West Midland Bird Club

Woodlarks

It has been a not too well guarded secret that one or more pairs of Woodlark have nested on 'clear fell' on Cannock Chase for the past two or three years. These are the first birds of the species to nest in the Region since the mid sixties, although there was a singing male on 'the Chase' for a week or so in 1979. 'The Birds of the West Midlands' (Harrison et al 1982) notes that in the last century the species was fairly well distributed in Staffordshire and held a stronghold in the Tame Valley of Worcestershire. It was, however, uncommon in the south of Warwickshire and rare in the north (BWM pp317-8). During this century the fortunes of the species have fluctuated markedly with a gradual increase during the two decades prior to the 1939-45 War and then an even sharper increase and expansion of range during the nineteen forties and early fifties. There was a corresponding sharp decrease in the sixties with the bitter winter of 1962/3 causing an almost total collapse of many local populations.

BWM notes that during the peak years of 1950-52 there were 16 pairs in the Enville/ Kinver area alone and while this was undoubtedly the regional stronghold there were also birds on The Malverns, Clent Hills, Lenches, Lickeys, around Kidderminster and (one or two pairs only) Bredon Hill. Last records from The Malverns (1957), Kidderminster area (1960), Clent (1962), Lenches (1964) and the Lickeys (1965) chart a dramatic decline which took in even the Enville/Kinver Heartland, where birds nested regularly up until 1961 and, finally, in 1967. From then on into the nineties the species was only seen as a rare passage migrant, although, as already noted, a singing bird on the Chase in 1979 offered hope that one day this most melodious of singers might once again be heard locally.

Nationally the 1961/2 winter resulted in a low of around 200-250 territories (BTO News No. 207 pp 10 and 11) at which level it remained throughout the eighties. During this period the species was to be found in five main areas: 1. The South West (Cornwall, Devon and Somerset), 2. Dorset and the New Forest, 3. Hampshire/ Surrey border and into Berkshire, 4. The Brecklands of Norfolk/ Suffolk and 5. The Suffolk coastal Sandlings. Since the late eighties there has been another expansion which has led to populations being established in Lincolnshire and, perhaps crucially to us, Nottinghamshire. Given this expansion to an almost adjacent county it was perhaps not totally surprising that the species should return to our region. The (up to) seven pairs noted in the recent Birds of Cannock Chase Survey (Gribble and Harbird 1998/9) suggests that clear fell area of both The Chase and other forestry plantations, on thin well drained soils, may well turn up what are still unusual and, as already noted, most melodious, breeders in our area. Hopefully results from the National (BTO/ RSPB) Survey of 1997 will further encourage us to hope for another period of expansion both Nationally and Regionally.

Postscript: Having completed this article I have had a short telephone conversation with Simon Wotton of the RSPB who told me the results from the 1997 National Survey are indeed encouraging, with a sixfold increase since 1986 and a present national population of around 1500 pairs. It is known that the, now thriving, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire population originated with birds from Thetford (colour ringed birds from Thetford were seen in Lincs/ Notts) so it is likely that the Cannock Chase birds are a further western extension of this population. I was interested to learn that-some birds in Notts/ Lincs have been found on rough agricultural land (i.e. set aside), often near to heathland or forestry plantations.This should not, of course, be totally surprising as the majority of the Devon population is found on rough mixed farmland. To summarise it now seems that the species is enjoying another period of expansion and so may well return to other parts of our region where suitable habitats occur. Finally a note of thanks to Simon Wotton, and the RSPB, for their help.

JPS