Do Wrynecks breed in the UK any more? (1 Viewer)

[Neil Grubb]

My books indicate the Wryneck as being probably / virtually / maybe extinct as a breeding species in the UK. I have not heard of Wrynecks breeding in the UK - are they now extinct in breeding terms ? If so, why ? Loss of habitat ?

 

[Nutcracker]

Effectively extinct - maybe a pair or two every few years, nothing regular. No-one really knows why, but some sort of habitat degradation seems likely. Perhaps that they can no longer find enough food on migration to be able to fatten up enough to cross the Sahara

 

[David FG]

In Kent (one of their last strongholds) they were very much a bird of orchards. These are largely a thing of the past, and where they do still exist they don't consist of mature large trees any more.

 

[griffin]

Some breed in Speyside I believe.

Linz

 

[scampo]

I think the Scandinavian sub-species were supposed to have a pair or two in Scotland, but in England? I suspect the odd pair, though as quite a few turn up on migration.

I'd love to see one!

 

[jpoyner]

Some breed in Speyside I believe.

Linz

The Highland Bird Report for 2003 states one bird was heard singing near a known previous nest site but no mention of confirmed breeding. It's status is still a very rare and sporadic breeder in Scotland.

John

 

[griffin]

The Highland Bird Report for 2003 states one bird was heard singing near a known previous nest site but no mention of confirmed breeding. It's status is still a very rare and sporadic breeder in Scotland.

John

See Bird Study Vol 51 Part 3 "Use of Pine Snags........" R.W Summers. Don't know over what years the study was carried out but Wrynecks are mentioned and presumably breeding ( using holes in snags ). Its probably hush-hush for obvious reasons.

Linz

 

[jpoyner]

Just wondering what "Pine Snags" were???
On to another elusive species of the Pinewoods at the moment......Crossbill SP............do you have many over in Deeside at the moment?
Speyside still seems devoid of any substantial numbers.......even places which held a few birds last year seem empty. The cone crop is looking good at the moment so hopefully we'll get an influx.

John

 

[mcapper]

In Derbyshire, Crossbill is still available at the moment but in fewer numbers than two winters ago when flocks of upto 350 were around.

At the moment I'm just getting sporadic sightings of two or three birds.

Matthew

 

[Andrew Marrison]

John -
Saw 30 plus crossbills a couple of weeks back in Roseisle forest, on the Moray coast between kinloss and lossiemouth, and have seen a few dotting about since