Bempton Cliffs: The unlikely Yorkshire stronghold of one of Britain’s most threatened farmland birds
The beloved ‘spuggie’ was once a regular sight in Yorkshire, but tree sparrows are now one of Britain’s most threatened farmland birds.
However a vital stronghold for the small brown has been established in an unlikely place, with a colony thriving in East Yorkshire at RSPB Bempton Cliffs.
Now, a splash of late-summer colour is giving the roost an extra boost, as RSPB conservation experts at the reserve have planted a dedicated patch of sunflowers which will be left to seed and provide a natural food source for the sparrows and other farmland birds throughout the autumn and winter.
Tree sparrows have suffered catastrophic declines across Britain and remain on the Red List of birds of highest conservation concern.
The latest Breeding Bird Survey results reveal that numbers in England fell by 54 per cent between 2019 and 2024, reversing some of the recovery seen during the 1990s and 2000s.
But East Yorkshire remains a national stronghold – and at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, a combination of targeted habitat management, provision of nest boxes as well as holes in buildings and year-round food provision is helping maintain a healthy colony.
Wardens are celebrating the latest news of 54 breeding pairs in occupied nest boxes successfully fledging 302 young this year.
The figure works out as 5.59 chicks per pair compared with five years ago when 48 breeding pairs were recorded and 263 chicks fledged in 2021 - 5.48 chicks per pair.
While around half a million seabirds take to Bempton’s towering chalk cliffs to breed each year, the RSPB has increasingly been managing the reserve’s farmland, grasslands, hedgerows and ponds for the wildlife of the wider East Yorkshire countryside.
Tree sparrows are slightly smaller than house sparrows and can be distinguished by the chestnut-brown caps on their heads, white cheeks and distinctive black cheek spots. Unlike the more common house sparrows, males and females look alike.
They are social birds, breeding in loose colonies before gathering into larger flocks outside the breeding season – making Bempton one of the best RSPB reserves in the country to see and hear them.
Their local nickname - ‘Spuggie’ - along with variations including ‘spuggy’ – is an old northern English dialect word for a Sparrow, still affectionately used in Yorkshire.
Poppy Rummery, Visitor Experience Manager at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, said: “Our ‘Spuggies’ are often one of the first birds visitors encounter.
"They’re sometimes dismissed as just another little brown bird, but once you stop and watch them, they’re anything but boring.
"They’re noisy, sociable, full of character – and when you understand just how badly they have declined elsewhere, you realise how special it is to have so many here.
“The sunflowers look spectacular right now and visitors, as well as our butterflies and bees are enjoying them, but their real job is still to come. We’ll leave the seed heads standing to create a giant natural bird feeder for our Spuggies and other farmland birds this autumn and winter.”
Tree Sparrows were once much more widespread across the British countryside.
Their numbers crashed dramatically during the late 20th century, and they have disappeared completely from many areas.
Supplementary feeding of suet during the summer months also helps to support the Tree Sparrows during periods when natural food supplies may be limited.
And the reserve’s position within a regional stronghold means there is regular movement of birds between colonies, helping to maintain healthy and resilient population.