Rare bird not seen for over a century unexpectedly spotted in Herefordshire

A pair of hawfinches have been discovered breeding in Herefordshire for the first time in 140 years.

In a remarkable find for British wildlife conservation, the rare birds were spotted in woodland during surveys conducted by Herefordshire Wildlife Trust (HWT) at Local Wildlife Sites.

The discovery was particularly significant as hawfinches are among Britain’s rarest woodland birds, with only an estimated 500 pairs remaining across the country.

Experts have suggested that this sighting could indicate the presence of a previously unknown colony in Herefordshire and the Welsh Marches, as these large finches typically nest in groups.

In another significant discovery, several pairs of tree sparrows were found nesting on a farm in north west Herefordshire, marking their first breeding record in nine years.

While tree sparrows are more common than hawfinches, they have faced a devastating decline in recent decades.

The wildlife trust has reported that tree sparrow populations have experienced a “catastrophic decline” of 98 per cent since the 1960s.

This dramatic decrease has been attributed to two main factors: the impact of Dutch elm disease and modern agricultural practices on their natural habitats.

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The findings were made during HWT’s surveys of Local Wildlife Sites, areas designated as particularly important for wildlife.

Adding to the remarkable discoveries, surveyors found evidence of an ancient temperate rainforest fragment at the same site as the tree sparrows.

This type of woodland is considered exceptionally rare, with less than one per cent remaining of what once covered much of Britain’s west coast.

The fragment is one of the only known examples of ancient temperate rainforest in Herefordshire, according to the wildlife trust.

The discovery of this rare habitat alongside the nesting birds has shone a light on the ecological significance of these Local Wildlife Sites.

Project Officer Toby Fountain of HWT said: “As well as turning up some brilliant wildlife and habitats, this project is also revealing some of the exciting and ambitious conservation work being carried out by private landowners in the county.”

Fountain remained positive about future conservation efforts in the region.

“I hope this will be the basis of a productive long-term partnership between such individuals and Herefordshire Wildlife Trust,” he added.

These latest discoveries have underlined the need to continue wildlife surveys and collaboration between conservation organisations and private landowners in protecting rare species and habitats across the nation.