Dartford Warbler and Woodlark records needed

Background

A national census for both species is planned for 2006, in collaboration with the RSPB, Forestry Commission and English Nature. Prior to the 2006 survey commencing, we need your help to gather details of any new or recently occupied sites. Since the mid 1990s, the populations of Woodlark and Dartford Warbler, have increased in size and range. Both species have a vulnerable conservation status in the UK and their current national status is uncertain.

Woodlark
Previous population estimates registered a five-fold increase between 1986 and 1997, moving the species from a precarious 250 pairs to 1,550 pairs. Since then, further increases have occurred where suitable habitat has become available, especially within forest plantations and more recently on arable farmland. Interestingly, however, population declines are also suspected in some areas, that may not simply reflect changes in the availability of suitable breeding habitat. Instead factors outside the breeding season may be implicated.

Dartford Warbler
Their sedentary nature belies their ability to disperse into suitable habitats when conditions become favourable. A population of around 1,800 pairs was recorded in 1994, since when a recent series of milder winters may have encouraged a further range expansion into coastal areas of East Anglia, South Wales, Exmoor, Dartmoor and into Cornwall, presumably from core sites in southern England? This species was probably at its peak in the 19th century when its distribution reached parts of Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire and even Shropshire, as well as Kent (Holloway 1996). In this context, there is still plenty of ground to be reclaimed, although sadly, many areas of previously suitable habitat have been lost permanently since then. Nevertheless, while some of the recent range expansion is well accounted for, our picture of the more dispersed breeding population is sketchy and a more accurate assessment of their national status and distribution would be timely.

For further details of the 2006 surveys, please contact: Greg Conway (BTO) Tel: 01842 750050 or Simon Wotton (RSPB); Tel: 01767 680551.

How to contribute

Survey Period: Woordlark: 15th February 2005 to 30th June & Dartford Warbler: 1st April to 31st July 2005
BirdTrack users can assist the survey effort by reporting all records of Woodlark and Dartford Warblers during the 2005 breeding season; from April until August. Records away form regular sites are of particular importance to ensure that all known sites are covered during the 2006 surveys. When submitting a species list, or a casual record, please use the comments box to tell us the number of males/pairs of Woodlark and Dartford Warblers seen.

Recording your sightings

If you are not already a BirdTrack recorder, register using the link on the BirdTrack homepage ‘Register for BirdTrack’. To enter sightings click on the link ‘login to enter sightings’ and set up your sites and records.

How to enter the additional information

Please give us more details on any Woodlark and Dartford Warbler sightings. To contribute, please just add as many of the points below that you can to the species comment box on the casual form, or next to the count field - e.g. on the species list form
Please help distinguish the different points by adding a '#' between each point.
We are interested in knowing:

The number of singing males or pairs
The number of non-singing birds (ie females and juveniles)

Please do not disturb breeding Dartford Warblers and Woodlarks - these are both Schedule 1 species.

See the results

You can look at the latest results for Dartford Warbler and Woodlark on BirdTrack. These pages have graphs that show the number of records and the proportion of lists submitted with these species on. To view the animated maps for these species click here and select the species you are interested in.

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