The Scottish Government

Lapwing in grass Photo: Chris Gomershall (RSPB Images)

The lapwing is a familiar bird on Scotland's farmland and shoreline. However, its population in Scotland has declined and its distribution across the country has contracted in recent years.

Lapwings can nest on a variety of agricultural systems - their main requirement being short vegetation and/or bare ground. Within arable systems, lapwings will nest in a field that is either in a spring-sown crop or in stubble, avoiding fields that were sown in autumn where the crop is tall. Lapwings may also nest on regenerating set-aside in its first year, before the cover grows too tall. On grasslands, lapwings nest on fields with short vegetation and in damp conditions.

Chicks require short vegetation in which to feed. Therefore, as crops grow taller, chicks will move to feed in more open areas nearby - grass fields, fodder crops and grazed grassland. In many areas, damp grassland can be a very productive invertebrate habitat and important for chick rearing.

Prescription 2 - the Management of Open Grazed Grassland for Birds and Prescription 5 - the Management of Wet Grassland for Waders will ensure provision of suitable conditions for nesting and chick rearing. Prescription 25 - the Introduction or Retention of Extensive Cropping will provide suitable feeding areas for this bird.

In winter, Scottish lapwings move south and west, for example to Ireland. Those birds found overwintering in Scotland probably breed in Scandinavia. These lapwings feed on both arable and pasture fields, where the diet comprises mainly earthworms and cranefly larvae.

Aim: To encourage the management of hay and silage fields for the protection of ground nesting birds, their eggs and fledglings.

Some Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species that may benefit: Corn bunting, Skylark, Grey partridge, and Brown hare.

Other important (bird) species that may benefit: Lapwing, Curlew, Yellowhammer and Twite.

Eligible sites: A field used for growing an extensive crop of hay or silage.

Linnet perched on gorse Photo: Chris Gomershall (RSPB Images)

These species include some of our most familiar and colourful birds, like chaffinch and goldfinch, of which healthy populations survive in Scotland. For several species, however, there has been some concern over their decline. Amongst these are linnet, twite, tree sparrow, yellowhammer, corn bunting, reed bunting and skylark.

These birds flock together over suitable feeding habitats in winter, and disperse to breeding habitats in the spring. Farmers and crofters play a vital role in caring for these species, as all are dependent on farmland for all or part of the year. They require a range of nesting sites and the Rural Stewardship Scheme can assist in providing these.

• linnets and yellowhammers are to be found typically on farmland areas with hedges and scrub. They nest in scrub, hedges, hedge bases, long grass or low trees (Prescriptions 23, 24, 28 and 29);
• reed buntings are to be found typically on farmland with ditches and reed-fringed wetlands: they often nest along ditches in long grass; in some areas they nest in crops (Prescription 18).
• skylarks and twite are typical of more open farmland landscapes, and both species also occur in upland areas:
  • skylarks on lowland farmland nest in open crop/grass fields, well away from tall trees or hedges, but avoid short, tightly grazed grass (Prescriptions 2, 8, 21, 22, 25 & 26). Nests in winter-sown crops are often deserted as crops grow tall. Tramlines in spring-sown crops are favoured nesting and foraging areas. Set-aside can also provide good nesting opportunities.
  • twite usually nest in moorland or bracken patches, often on steep ground, adjoining farmland or croftland with abundant weeds.

Flock of feeding finches Photo: Chris Knights (RSPB Images)

In the winter, all of these species feed on seeds, including cereal grains, grass and weed seeds. Skylarks take a proportion of leaf material from crops or weeds. Cereal grains are the main winter food for only a few species: others depend heavily on seeds of broad-leaved and grass weeds, or oilseed rape. Unharvested crops (Prescription 28) and set-aside will assist with over-winter survival, especially if there are weeds.

In summer, most species feed their young on invertebrates, with particularly important insect groups being weevils, spiders, grasshoppers, craneflies and sawflies. These invertebrates are often dependent on farmland weeds for their existence. Linnet and twite feed their young on weed or unripe oilseed rape seeds. Given appropriate management, RSS can provide summer feeding opportunities - Prescriptions 2, 6, 8, 21, 22, 25 & 26.