The Lincolnshire Bird Club

I suppose you have to be 'a certain age' to ask this question but 'birders' who were out and about in the 60's & 70's are seeing such drastic changes, it is like a nightmare. Or am I seeing that far off world through rose coloured glasses? Naturally today's watchers probably think things are pretty much normal but it feels like the aftermath of the quatermass experiment to me.
Where are all the passerines, where are the spotted flycatchers, they were in almost every wood and spinny.
Someone just reported 'hearing' a turtle dove!! Heck they hummed through our woods throughout the summer, we almost treated them like wood pigeons.
Yesterday I sat on the bank of a reedy dyke near Pye's hall, it was like 'Silent Spring'. There should have been yellow wagtails on the farm track, there should have been at least one reed warbler singing. After about 20 mins (when I had drunk my tea) a female reed bunting dived into the reeds, I almost phoned rare bird alert!
I have seen a couple of cuckoos this year, saw one today near Biscathorpe but they are so scarce compared to what used to be.
Perhaps climate change is upsetting the clock regarding the emergance of the 'correct' insects, maybe the 'correct' insects have gone?
Maybe something's happening to these birds on migration or wherever they overwinter but, I haven't seen one spotted flycather yet this year and last autumn I saw only one at Pye's.
I have always been a bird "photographer" rather than a dedicated bird watcher and so my notes (I still have them all) are not comprehensive, perhaps someone else has some that can make direct comparisons between then and now.
Am I imagining it ??

Colin,
No I don't think you're imagining it. I remember at the beginning of the 70s living in a small village in East Kent where there was a spotted flycatcher every 100 yds or so down the lane, crossbills in the plantation and lesser spotteds and Goldcrests in the woods. I've never kept consistant records as I have never adopted a scientific interest in birding (although I was a scientist in my day job), just enjoyed watching. I remember regularly visiting Stodmarsh and noting reed and sedge warblers everywhere with plenty of bearded tits as well. Cuckoos were regularly seen, I noted when I saw one from my B&B window in Ardnamurchan 3 weeks ago that I hadn't seen one so close since Stodmarsh. About 15 years ago I paid my first visit to Picos de Europa and being overawed by the wealth of bird life. I've visited there 4 times since then with increasing disappointment with species numbers, so it appears to be happening everywhere. Perhaps I need to visit my optician to have the rose tinting removed from my specs as well!

It would be interesting to know if there is any country in Europe where bird populations have remained 'healthy'.
Places like Hungary seem to be fantastic, were they better 40 years ago or same?

Colin,
Being of a 'certain age', as you put it, I would agree with you concerning the paucity of bird life in our woods, hedgerows and fields when compared with 'years ago'.
My birdwatching diaries began in 1946 -so forgive me if I go back a bit earlier than you indicated - and I am just looking through the hard-backed 'volume' (71 pages with illustrations) marked 1946-49 ....over 60 years ago now. In 1946 our family was still stranded in Carmarthenshire, S. Wales, where we had moved to in 1941, desperately wanting to return to London but housing was a big problem. We had collected together in Carmarthenshire as an evacuee family after being bombed out in London during the blitz in 1941. The few weeks I did spend back at home in London in 1940 were certainly exciting, especially as I knew I was immortal, being with my Mum and Dad. The Welsh countryside was a real eye-opener for a London lad, even though I had initially been evacuated to Kent (re-evacuated due to Luftwaffe activity) and then the Plymouth area after the outbreak of war in September 1939.
The Plymouth experience as a whole is best forgotten although I do remember sitting in the Church Hall in St. Germans near Plymouth some time in 1940 as a 7 year old with my gas-mask, and a large luggage label around my neck saying " I am Fred Johnson", plus a battered mini-suitcase and wearing a pair of wellingtons (the only 'shoes' I possessed that hadn't got holes in them) plus feeling absolutely starving as, according to my sister who travelled with me, I had eaten all my dinner and tea sandwiches before we left Victoria Coach Station, London early morning...... and then going through the 'cattle market auction' of dragooned foster parents choosing which child to take home and, sometimes begrudgingly, to look after for the duration of the War. Scruffy Fred was about the last one left, but my blonde, blue-eyed feisty sister of 9 (no potential for trouble there, so she was one of the first to be chosen), saved the day by insisting that she wouldn't leave the Church Hall unless her brother was found somewhere 'nice' to live ....... in the end, her new foster parents persuaded a local village shopkeeper to take me. Anyway, I left for S. Wales in due course as Plymouth Docks became another target for the Luftwaffe.
However, I digress, but then this is the Chat Section.
Carmarthenshire was a fantastic area for a burgeoning nature lover. We lived with some other London evacuee families in a requisitioned stately house (Pembrey House, built 1820 and the former home of the Earl of Ashburnham), near Llanelly and the estate grounds were teeming with wildlife - the gamekeepers were away fighting in the War of course - not only birds but also clouds of butterflies in the meadows and fields....just like in the illustrations for the Rupert books and annuals. Despite the fact that the local Royal Ordnance Factory and RAF Pembrey attracted a number of Luftwaffe raids over the village (the Luftwaffe seemed to follow me around), life there seemed idyllic.
My 1946 diary notes (and looking at them now I am rather pleased with the writing skills of a seemingly precocious 13 year old), tell me, for example, wandering around the estate grounds, how full of birds they were. Just a few condensed extracts for May 1946 follow. (My ID skills had been developed under the tutelage of Mr.E.J. Cooke, the local RSPB 'watcher' for the Llanelly area, on many country rambles).

