How to watch cirl buntings
Cirl buntings, as well as being very rare, can be very difficult to see and are very sensitive to disturbance, particularly during the breeding season. As a result, they are assigned special protection by the Wildlife and Countryside Act, which makes it an offence to intentionally, or recklessly disturb them at or near the nest. Below are some suggestions that will enable you to enjoy watching cirl buntings without distressing them. Breeding season (April to September) One of the easiest times of the year to find cirl buntings is during the breeding season, which can last into August. This is when males sing regularly - often from prominent perches. However, it is also the time when disturbance can be potentially harmful to a cirl bunting’s breeding success. Disturbing adult birds with young in the nest means they will spend less time searching for food to feed their chicks. This can ultimately lead to the chicks starving, so great care is needed to ensure birds are viewed at a safe distance during this period. Unfortunately, there is no defined ‘safe’ distance for viewing the birds. It is more important to be aware of how birds are reacting to your presence. For example, if you are too close, breeding males will often stop searching for food for their young, approach the intruder and sing at them! Similarly, spending too long watching the birds in one particular place, which may be an important feeding area, can impact upon feeding times. Therefore, always ask the questions: does the bird seem unhappy with my presence, is it behaving unnaturally and am I preventing it from feeding? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you are too close, so move away.
Winter watching (December to March) In winter, cirl buntings flock together, often with other finches and buntings, but they still tend to remain elusive as they feed in inaccessible and often privately owned weedy stubble fields. Although frustrating for the birdwatcher, this allows the birds to feed undisturbed. Winter is another crucial time for cirl buntings as finding food is essential for them to survive the cold months, particularly with the reduced daylight hours available to search for food. Please avoid disturbing birds from stubble fields because this can interrupt vital feeding time. Instead, wait for these winter flocks to perch up in hedges in between feeding periods to view them. The birds will make regular visits to the adjacent hedgerows in order to preen and sunbathe. During this time, cirl buntings can be seen more easily than when feeding on the ground and, more importantly, without disturbing them. Song and callsCirl buntings have a distinctive song that can be heard up to 500m away on a calm day and is best described as a slightly accelerating, rattled trill, similar to that of a yellowhammer but lacking the final drawn out ‘eeezz’ note. It is not unusual to hear a short burst of song during any month of the year on calm, sunny days. Once a singing bird has been heard, it is best to slowly scan that area with binoculars, particularly the tops of nearby scrub and trees. Other calls are far less obvious and are difficult to pick up. The commonest call is a sharp, thin, quiet ‘tsip’ very like that of a young robin and often given in flight. Last modified: 21 December 2005
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