Page 44 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

INTRODUCTION

LOWLAND HEATH AND
MEDITERRANEAN SCRUB

n Northwest Europe lowland heath is a rare and restricted
Ihabitat. It is often found in a thin strip along a rocky coast
but also in special regions with sandy or acid soils, such as the
New Forest and Brecklands in England and a few areas of
the Netherlands and northern France. In southern Europe,
MEDITERRANEAN SIZZLER
however, much larger areas of rough ground with short, A typical bird found in Mediterranean scrub is the Serin,
aromatic shrubs and evergreen bushes cover sunny slopes. whose jingling, sizzling song is a familiar summer sound.
LOWLAND HEATHS
These are habitats for a few specialist
species that require the mixture of open
space and patchy scrub, which is often
maintained by grazing animals and
periodic fires. Dartford Warblers are
resident in such areas while Nightjars
are summer visitors to them. In the
summertime a variety of birds take
advantage of the insect food and
nesting opportunities found in dense
HEATHLAND heather and gorse. Some thickets
Coastal heath bordering an have Nightingales that prefer dense
estuary provides a unique habitat.
vegetation down to ground level, while
open spaces see nesting Stone-curlews
COASTAL DUNES
A lack of water and erosion by the and Woodlarks, which need bare earth
wind create harsh conditions for to pick up insects from. Dragonflies
most birds. However, Crested breed where there are pools in boggy
Larks feed in the open spaces. valleys and attract hunting Hobbies.
MEDITERRANEAN SCRUB
Mediterranean slopes have bare rocks, patches of short grass, cushions of short, spiny
herbs, and taller, thick, evergreen bushes.This is the “garrigue” or “maquis” habitat,
wonderful for birds such as Rollers, Great Grey Shrikes, and Lesser Kestrels that take
large insects and lizards from the ground. Overhead, many kinds of birds of
prey may be seen, while on the bush tops are shrikes,which are small
bird- and insect eaters. Ground feeders as varied as Red-legged
Partridges, Hoopoes, larks, pipits, and buntings are attracted to
the scrubland while the bushes have an exciting array of small
warblers, mostly restricted to the Mediterranean region in Europe.
There are some habitats that are found in just a few scattered
locations and are home to specific species. For example, patches
of introduced cactus attract Rufous
Bush Robins and rocky gullies
are perfect nesting sites for
Rock Sparrows.

RUFOUS BUSH ROBIN
This large chat is one of an essentially
African family that prefers dry, sandy
gullies, small cliffs, and patches of
prickly pear cactus.

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