11 05 46 - Blackbird's nest (2 eggs, 3 young)
-Blackbird's nest (5 young)
-Song Thrush's nest (4 young)
-Song Thrush's nest (2 eggs)
- "A domed Wren's nest containing 6-8 eggs spotted with red, discovered at the bole of an Oak. The nest was externally constructed of bracken and lined with moss and feathers"
(plus :" The first Swifts were noted - two, flying over a copse ".)
12 05 46 - Blue Tit's nest (young)
-Chaffinch's nest (young)
plus :
" I discovered a Robin's nest containing young under a jutting rock in a small hollow amongst some hills. Bracken grew close to the nest and the outside of it was constructed of brown dried bracken. It was lined with moss and feathers and was quite inconspicuous. A parent Robin kept up an incessant chirping during my visit to the nest. When I returned to this locality on 17 May, young Robins were trying to fly amongst the bushes."
-" I saw two Cuckoos pursuing a third; they flew overhead, calling loudly".
-Blackbird's nest (3 eggs)
-Song Thrush's nest (5 eggs).
18 05 46- Bullfinch's nest (6 eggs)
-Bullfinch's nest (5 young)
-Linnet's nest (6 eggs)
-Chaffinch's nest (young).
,,,,,and so on for May, nest after nest, bird after bird.
June 1946 includes :
18 06 46 - Tree Creeper's nest (5 young)
-Spotted Flycatcher's nest (4 young, 1 egg).
,,,,,plus many nests of the commoner species.
Today, if I walk along local hedgerows or through woods, I only occasionally come across nests and former common birds are few and far between.

Before I finish and separately, I must add the following 3 extracts (the book has dozens of reports for 1946) for July 1946 just to give a flavour of a young teenager's birdwatching activities in S, Wales in the mid 1940s.
"06 07 46. I was rambling above Pembrey House over some gorse clad hills dotted with clumps of dried bracken,when I flushed a greyish bird which silently sped away. I immediately recognised the bird as a Nightjar and commenced to search for its nest. Eventually, after a very long search I located the two eggs lying on some dry bracken. They were long and elongated, white mottled with brown and mauve and were quite inconspicuous. However, when I quietly approached the nest a few days later, I was really amazed at the inconspicuousness of the adult bird brooding, and I am sure that if I hadn't known beforehand the exact spot were (sic) the eggs were, I would have mistaken the bird for a piece of lichen covered log (18 June).
On 21 June, only eggshells remained in the 'nest'"
"18 07 46. I was shown a Buzzard's nest by Mr. E. J. Cooke.( Note: the local RSPB 'watcher)
Two eggs had hatched by 30 05. However, on the 13 07, only one nearly fully fledged youngster remained in the nest. The adult Buzzard, which had rounded wings, had a mewing call and uttered this note upon our arrival in his territory. The nest was situated at the top of a large pine - about 75 feet up - and from the ground appeared as a large platform of sticks. The ferns around the base of the tree were sprayed with white lime, which showed young hawks (sic) had been or were in the nest. I also picked up several large feathers from the ground beneath the nest. Mr. Cooke climbed the tree and photographed the young bird. Suddenly, it scrambled to the edge of the nest and launched itself out into space. However, this was rather imprudent, for as yet it was unable to fly and it only half fluttered into a clump of brambles from which we managed to rescue it. It had a brown back but white underparts below the breast. After we had examined and photographed the young Buzzard we placed it up below the nest and left the wood. (Note : I still treasure the photograph taken of me holding the young Buzzard).
"28 07 46. I watched a pair of Wheatears flying about the Dockyards of Burry Port, near Pembrey. The distinctive white rumps were very noticeable."

So yes, Colin, my memories and diary jottings of that period back in 1946 bear out the presence in woods, hedgerows and fields of larger numbers of the commoner species - a situation which continued through the 1950s, 60s and certainly into the 70s. Now when I walk the dog around the Bracebridge Heath and Branston tracks and fields the number of birds I see (apart from Corvids, BH Gulls and Woodpigeons) total fewer than the result of a few minutes' observations in the garden on my return.

