In Support of : -

LAPWING BREEDING SURVEY OF LOWLAND

LANCASHIRE AND NORTH MERSEYSIDE

March 2002

Dear Colleague

Thank you for your interest in participating in this important survey.

The Lapwing Breeding survey has been organised by the Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP ) Partnerships of both Lancashire and North Merseyside, with the support of the Fylde Bird Club, Lancaster & District Birdwatching Society and the Lancashire & Cheshire Fauna Society (Lancashire Bird Club).

When the survey work for the Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Lancashire and North Merseyside was carried out, lapwings were not thought to be a priority species and were therefore not counted. We now know that they are in steep decline, particularly in England and Wales. Since our region is known to be of national importance for lapwings, this survey will provide valuable baseline information for the future conservation of the species.

The survey has two main aims:

to produce an estimate of the lapwing breeding population in the lowlands (we already have good information for Bowland and the uplands)
to identify the most important breeding habitats for lapwings in the region.

We are also asking you to count other important farmland bird species as well as to record your sightings of hares. All these are now priority ‘species of conservation concern’ and we hope to do further survey work to monitor their populations in future years.

We thank you for your support of this important project.

Yours sincerely

On behalf of the Biodiversity Action Plan Partnerships

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FIELDWORK

General advice

Make one visit only to each of your allocated survey squares in the period

29 March –21 April inclusive it is important that you try and stick to these dates. We need to minimise the risk of lapwings ‘moving home’ during the survey period and being counted twice.

Do not survey in wet or windy conditions.

Try and survey during the three hours after dawn or the three hours before dusk (i.e. roughly 6-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. during the period).

One kilometre squares will be allocated. Please allow 2 hours per square.

Scan each field thoroughly at least three times during at least a five minute period.

Do not enter fields or otherwise disturb the birds if possible (this will distort the survey results).

Do seek the landowner’s consent and assistance wherever possible.

Be aware that predators, (e.g. kestrels, crows), disturbing a field will give you a good opportunity for an accurate count.

Please do not deviate from these guidelines. It is important that we all survey in exactly the same way so that a scientifically accurate result is produced. Remember also that a ‘nil’ return is as important as a ‘good’ one

Other species to be recorded are brown hare, grey partridge, skylark, yellow wagtail, linnet, tree sparrow, yellowhammer, reed bunting and corn bunting.

What to record - ON THE MAP

Record the location and numbers of all breeding lapwings seen.

Do not attempt to reach areas that are unduly difficult to access (e.g. private drives, wooded areas) but indicate these and other ‘blind’ areas on the map with cross-hatching.

Show your route with arrowed lines and your observation points with crosses.
Record the predominant crop type within the boundaries shown on you map, whether spring (i.e. very young) or autumn-sown, bare or cultivated ground (i.e. ploughed or tilled), grass, set-aside, fallow or ‘other’. Please do this for all areas - not just those with lapwings in them. Please use the following habitat codes: SC = spring sown crop; AC = autumn-sown crop; SA = set-aside or fallow; B = bare or tilled; G = grass. Please give brief description of any ‘Other’ habitats (e.g. ‘green beach’, saltmarsh etc.).

If animals are present please record type and approximate number within the boundaries shown, as follows:- C20 = 20 cows, S200 = 200 sheep, H5 = 5 horses, P10 = 10 pigs.

What to record - ON THE FORM

Record your name and the date and time of the observations.

In the lapwings nesting box give a total of all lapwings seen displaying, incubating, alarm calling, acting aggressively, mobbing or guarding plus any other alert birds present within the 1 km square. Please record the number of birds seen and not your estimate of how many pairs there are.

In the non-breeding lapwings box record the numbers of lapwings 6th, not showing any evidence of breeding behaviour.

Record the other bird species by putting down a figure, or a zero if absent, and add an asterisk if you have any evidence of breeding activity e.g. song, display, aggression etc. For example you might have Tree Sparrow 11 ( 2* ), of which two pairs were displaying breeding activity.

Record the total number of Brown Hares seen, or a zero if absent.

The pale grey ones have already been allocated

4530, 4734, 4030, 4431, 4632, 4938, 4732, 4838, 4332, 4739, 4439, 4238, 4635, 4136

Click here for a LINK to more details on marked Geese.

Please send records of marked 'wild' Swans through the Bird Club,