THE BIRDS OF SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE
CORNCRAKE – Crex crex
As with all reports of rare and scarce birds they are subject to ratification by the respective rarities committees
The Corncrakes' breeding habitat is not marshes like most crakes but meadows and arable farmland. They breed across Europe and western Asia migrating to Africa in winter. They are in steep decline across most of their range because modern farming practices mean that nests and birds are destroyed by mowing or harvesting before breeding is finished. Its scientific name 'crex crex' is imitative of its call. Some historical names for Corncrake include; Land Rail, Daker Hen and Rape Scrape.
There have been fifteen Corncrake's reported from S. Gloucestershire, they are;
1938: (1)
On October 30th a single bird was observed at Patchway Common, evidently a passage bird it was disturbed from a late grass crop.
1942: (2)
One was located on August 29th at Stoke Gifford in a wheat field; On September 11th one was found at Dyrham Wood, in a barley crop.
1946: (1)
Sometime in June one was heard calling on several occasions at Rangeworthy .
1947: (1)
Sometime in the autumn one was 'obtained' at Dyrham.
1950: (2)
One was reported on August 16th at Little Stoke, in a corn crop; On August 31st a single bird was located at Dyrham.
1951: (1)
One was located in early September at Little Stoke, in a corn crop.
1952: (2)
One was found on August 18th at Westerleigh, in a corn crop; On September 14th one was located at Yate, in a corn crop.
1953: (1)
On October 15th at Stoke Lodge in Patchway one was picked up dead, apparently a victim of overhead wires.
1955: (1)
On April 11th one was caught and later released at a Market Garden in Patchway, probably the earliest spring record.
1962: (1)
On September 1st one was heard calling near Bitton.
1989: (1)
On June 21st one was heard calling at Rushmead Lane near Marshfield for several minutes. (ST: 782 752).
1998: (1)
On July 5th one was heard calling at Rushmead lane near Marshfield for several minutes. (ST: 782 752).