Regards,

Freddy

A very enjoyable read Freddy, how lovely you have diaries from that time. Thanks for sharing


Mandy & Mick

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Thanks Freddy for the condensed history of your early years; an enjoyable read. There can be few birdwatchers in the UK with such in-depth, written bird records spanning so many years.
My interest in birdwatching developed during the '70's, and a species that, for me, polarises the decline in bird numbers since that time is the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. I lived in Warwickshire at that time, and I recollect that species to be not common, but seen or heard regularly in suitable habitat.

Regards......................Richard.

As I regulary alterate my birdwatching between the midlands and Lincs. I have noticed how poor the Lincs. farmland is compared to the midlands i.e much less hedgerows and therefore a lot less birds and butterflies.
In Warks. I still see L.S. Woodies although in my 50 years of birding,I have never found them common.
I blame the bird declines on what is happening in Africa,over population mainly,but without actually having any facts.
We are still losing habitat in the UK however,recently near to RSPB Middleton Lakes a large area of scrub which held many warblers has been grubbed up and ploughed. If this is going on all over the country then bird populations are going to be reduced.

Hi Geoff,
You may have misread my post mentioning L.S.W.'s. I did, in fact state that the species was not common in Warks.

Richard......

Mandy, Mick and Richard,
Thanks for your interest in my post. Writing it certainly brought back many memories for me ( including of course the larger numbers of commoner birds we used to see ), but I hope it also showed how in those far-off difficult times NATURE in general and BIRDWATCHING in particular provided me with an essential mental escape and an even quasi-spiritual release from the day-to-day realities one was experiencing.
As far as I am concerned, the 1930s and the 1940s with their grinding and degrading poverty, austerity, deprivation, wartime dangers plus with those long-vanished and potentially fatal childhood diseases, ever hovering nearby, of diphtheria, scarlet fever and polio ......I managed to get a double whammy : two of the dreaded three and so spent many weeks, even months, literally locked away miles from anywhere, in what were called 'isolation hospitals', in quarantine just like present day dogs and cats entering the UK, with any visiting relative only allowed to see you through a window/glass screen...... well, those years did in fact serve as a valuable life apprenticeship with thankfully, a solid grammar school education ( you play the cards life gives you but fortunately I had that ace up my sleeve ) leading to Cambridge and then an enjoyable first career of some 25 years as a commissioned officer in the Army and so to a welcome economic escape. But, there's no doubt that my overriding interest in BIRDWATCHING saved the day for me and pleased to say, many years later I am still at it.
So, I must soon go and log on to 'Birdguides' to see 'what's about', but first, just so as to end
on a POSITIVE note.... Yes, there has been a marked reduction in the number of commoner species over the years for a variety of reasons but, rather than only highlighting the negatives, let's accentuate some of the positives ( not an exhaustive list) :

- the enormous increase in birds of prey...Marsh Harrier, Red Kite, Osprey, Peregrine, etc
-the increase in breeding range/visiting range of eg. Little Egret, Golden Oriole, Bittern, Spoonbill, Crane, Avocet (not to mention Collared Dove)
-the increase in the number of Reserves (incl. with facilities) where we can enjoy our hobby ( just think Frampton Marsh RSPB and Whisby)
-the proliferation of bird information services incl. the World Wide Web (not forgetting the wonders of the Lincs Bird Club Chat website) (just think Nancy's at Cley despite the great bread pudding, the Dambuster, and the usually out-of-date bird grapevines of the 1970s) which now give us a much greater chance of seeing the scarce and rarer birds (if we want to) and to know 'what's about'.
In short, there are still plenty of birds out there in a variety of habitats to give us an interesting , fulfilling and indeed fascinating hobby to enjoy.

Regards,

Freddy
-

You are absolutely right about new species Freddy, could we ever have imaganed little egrets cavorting all over the marshes eh and as for the RSPB at Frampton Marsh, well, in spite of my own personal reservations re the RSPB, hell's bells they have done us proud at Frampton but don't tell em I said so !!

However, my favourite old spots are not worth visiting nowadays.

.......and not only Little Egrets on local offer, Colin, but many other 'good' birds. Admittedly with time available to me as an OAP, plus a little effort to oil some creaking bones, ( and as Corporal(Retired) Jon - Braceheath Bridge - Freddison's old friend, Prof. WC - 'Flush Harry'- Harrison, might put it) : " this significantly sub-energetic and specifically senescent and coffin-dodging sometimes seriously salivating, superannuated Senior Citizen and still solitary Silver Listing septuagenerian short-sighted birder" has nevertheless seen/connected with in the last month or so AND written up in my 2010 Bird Notes Diary ( plus web posts as appropriate)

Nightingale - Whisby

Oriental Pratincole - Frampton Marsh RSPB on two visits along with
Little Gull
Curlew Sandpiper
Ruff
Whimbrel
Garganey.

