THE BIRDS OF EWELME WATERCRESS BEDS

October 2002 to November 2007

Tom Stevenson

1 Introduction

Towards the end of September 2002 I began keeping a record of bird sightings in the watercress beds.

Throughout the 5 years I have tried to walk the length between the downstream end of the site and the road bridge, in both directions on a weekly basis. Whenever possible I have also visited the top end of the site above the bridge. All of the species of birds seen during the visit were recorded. I pondered for some time if I should include species flying over or just those seen within the area and decided to include everything observed during the walk. My thinking was that it would be very difficult to decide where to draw the line. For example it would seem right to count swallows low over the water but at what height should they be excluded? It seemed easier all round to count everything. Also, that Kestrel hovering overhead might well have landed if I had not been present.

I have covered five complete years in this note from the first comprehensive listing on 12 October 2002 to 24 October 2007. There are some “casual” records just before the start of the period which seemed better to include.

The photographs were all taken by the author, most of them within the site but some from elsewhere, locally. They can be accessed by clicking on the name of the bird if the text is coloured blue. To return to the report use the “back” button.

2 Systematic list with status of all birds seen in and from the site

This section lists all of the birds seen by me during the surveys of the Ewelme Watercress Beds. It should be noted that the information is based solely on my understanding, knowledge and observations and if any reader would like to comment on this section of the report contributions would be most welcome.

I am well aware of other species, not on the main list, that have been seen, some by me, but have only included those seen between September 2002 and September 2007. A list of some of the other species is provided at the end of this report.

The small table gives the percentages of visits on which the species was seen in the five years covered by this note and the coloured block at the left hand end gives their official conservation status.

To explain this, seven quantitative criteria were used by leading governmental and non-governmental conservation organisations in the UK to assess the population status of each species and place it onto the red, amber or green list.

The Red Species List comprises birds of high conservation concern and the Amber Species List, those of medium conservation concern. Species that fulfil neither of these two criteria are green-listed.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

This spectacular addition to the Ewelme bird list turned up in late August 2007 and must have found the area to its liking as it was still present into January 2008. At one stage during the early part of its stay it was apparently joined by a second bird but it didn’t stay and I never managed to see the two together.

A	2002/3	2003/4	2004/5	2005/6	2006/7
A	0%	0%	0%	0%	9%

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

This large grey and white bird with long neck and dagger like yellow bill used to be a fairly common sight on the beds and in flight over the village but sightings have steadily declined over the years.

G	2002/3	2003/4	2004/5	2005/6	2006/7
G	27%	17%	11%	8%	5%

Canada Goose Branta canadensis

The only wild goose seen from the watercress beds but perhaps wild is not the best description of this large goose which is present in this country as a result of introduction from its native North America. I have only a three records; one of a pair in the pasture between the beds and Cottesmore Lane and two others of birds flying low over the beds. They could well have been prospecting for a nest site but, as they were not seen over a longer period, presumably didn’t find anywhere to their liking..

G	2002/3	2003/4	2004/5	2005/6	2006/7
G	0%	2%	0%	0%	5%

Teal anas formosa

This, the smallest of our native ducks, is a very uncommon winter visitor to the beds with only a single sighting on 1^st February 2003. This may well have been a regular visitor in the days of the trout pond as away from the coast the seeds of spike-rush and creeping buttercup together with aquatic midge larvae are common items of their diet. These are more usually associated with ponds and lakes rather than flowing water. Teal were fairly regularly seen on the lake at Grundons Pit a few years ago.

A	2002/3	2003/4	2004/5	2005/6	2006/7
A	2%	0%	0%	0%	0%

Mallard Anas platyrhyncos

A very common resident duck of the Watercress Beds which breed in the bankside vegetation.

G	2002/3	2003/4	2004/5	2005/6	2006/7
G	71%	100%	100%	95%	100%

Red Kite Milvus milvus

Fifteen years ago it would have been unthinkable to see this species featured in a list of local bird species but since the re-introduction programme by the RSPB, English Nature and Joint Nature Conservation Committee this magnificent raptor is frequently seen soaring over the cress beds and surrounding area.

A	2002/3	2003/4	2004/5	2005/6	2006/7
A	49%	44%	46%	60%	63%

Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus

Numbers of Sparrowhawks have increased dramatically since the banning of DDT and they are now almost as numerous as Kestrels, though not so visible. Sightings increased slightly over the five years from 16% to 22% but the change was probably not significant with this species spending little time on the site, views being restricted to a rapid low level hunting pass which is easily missed.

G	2002/3	2003/4	2004/5	2005/6	2006/7
G	16%	20%	21%	22%	22%

Common Buzzard Buteo buteo

If that large bird soaring high over the area hasn’t a forked tail it is probably one of these. Numbers of Buzzards have increased as Red Kites have become established but whether there is a connection is unclear though probable. The frequency of sightings fluctuates widely from year to year, probably dependant on the location of the nearest nest site. During a workday in 2007 six were seen soaring together over the Watercress Centre.

G	2002/3	2003/4	2004/5	2005/6	2006/7
G	26%	9%	16%	22%	15%

Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

The most common raptor in the area, often seen hovering over the site searching for voles, which constitute a large part of their diet. Most birds of prey have a large hunting territory which accounts for the differences in observation statistics.

