There was a packed house at Dulverton Town Hall on Tuesday to listen to Juan Castello, the lead ornithologist on the Exmoor Moorland Breeding Bird Survey carried out last summer. The Exmoor Society had made a rare grant towards funding this important survey – that started in the 1970s and so provides an important record of bird numbers and habitat change.
It was a huge job. From the beginning of April until the 23rd of May, and then from the end of May until July 5th, four surveyors, working at dawn, covered the whole of the moor, twice, identifying the birds by their song. When Juan described the difficulty of stumbling across tussocks of Molinia in the gloaming we all shared his pain.
In many ways the report is extremely encouraging. There have been some significant declines and losses, particularly in Yellowhammer, but also there are no Quail, only one Curlew and fewer Cuckoos. But overall the picture is positive with increases in the numbers of Reed Bunting, Stonechat, Willow Warbler and most importantly the Whinchat. You will soon be able to access the full report via our archive and on the Exmoor National Park Authority website.
