As part of our wildlife management in the Tregew area, we planted a crop of barley that has now been left as winter provision for farmland birds. On our last visit we spotted groups of skylarks, goldfinches and linnets that were all making the most of this bounty. Many species of farmland bird are becoming scarce as a result of intensive agriculture so it is wonderful to have the chance, as a conservation charity, to provide for our native wildlife.
The late afternoon or early evening can be the best time to spot birds during the cold months – a silver lining to the shortening days! Many birds can be seen at this time flying in the same direction to roost for the night. Birds roost together in large numbers for warmth and safety, usually choosing a place of cover, such as the dense crown of a large, veteran tree. Rooks, jackdaws and carrion crows are the classics when it comes to watching roosts at sunset. Look out for their pitch-black silhouettes and listen for their earthy croaks as they convene en masse in the tree tops.
Why not see how many you can spot as you walk around Trelissick?
Bird calls
It is often easier to find birds with our ears rather than with our eyes. Bird calls – once learnt – are distinctive and often unique to individual species whereas a briefly glimpsed bird can easily be mistaken for one of many types.
We have two classic and unmistakeable bird calls to get you started. First up are tawny owls, which are handily at their noisiest in December. This is because, very much like our next example, these birds actually begin their courtship rituals in the winter. We all know what an owl hoot sounds like so keep an ear out if you are going for a late afternoon stroll.
