Beta
The Woodlark
The woodlark favours open, dry habitats with short grasses.
In recent years, the vegetation on the area known as Grasslands has been cut back, so that now the new regenerating growth of heathers is the ideal habitat for these birds.
Woodlarks can be seen on the Common from February onwards, as they look for mates and start to build their nests. The woodlark is stripy brown, with a buff-white eye stripe and a spiky crest on its head. It has quite a short tail and a bouncing flight pattern.
The woodlark is mostly resident throughout the year, feeding on seeds and insects. It usually nests within a grassy tussock or heather bush, often digging a shallow scrape. This ground-nesting bird is a protected species with around 3,000 breeding pairs in the UK.
Please help HCPS to protect these birds by keeping to the paths and keeping your dog on a lead when walking in this area during the nesting season from March to September.
Learn more on Horsell Common Preservation Society's website.
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