Banburyshire: BOS Yellowhammer Survey this July - help needed

male Yellowhammer

Yellowhammers are still a reasonably common sight in the local countryside, but their population is on a downward trend.  They are Red-listed in the latest “Birds of Conservation Concern 4”.  The BOS can monitor their changing fortunes though annual surveys (Winter and Summer random square surveys and the BTO’s Breeding Bird Survey (BBS)). However, we are lacking more detailed information on their distribution and density across the BOS study area, therefore we are carrying out a specific Yellowhammer Survey during 2018.

In England, Yellowhammers declined by 26% from 1993 to 2015, and 33% locally, based on a linear trend from the BOS summer breeding surveys. The situation is even worse for the period 1977-2015, with a 62% national and 76% local decline in abundance based on our Winter Random Square Survey. Thus, it appears that our local Yellowhammers have been affected by environmental changes as much as those across the rest of  England, hence our interest in performing a more detailed study.

The survey covers a 1km square and takes an hour to complete.  Survey squares have been selected at random but we ensure the squares contain suitable habitat and are reasonably accessible.

Map of the survey area and available survey squares

The survey period is the first half of July, at which time Yellowhammers are still singing and are readily detected.

To request a square, please send an email to the BOS recorder (Mike Curnow) at recorder@banburyornithologicalsociety.org.uk, specifying the square number of your 1st and 2nd preference. We will then send a confirmation email along with the survey form to complete.

Also recently: the mass emergence of the Banded Demoiselle and Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies along the River Cherwell is always a delight to observe!

Male Banded Demoiselle

Mid-Cherwell Valley near Somerton - great habitat for demoiselle damselflies and Reed Warblers

And finally, another Black Tern image from Boddington Reservoir, this time last Sunday when two birds spent the day constantly flying around and around the reservoir on a predictable circuit which gave regular but tantalisingly brief opportunities to photograph them.

Black Tern