ve fledged you could uncover how profitable they’ve been. On the finish of the season the birds collect in flocks at plenty of conventional websites. Essentially the most I’ve seen in an autumn gathering is 60 people.
Spot the curlew. They depend on their cryptic plumage to stay unseen
Britain’s Stone Curlews are probably the most northerly breeding inhabitants on this planet – in Europe they’re most quite a few in Spain and France, however they happen as far east at Central Asia and Iran. Because of strict safety the English inhabitants is secure and even growing, numbering round 300 pairs, of which the bulk are to be discovered within the Norfolk and Suffolk Brecks. They favour open countryside the place the vegetation is low sufficient to permit them good all-round visibility. In addition they want areas with low rainfall and excessive summer time temperatures – the Brecks are one of many driest and (in summer time) warmest areas in England.
A trio of birds – probably a household get together
Stone Curlews are invariably cautious and tough to method, and I used to be by no means capable of method these birds intently, even within the automobile. My images had been all of birds in landscapes, moderately than portraits of particular person birds. A lot as I’d have favored to have taken some nearer pictures, my images do present these fascinating birds as you usually see them, at lengthy vary.
