Ipswich Airport

I was surveying the Ipswich airport site this morning for breeding Skylarks.  Much of the site has either been developed or the habitat required by Skylarks has changed.  Numbers have declined significantly, by 84% over the last thirteen years in fact.  However, a portion of the old airport site, which has been designated a County Wildlife Site, is holding on to about eight pairs.  This morning I counted 23 Skylarks there.  The site is being managed by the Borough's rangers.  I also had a grass snake on one of the reptile habitat piles.  There was also a Black Redstart singing, a scarce breeding bird in Britain.  I hope the developers erect nesting boxes in suitable locations for these beautiful birds.

Young Skylark (Ipswich airport 26.06.2012)