The Heathland Birds of South Haven Peninsula, Studland Heath, Dorset

Abstract

A census was made of the breeding population in Apr. and May, 1935 and 1936, and the wintering population in Nov. and Dec, 1935, chiefly by strip counts. Species restricted to heath and dune were meadow pipit, stonechat, Dartford warbler, wren, and redshank. The skylark, restricted elsewhere to this habitat, is absent from the peninsula, due presumably to the non-calcareous nature of the soil preventing grassy turf from forming and thereby affecting the food supply. The stonechat is restricted during the breeding season to areas of heath where at least one bush or high point is available to serve as a song and look-out post in defense of territory. The total breeding population of these spp. varied from 31 to 67 adults per 100 acres; the wintering population varied more widely, due to flocking, from 10 to 210 adults per 100 acres. The breeding density of neither meadow pipit nor stonechat appeared correlated with food supply. The wheatear, ringed plover, and lapwing were restricted to recently burned areas of heathland.