Corn buntings Miliaria calandra in the South Downs and South Wessex Downs Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs), 1994-1995.

Abstract

During surveys of grassland birds on the South Downs and South Wessex Downs ESAs, corn buntings were recorded in the nesting season of 1994 and winter of 1994/1995. Breeding corn buntings appeared to be more abundant on recent ESA arable reversion grass sown with chalk downland species than on intensively managed winter wheat and grass not entered in the ESA schemes. On ESA arable reversion grass sown with agricultural species (permanent grassland), the density of corn buntings seemed to decline with time after reversion, and to be lower than on chalk downland reversion. Singing male corn buntings deserted chalk downland reversion fields which were mown during May and June in the South Wessex Downs ESA. Corn buntings were rare in winter in both ESAs.