Not your everyday kind of blackbird Country Notebook

moorlands of north and west Britain before migrating south for the winter.

The name ring ouzel stretches back to the mid-1400s – ‘ouzel’ being the Old English term for blackbird, and the ‘ring’ refers to the broad crescent of white across its chest.

And that white band is what sets it apart from our standard resident blackbird.

Blackbirds can sometimes have patches of white in their plumage, a partial loss of pigmentation, but the male ring ouzel has a very defined bib of white – and you won’t find one of them hopping around in your back garden!

Now lockdown restrictions on exercise have been eased, I have been able to extend my Dartmoor walks to explore areas where ring ouzels are known to breed, and have been fortunate to spot them. But they are elusive.

At one time they could be found nesting on Bodmin Moor and Exmoor, and were plentiful on Dartmoor. However, numbers have drained away over time and Dartmoor is now their last remaining outpost in the West Country – and their most southerly breeding site in the country.

Not only are ring ouzels in decline and on the Red List of UK birds of highest conservation, but they also like to keep to themselves – which makes it hard to know exactly how many are breeding on Dartmoor. One thing is certain: not that many.

Numbers have approximately halved over the last decade to around half a dozen pairs and this species’ toehold on remains precarious.

The simple song of the males can alert one to their presence - a farcarrying flutey note repeated several times over. If you hear or see a ring ouzel, obviously take care not to approach or disturb it. There are precious few as it is, and it is important to give those that remain a wide berth to help ensure they can raise the next generation in peace.

But do let me know, and I can pass on the details to those experts currently surveying numbers in order to keep tabs on this special species of wild places that is close to extinction in this part of Britain.

the moor