A	2002/3	2003/4	2004/5	2005/6	2006/7
A	20%	39%	23%	22%	12%

Hobby Falco subbuteo

A very rare visitor to the skies above Ewelme. It’s main diet consists of dragonflies but they will also catch and eat Swallows and Martins. This latest fact often gives away a Hobby’s presence in the area as the Swallows and Martins form a close flock and call loudly as they ascend skywards when a Hobby is hunting locally. Just a single sighting in each year covered by the survey.

G	2002/3	2003/4	2004/5	2005/6	2006/7
G	2%	2%	2%	3%	2%

Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa

This, the larger of the two partridges and with a distinctive black and white face is fairly common in the fields around the village though not often seen during my regular visits. This species, introduced from the continent, is more common than the rapidly declining Grey Partridge, mainly due to many being bred for release by gamekeepers locally.

G	2002/3	2003/4	2004/5	2005/6	2006/7
G	4%	7%	11%	8%	2%

Grey Partridge Perdix perdix

Nationally the decline in numbers of Grey Partridge is causing great concern but this species can still be seen in reasonable numbers on the farmland surrounding the site though only a single sighting has been recorded and that was in the first year of the survey – 2002/3.

R	2002/3	2003/4	2004/5	2005/6	2006/7
R	2%	0%	0%	0%	0%

Pheasant Phasianus colchicus

This very distinctive game bird was introduced to this country more than 900 years ago and is commonly reared for game shooting. Although favouring woods and copses it is fairly common in the area and observed on around half of the survey visits back in the early years of the survey but declining of late.

G	2002/3	2003/4	2004/5	2005/6	2006/7
G	55%	50%	48%	43%	27%

Water Rail Rallus aquaticus

We are lucky enough to play host to several of these delightful little secretive skulkers during the winter months. They require thick-reeded shallow lakes and sedge marshes for breeding and so the watercress reserve is not suitable but perhaps one day? They can be very difficult to see but with patience good views of them can be had – easier in very cold weather when they venture out in the open more. Sightings and winter populations are very dependent on weather conditions so the rather large variation in sightings may not be significant, though the very large number of trips when Water rails were sighted in 2006/7 is pleasing.

A	2002/3	2003/4	2004/5	2005/6	2006/7
A	24%	7%	16%	19%	43%

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

This common bird of ponds, rivers and almost anywhere wet can be seen all the way along the beds. This dark brown and black bird with a red bill and forehead is usually seen walking along waterside banks with jerking, chicken-like movements of the head. They breed on the site in small numbers. This is one of the first indicators of the presence of Mink on the site as Moorhen chicks make easy picking. With such high percentage recording and increasing numbers we can be fairly certain that Mink are not present and have not been in the last five years.

G	2002/3	2003/4	2004/5	2005/6	2006/7
G	84%	91%	91%	95%	100%

Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria

Although not recorded until the winter of 2005/6 it is more than likely that this was either bad luck or not looking in the right direction at the right time as they are not an unusual sight flying over the area with Lapwings between feeding and roosting sites.

G	2002/3	2003/4	2004/5	2005/6	2006/7
G	0%	0%	0%	3%	2%

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Sightings of this attractive wading bird of farmland and wet meadows have been restricted to small flocks over-flying the watercress beds.

A	2002/3	2003/4	2004/5	2005/6	2006/7
A	4%	2%	5%	3%	2%

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago

This long billed wading bird can be seen in small numbers most winters. Unfortunately it is difficult to obtain more than a fleeting view as they fly up from the lower beds. Numbers and indeed their presence at all is very dependent on temperature – during cold icy spells numbers can be in double figures but as soon as the temperature rises above freezing they seem to disperse to locations with more available food. Numbers appear to be a declining with only a single sighting in the winter of 2006/7.

A	2002/3	2003/4	2004/5	2005/6	2006/7
A	13%	7%	14%	5%	2%

Curlew Numenius arquata

This large wading bird with a long downward curving bill is more normally associated with muddy coasts and estuaries but we are lucky to have them breeding close by. The airfield is their favoured site and from about February to June or July they can be heard over the area. They commute between the airfield and surrounding damp meadows and occasionally overfly the watercress beds. There is an interesting record of a Curlew on the airfield sighted on 4 April 1999 wearing plastic coloured rings. This was reported to BTO and the bird was identified as one that was ringed as part of a PhD study at Scoughall, just east of North Berwick on the Firth of Forth on 15th April 1985. It was ringed as a male in its second year making it 15 years old in 1999. I was never able to determine whether this bird was breeding locally or resting on its journey north but as Curlews can live for up to about 30 years there could be several years left to check this out.

A	2002/3	2003/4	2004/5	2005/6	2006/7
A	4%	9%	0%	3%	2%

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

One of the commonest gull in the area is Black-headed Gull and these are widespread, in the winter months. They can frequently be seen flying overhead travelling between Oakley Wood rubbish tip and various water bodies. They can occasionally be seen in the summer, but at this time of the year they are mainly confined to flying along the river. These summer birds are probably from the local breeding population from either Radley or Farmoor. This gull's name can be somewhat confusing as the adults in breeding finery have chocolate brown heads rather than black and young birds or adults during the first part of the winter have only a dark “smudge” behind the eye.

A	2002/3	2003/4	2004/5	2005/6	2006/7
A	13%	24%	25%	11%	20%

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus

Larger than Black-headed Gulls and easily told apart by their dark upper wings. Commonly seen flying overhead in the winter and this species tends to occur more frequently than their smaller cousin in the summer. These summer birds are normally young birds not yet mature enough to breed.

2002/3

2003/4

2004/5