Sunday 24th January 2010

These maps include all SOS, TTV, Birdtrack and roving records from the first two winter Atlas periods, November 2007-February 2008 and November 2008-February 2009, with the exception of most SOS records for 2009. Garden BirdWatch records only from the period November/December 2007 are included. These maps do not incorporate any records from this winter (November 2009 to date).

KESTREL – First two winter seasons provisional distribution map.

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Kestrel was recorded in 59.7% of the county’s tetrads during the first two winter seasons. Look out for it hovering or perched in a prominent place where it can watch out for its prey, especially voles and invertebrates. There are still many tetrads where this species has yet to be recorded in winter.

OYSTERCATCHER – First two winter seasons provisional distribution map.

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Oystercatcher was recorded in 8.1% of the county’s tetrads during the first two winter seasons. This species can be found along most types of coast as it feeds on cockles, mussels and other bivalves on sandy shores and estuaries, and on limpets on rocky shores. These birds can also be found on coastal pastures feeding on earthworms and other invertebrates, so do look out for them in such areas, from where, so far, we have few records.

MEADOW PIPIT – First two winter seasons provisional distribution map.

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Meadow Pipit was recorded in 41.6% of the county’s tetrads during the first two winter seasons, more than twice the number of tetrads it has been recorded in during the breeding season. At this time of the year these birds may be encountered singly or in loose-knit flocks of up to a hundred or more birds. They mainly feed on invertebrates but will also take seeds, and can be found across the county.