In Parnership with the British Trust for Ornithology

Working to produce an Atlas of Wintering & Breeding Birds in Shropshire, and contributing to the National Bird Atlas

Putting Shropshire Birds on the Map

Latest Results

Winter season results

After 4 winters of fieldwork the winter distribution maps for many common species show them to be found in almost all tetrads. The few gaps are almost certainly down to lack of coverage, see Dunnock and Wren for example. The Bullfinch and Song Thrush maps have larger gaps, this may be because they are more difficult to find but it may be that suitable habitat is not available in these areas. This is certainly the case for many waterbirds such as Teal, Moorhen and Lapwing which are much scarcer in the South West, although in the severe weather of last winter some lapwing were found in unusual places, such as the edge of woodland and stock feeding areas that were free from snow. The invasion of Waxwing added many new dots to the distribution maps but we may have to wait a while for a repeat. Merlin and Red Kite can turn up anywhere in the winter but the South West is the strong hold for kites in the county.

Breeding season results

Fieldwork for the previous atlas found the Robin in every tetrad and breeding was confirmed in 91% of them, the gaps in this latest map probably indicate areas where limited fieldwork has been carried out.    

The Corn Bunting and Dipper maps are now beginning to reflect the true distribution of these species and the habitats they depend on.  The corn bunting now appears to be divided into three distinct populations, this was less obvious in the previous atlas but more records over the next two seasons may blur the distinctions.  The dipper seems to have retreated from the more central parts of the county. 

Gaps in Mistle Tthrush and Nuthatch maps may indicate areas with less tree cover, while spaces in the starling map are probably due to the reduced breeding population, more noticeable away from human settlements.  The Green Woodpecker has been lost from parts of SW Wales and appears to be thinning out in Shropshire while the Great Spotted Woodpecker goes from strength to strength.  This is also apparent with the Chiffchaff now out performing the Willow Warbler. 

The decline of the Lapwing continues apace, having disappeared from some of the tetrads where it was confirmed breeding in the first years of the current atlas project. 

Please help us to complete these pictures of the birds of Shropshire by adding your records to these maps.  Information such as this plays a huge part in targeting conservation initiatives to where they are most needed. 

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