The Lincolnshire Bird Club

My autumn grey partridge count last week on the farm at Woodhall Spa was the highest since 2010, with 51 birds (60 in 2010). I was too late in September to measure productivity as this species moults into adult plumage at 16/17 weeks (BWP) and some could have been from May broods. 27 birds were in adult plumage and 24 in juvenile plumage. My spring count on 5th & 6th April 2016 produced only 8 adults. The birds were either on cereal or poppy stubbles.

Has anyone else made a comparable observation this year?

John

John

At the end of June I was in despair about the breeding prospects for Grey Partridge as a result of the wet, cool weather at peak hatching. All I ever saw on the farm during July were barren pairs and I feared a repeat of the disastrous 2012 season.

However, since then things did improve once harvest progressed, although I didn't see any juveniles until 12th August. Some pairs do appear to have managed to rear some good coveys which peaked at the weekend when I saw a covey of a pair with 16 juvs on a neighbouring farm. The largest covey I have has 8 juveniles.

My overall assessment in my area would be that the season could only really be described average at best with early and later broods faring better than ones that hatched in mid/late June.