The year of the Quail! 🤩
2026 is proving to be a bumper Quail year with the largest influx recorded since 2011 when 2,000 singing males were recorded across the country. The Lower Derwent Valley (with its extensive flower-filled traditionally managed hay meadows) is one of the countries Quail ‘hotspots’ and an impressive 74 calling males have been located so far this year. The first birds arrived in early May, with several further arrivals – the most recent being in early July and involving birds singing from their other favoured habitat – barley fields.
Quail are rarely seen and are often given away by their distinctive ‘wet my lips’ call coming from areas of dense grass, herbs and surrounding arable (https://soundapproach.co.uk/common-quail/). They are a migratory species of gamebird, travelling as far south as Africa for the winter, then returning to the UK to breed from late spring, with later birds arriving through June and July which may have attempted breeding in southern Europe before having a second attempt here. Most years around 100-300 calling males are recorded throughout the UK, although national influxes can result in much larger numbers in the country, and such influxes are often mirrored in the Lower Derwent Valley.
A staggering 91 singing males were present across the reserve in 1997, followed by 70 in 2000. More typically, 5-15 males are located each year, so 2026 is certainly up there as one of the best. Our team have taken this opportunity to ring a sample during the influx, and so far, have caught and ringed 18 individuals, which given only 220 have ever been ringed in the UK is a huge addition to the national totals, and will hopefully lead to more valuable data on the conservation needs of this incredible little gamebird. Please do let us know if you’ve heard any on your travels around the reserve, thank you.
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