Red- necked Grebe
Temminck's Stint
Garganey - all at Kirkby GPs

Peregrine - nesting : St. Wolfrum's Church, Grantham
- also nesting on Lincoln Cathedral

White-winged Black Tern
Black Tern
Hobby ( on both visits )
Red-necked Phalarope - all at Rutland Water

plus the East Midlands' nesting specialities (visited on annual pilgrimages every Spring) :
Marsh Harrier
Black-necked Grebe
Woodlark
Avocet
Osprey
Raven.

and hopeful news of the soon-to-be-checked-out returning Nightjar at a local NOTTS stakeout....... an appropriate bird to see during one's so-called twilight years and reminding one of certain necessary nocturnal visits ( and thankfully no longer located UNDER the bed as in my father's day )

I'm happy with the above list but imagine what some active and somewhat younger birders must have seen during May, especially with temptations to travel further afield, even abroad.

Well, the positives are certainly about in abundance and although some commoner birds ARE in decline, I have been able to enjoy as nesting birds in our garden cum copse this Spring with some now on their second broods and all dodging the local Sparrowhawk :

Robin
Goldfinch
Dunnock
Wren
Blackbird
Woodpigeon
Chaffinch
Collared Dove
(and suspected Blue Tit but with no Song Thrush or Great Tit as in 2009.)
plus house-roof lodgers
House Sparrow
Starling.
So, no complaints there either.

Let's factor in the other 'positives' of my 1st June post plus
- rapid advances in quality of optics, cameras, digiscoping
-a plethora of state-of-the-art ID guides and site guides
- dozens of overseas trip destinations ( with LBC members reporting in the past year or so on such previously undreamed of countries eg. Papua New Guinea, China, India, Sri Lanka and the Caribbean area). I remember reading about the very first bird tour company (Ornitholidays) and their very first trips to Lake Neusiedl, Austria at the 'Hotel Leiner' in 1966 / '67 as organised by Lawrence Holloway. ( I went by car for a 10 day holiday to the 'Hotel Leiner' in 1968, privately from my Army base in West Germany -FRG- and managed to mix with the Ornitholidays' group there and learn about some super stakeouts )

Bearing all these positives in mind and to paraphrase Prime Minister Harold Macmillan's famous 1957 claim, surely we must agree : " We birders have never had it so good".

Regards,

Freddy

Yes but aside from Little Egrets, creaking bones, quality optics, cameras, digiscoping
-a plethora of state-of-the-art ID guides and site guides, overseas trips, Papua New Guinea, China, India, Sri Lanka and the Caribbean, Lake Neusiedl, Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, where have our bird numbers gone ???

Colin,
What I was trying to point out and emphasise was........yes, commoner bird numbers have gone down ( due to a variety of well-researched and well- publicised reasons and theories in the birding and popular press and which I am sure you are aware of ) but on the other hand we have gained in many formerly scarce and rare species, plus overall our hobby is so much more fulfilling nowadays than formerly due to the many positives I outlined, including the ones you mentioned in your last post.

Regards,

Freddy

Hi Freddy. Didn't you ever watch that clip of comedy, was it from The Life of Brian??
"yes but, aside from .....what have the romans ever given us?"
What I find sad but maybe inevitable in this ever changing world, is that I can go into a wood now and see where spotted flycatchers SHOULD have a nest, see where goldcrests SHOULD HAVE thier nests, same with long eared owls etc, on and on the list goes. These woods are silent except for chaffinches and sometimes yellowhammers. I am simplifying it but in essence that's what my old haunts are now like. My absolute favourite little flash where I had 88 snipe, 13 green sandpipers in one day (with more species) has dried up, it now has a stand of willow trees reaching for the sky.
We are blessed with some interesting 'new' birds today but generally it looks to me like the best/only place to see them is on a reserve. That pratincole was fantastic, I think the reserve is superb but I would like to 'wander' go where I like, put hides up if I want to, enjoy the solitude, I am not always enamoured with elbow to elbow birding as with that pratincole.
I fear those days have gone.

Colin,
As you say, in the present- day world change is inevitable but it can all be very sad - especially for us 'of a certain age' where just a few fixed and unchanging things would be such a boon. The worst part, and I think you will agree, is that now changes are coming fast and furious and even speeding up.
You will feel it more than me from a past Nature haunts point of view as for many years I led such a gypsy-type life in terms of not having a fixed abode for very long. What with the War , the Army, etc, I was always on the move until a longish spell in Kent and then arriving in Lincoln from Spain in 2002.
I would have loved a chance to stay put and belong to a place for many years and to get to know the local Nature, but then again as you say, so many sad and detrimental changes to the countryside and especially local birds would not have been a blessing.

Regards,

Freddy
PS. Many thanks for initiating this thread and enabling us (with others) to have an interesting exchange of views and experiences.