The Lincolnshire Bird Club

This Winter has seen a large increase in numbers of Grey (English) Partridge in the South Lincs fens. Fens where Grey Partidge were almost extinct in the last few years had several coveys of 20 or more before Christmas. The coveys split up into pairs around December (unlike Red-legged (French) Partidge which stay in coveys until Spring).

The dry weather last Summer when the chicks were hatching no doubt helped to produce the large numbers this Winter, also the grassy field margins in this arable landscape is hopefully turning the tide for this declining farmland bird.

Have increases been noted elsewhere in Lincs this Winter?

Hugh Dorrington

Over the past couple of years, I have noticed large numbers of grey partridge near Kirton Lindsey and near Atterby in the north of the county. However, I had attributed these localised and initially startling populations largely to releases on shooting estates, although I have not established that as a fact. Grey poults are now widely available and released, as a quick web search will confirm. Are you sure that releases aren't involved in your Fen areas?

Andrew

Funny I've noticed that too. Today for instance I biked to Hemingby and flushed 3 separate pairs of Greys and no Red legs. I think Andrew may have a point, though in my experience P breeding success seemed better in 2011 than it had in the first 3 years of the atlas.

It would be interesting to know if there have been any concerted releases in the Wolds.

There are very few releases of any game birds in the South Lincs fens, not even pheasants. In the open landscape they soon disappear into the next parish or beyond. Grey Partridge have been released in Grimsthorpe Park in the past but their survival is very poor. As far as I know Grey Partridge are still rare in the "uplands" of South Kesteven. I am sure that the recent upsuge of Grey Partridge in the South Lincs fens is a natural and very welcome occurrence.

Hugh Dorrington

Grey partridges have been released on farmland adjacent to Gib although few habitat improvements have been carried out to sustain them in the very intensive arable.

Nesting attempts on the Gib NNR in recent years may be attributable to locally released birds.

Coincidentally, red-legs seem very scarce in the area these days

Kev

Whilst cycling in N. E. Lincs. in late summer 2011, I noticed that there were more and larger coveys of Grey Partridge around North Somercotes and across to Covenham, Grainthorpe and Marshchapel. The dry weather certainly helped the survival rate of most broods. I think that the increase in numbers in this area, at least, is unconnected to any release schemes, although of course, one can never be certain.

No comparable success was apparent in the ever scarcer Red-legged Partridge, which reflects the situation in the south of the county.

Regards, SL.

Grey Partridge are sometimes seen in small coveys on the Lincoln Cliff Lowfields but I have seen many more Red Legs around here with at least 60 seen on one short visit to Blackmoor Bridge, which incidentally is part of the Neville Estate, therefore probably reared for sporting purposes. The existence of a number of feed stations would support this.

David

Hugh, I'm inclined to agree re grey partridge in SW lincs fens. Had a few males calling (1 Thurlby Fen and 2 Baston Fen), and had nice views of a pair, on 15 Jan which I haven't had for a while. Agree generally scare in the Kesteven uplands but even there greys seem to be doing well (or better) - eg had a covey of 15 on the Woolsthorpe line (just E of C/worth landfill) on 22 December and had adults with young there and near Castle Bytham in the summer. Nice to see - and a welcome change from the preponderance of redlegs ....! Vin