THE Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust has hailed its 2016 Big Farmland Bird Count as an incredible success.

Nearly 1,000 farmers spotted 130 species across the UK.

This year the count not only beat the last two years’ records, but also included the spotting of several rare birds over the week. The highlights were a ring ouzel in Essex and a snow bunting in Warwickshire.

Ring ouzels usually migrate from the Mediterranean to the west of the UK to breed, but breeding usually occurs from mid-April to mid-July. And snow buntings breed in the Arctic and migrate down to the UK during the winter months. However they are coastal birds, so inland sightings are extremely rare.

Matt Willmot, Natural England Advisor, says: “This was my third year of taking part in the Big Farmland Bird Count and I will definitely be counting again next year.

“The time you put in really counts towards the support of our farmland birds. It is always a pleasure not only to take part in the event, but to encourage local farmers to count their resident birds as well.”

Planning for the fourth BFBC is already under way. It will take place February 4 to 12, 2017, and organisers are hoping that 2,000 participants will take part.