[Closed] Wot Skylarks!

Such beautiful little things, never get tired them.

I thought that but.....they are noisy little bastards who wake up way too early for my camping tastes 🙂

Hundreds of skylarks, never seen so many.

Do you have red kites locally ?

Such beautiful little things, never get tired them.

This. They are one of my all time favourite birds/sounds.

Not seen a red kite round here, tbh.

Couple of Kestrels, various corvids and a two slightly confused gulls this morning.

All aboard.....

[img] [/img]

Alllll aboard the Skylark 🙂

Hundreds of skylarks, never seen so many.
Do you have red kites locally ?

Well, skylarks have been around for probably thousands of years, and kites existed in this country until humans slaughtered them all in the 16th Century, and buzzards are around in very large numbers indeed, without threatening the skylark population too much, so if anything is missing around there it's more likely foxes and badgers, as they'll go after ground nesting eggs and chicks in the dark, when raptors aren't around.
There are quite a few skylarks around Blackbushe airport, and the BCA car auction site at Bridgwater, where there are far fewer predators generally, but the biggest problem has been changes in farming practices, which was highlighted on Countryfile the other day.

Well, skylarks have been around for probably thousands of years, and kites existed in this country until humans slaughtered them all in the 16th Century, and buzzards are around in very large numbers indeed, without threatening the skylark population too much, so if anything is missing around there it's more likely foxes and badgers, as they'll go after ground nesting eggs and chicks in the dark, when raptors aren't around.

I was asking as around here since the reintroduction of the Red Kite skylark numbers have really gone crazy so much so we can sit out in the garden and listen to them (something even 5 years ago would have be impossible). I'm thinking that the Kites have effect on the Corvid numbers which has a beneficial effect for ground nesting birds (Lapwing numbers are also on the rise locally too)

Riding at Ashton Court in Bristol I often hear them on the golf course.

It always makes me think of

(From about 2:18)

Ta for the replies folks.

Not sure if the area is protected, a few sheep but nothing intensive, it's perfect high moorland with a few small conifer plantations.

Have seen red kites about 30 miles NW, over in Yorkshire, but it's mostly buzzards and kestrels round here.

Quite a few curlews up over toward Egypt too.

The post industrial landscape around here never ceases to amaze me.
Have two badger sets within half an hour's walk and have seen deer less than half a mile from the town centre.
One in the road opposite Morrisons in Todmorden on my way to work last week about 6am and so many in Cliviger Gorge these days.

Not surprising really as one local area goes by the name of Deerplay, but I still get a thrill spotting them on the hillside or crossing the road.

Great, innit?