UThe ground appears to be shifting beneath the dried splinters cut kale. A small flock of birds is grazing on fallen seed in the morning sunlight, making their way through the stubble. They occasionally raise their heads, striped like butterscotch or caramel-coloured humbugs. I count them quickly, barely able to believe how lucky they are.
I came across this stretch of farmland that slopes on the south Devon coastI set out to find one of these rare sparrow-sized birds. Instead, I was able to find a chattering group of them numbering in the hundreds.
They are cirl buntings, pronounced sirl, and they sound very chirpy. Once distributed across 39 counties, Cirl buntingsAs agricultural practices increased, the countryside was drained of the species. There were just over 100 pairs left in the west. The RSPB launched a desperate effort to save the species in the UK in the 1990s. They worked with local farmers to ensure that hedge-lined fields, coastal scrub, and other habitats provided sufficient food and nesting areas.
The yellow and brown buntings are now more numerous than a thousand, strung along the southern edges of Cornwall and Devon, thanks to concerted conservation efforts.
Although it is not common, cirl bunting is a rare wildlife good news story. It was a wonderful sight to see the feeding flock.
They fly to a nearby bush of blackthorns overlooking the ocean, where they perch in the sunshine, seemingly enjoying their mild weather and the companionship of their fellow birds. One of them is a handsome male with brighter breeding plumage and black-and-lemon head stripes.
The cirl bunting might seem like an obscure species for ornithologists, given its unusual name and limited range. However, this species can now be found on a stroll down the coast. South West Coast PathWell-acquainted with passing hikers or dog walkers.
Each one of these little beacons that light up the hedgerows is a sign of hope. Celebrate conservation success by putting up the bunting
