Page 47 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

FARMLAND AND GRASSLAND

WHERE TO WATCH
1 ISLAY,SCOTLAND 4 BELCHITE,SPAIN
In summer, the damp fields here These semi-arid northern Spanish
see breeding Snipe, Lapwings, steppes have a nature reserve
Redshanks, and Curlews. area in which can be found
Choughs, Twites, and Rock Doves Dupont’s, Crested, Lesser Short-
feed in the fields and along the toed, Short-toed, and Thekla
field margins. In winter, huge Larks as well as Stone-curlews,
flocks of Barnacle and Greenland Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, various
White-fronted Geese feed on warblers, Hobbies, Lesser
grassy pastures. Kestrels, and other birds of prey.
2 SALISBURY
PLAIN, ENGLAND
This is an exceptional area of
chalk downland, which has
especially large numbers of
Skylarks as well as other
widespread farm birds such as
Yellowhammers and Linnets. It
also attracts some Stone-curlew
and Grey Partridges.
CRESTED LARK
3 TEXEL, 5 BIEBRZA MARSHES,
NETHERLANDS
POLAND
A wonderful island to visit all year This farmed wetland and
round, it sees breeding Black- grassland region has rare Aquatic
tailed Godwits, Ruffs, and Warblers and Great Snipes as well
Redshanks on wetter nature as a great variety of other exciting
reserves in summer. In winter, species – from Black and White
large numbers of Lapwings, Storks to Cranes, Corncrakes,
NORTHERN VISITORS Snipe, Oystercatchers, Golden Greater Spotted Eagles, and
Plovers, Brent, Bean, and White-
Huge numbers of geese from far northern breeding areas, including White-winged Black Terns.
fronted Geese, Wigeon, Mallards,
Pink-footed, Barnacle, and White-fronted Geese, have come to rely
Shovelers, other wildfowl, birds
on European farmland in winter – feeding on grass and waste crops. of prey, and finches, including 6 HORTOBAGY,
Twites, visit the area. HUNGARY
ADAPTATION This is a huge area of farmland
and semi-natural steppe, which
Skylarks and Calandra Larks have no perches to attracts Red-footed Falcons,
sing from in open fields: they pour out prolonged Great Bustards, Aquatic Warblers,
songs from high-level song flights instead. Rollers, Bee-Eaters, and Lesser
Grey Shrikes in summer. Tens of
Lapwings and Stone-curlews are happy thousands of Cranes pass by on
to adapt to farmland habitats so long as their migration route and White-
there is a mixture of pasture on which tailed Eagles visit in winter.
they can situate their nests, and TWITES
bare earth where their
growing chicks can
forage for insects.
Sandgrouse are able
to survive on one drink Grassland areas
a day and they fly huge
distances to get it.They also PIN-TAILED SANDGROUSE
carry water to their 1
nestlings, holding it in their belly feathers. 2 3
Geese have changed their eating 5
habits and now enjoy feasting
on waste crops, such as sugar 6
beet tops and carrots. 4
Choughs feed in old
pastures, probing for
ants with their long,
CHOUGH curved bills.
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