Dusk on Salisbury Plain, may well have the odd soldier hiding amongst the bushes, but during the summer, the area is also home to a whole host of migrating birds.
The common quail is one such bird, and although the title suggests its frequent appearance in the UK, it is now becoming increasingly rare.
Coturnix coturnix (common quail)
John Hughes from Shipton Bellinger is one of only a handful of ornithologist currently researching the diminishing ‘Coturnix coturnix’.
“This type of quail winters in Africa and comes to Salisbury Plain in very small numbers. There area around 300 pairs of quails across the UK with a large number visiting this area. What I’m trying to do is to record a more accurate number of birds”, said John.
Quail were common in the UK up to the beginning of the twentieth century but now are relatively scarce.
Click here to listen to Castledown Radio’s Shirley Swain as she chatting to John Hughes on Salisbury Plain.
