Stonechat
Saxicola torquata
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Distribution Britain 1,034 (-14.6%) Ireland 569 (-28.2%)
Numbers breeding: Britain 15,000 Ireland 13,000 European status: 1,500,000 (2% in Britain and Ireland =10) British population trend: overall declines How likely are you to record it? 133 squares (3.0%) Ranked 96= [39] |
The Stonechat was common more or less throughout Britain and Ireland a century ago with slight declines recorded from a few areas, mainly in the Home Counties. However these losses quickly accelerated, but increases were reported from north and west Scotland. The loss of heathland and other wastes was the clear reason. Stonechats do not move very far in winter and their populations may be hit very hard by winter cold. Where their breeding habitat becomes dispersed the birds are likely to diminish further and this has clearly happened. Now the coastal fringe of East Anglia and South Coast, New Forest and Surrey Heaths are the only population centres in central and eastern Britain. There have also been widespread losses inland in Eastern Ireland and elsewhere. These might indicate that more are going to be lost. Even after a succession of mild winters Stonechats have not returned to areas like the Brecks — we may be about to lose more!
From
The
State of the Nations Birds
Copyright © 2000 by Chris Mead