Army Ornithological SocietyArmy Ornithological Society Blog
South Africa
It is 36 degrees celcius in the shade as I write this sitting on a veranda overloking the Olifants River in one of a number of private game reserves bordering the Kruger Par. Nyala have just walked past and an African Fish Eagle is circling above. I arrived in Johannesburg last Wednesday and was met at Standton Station by my host Tom. We sat in his garden watching Rosy-faced Lovebird, Masked Weaver, Karoo Thrush and Cape Sparrow and several more before going out for lunch where a Fiscal Flycatcher kept us entertained. Afterwards we visited Liliesleaf where the executive of the ANC were arrested in what was the Rivonia Trial. The next morning we headed east with Tom’s friend where I managed to pick up a few larger birds from the back of the car before we stopped at the Taiata Falcon site. Micheal our guide could not find the bird that day but he did show us a Mountain Wagtail, Half-collared Kingfisher and a Green-backed Camarpotera. We then headed for the Game Reserve were we settled in before going out in the open vehicle for a evening and night drive. It is the same programme each day with morning and evening drives except last Saturday where the pool area was packed for the SA rugby game and deserted as I watched England lose. During the time here I have seen a lot of 4 of the big 5 less Leopard. There have been fighting giraffe, large herds of elephant, vultures on a kill and a good range of birds that have to be seen from the vehicle; it is too dangerous to get out and walk. Highlights have included Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Arrow-marked Babbler, Marico Sunbird, Golden-breasted Bunting, Brubru, Water Thick-knee, Black-backed Puffback, Long-billed Crombec, Blue Waxbill, Green Wood-hoopoe, Crested Barbet, Acacia Pied Barbet, Bateleur, Mocking Cliff Chat and Pels Fishing Owl. There are lots to mention that include a whole host of other birds and animals including vultures, eagles, kingfishers, waders and quite a few LBJs as well as antelopes. It is now time for a swim today rather than use the outdoor shower. I hope to keep you updated on my trip and my list stands at 102 birds this afternoon.
CommentsSPTA West
Another month has flown past and summer migrants are nearing the end of their passage south. There are lots of Wheatears about on the tracks and there are still Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Winchats feeding. Goldfinches are making large flocks of up to 300 birds and there are still family groups of Stonechats. There has been quite a few troops exercising recently and I was caught up in a HCR bridge crossing as I was about to look for Fairy Shrimp; took an opportunity to get away. On Breakheart scrape there was a late pair of nesting Stone Curlew with a juvenile at the beginning of the month. On the East there were was up to 17 birds behind Bulford ranges. A Hen Harrier was reported yesterday on the Centre and I saw one a week ago at Avebury. I was on a Bee and insect walk on the Centre yesterday dodging mortar shells and finding butterflies (2 Clouded Yellow) as well as rare plants (Tuburous Thistle). On Saturday I resumed the monthly Imber Conservation Grouops walks and had a trip around Nelson's. There were lots of Swallows feeding along with the odd House Martin. Tits are forming in flocks and there are decent numbers of Linnet and Yellowhammer. There are still plenty of Meadow Pipit and Skylark about and the occasional Tree Pipit. Ringing on the Centre included a late Grasshopper Warbler as they should have gone by now. Also gone are the Montagu's Harriers on the East. This is the month that summer visitors depart and winter visitors start to arrive. I have been around the County as well adding a few more birds to my County list but not Woodchat Shrike.
CommentsGibraltar Ringer - Pre Blog
The second visit of a mixed bag of Service ringers will begin shortly and this early blog gives due notice of future daily notes and photos of the scheme to ring birds on the north and western face of The Rock. Working closely with the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society, we will gather data for approximately 2 weeks from this part of the Rock, similar to the 2013 expedition. Based at Bruce's Farm, the team of Julia and Robin Springett, Roger Dickey, Carl and Anne Powell, Mark Cutts and Steve Copsey will be using over 1,000 feet of mist nets to catch autumn migrants, downloading data daily into the computer at Jew's Gate on the eastern side. The road team are off in 2 days followed by Roger, Carl and Anne by air. Once all the heavy lifting has been done and nets erected, Mark will join us. Hopefully Martin Routledge will also be able to ring with us at some stage.
If all goes well, we should manage some reasonable photos of southern european passerines, local birds, and also the huge passage of raptors of all kinds that fly just below our ringing site. Ringing starts at the very end of September if all goes well.
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SPTA West
I have certainly left it too long to write about the Imber area. I have also covered areas on the Centre and East during the last period as well as sites around the Plain. I have also been ringing on the Centre and Braydon Forest areas. I even had some time to do some birding in Slovenia (bee-keeper nest site) on a football trip and birding in Hyde Park. At times the West has been out of bounds as this is an area the military still has some control as otherwise the lack of patrols has seen an increase in use by people walking dogs, riding bikes and 4x4 users. The main birds continue to be a good range of chats and warblers. There are family groups at this time of year including Kestrels (saw 4 families within a drive along the beril valley only a week ago). I have seen 2 Wheatears on the Plain but only 1 on the west in the Berril Valley to the east of Imber Village. The Stone Curlew plots have had half the plot tilled and on one we think a bird is still on a nest at this time of year. I organised a walk in June which was cancelled due to exercises and the one in July was linked to our annual picnic. Birds were far and few between that day however there were plenty of flowers and bugs to look at. There were plenty of butterflies in the sun including lots of Marbled White and Dark Green Fritillary. On a bee walk on the centre I saw a lot of the rare Tuburous Thistle so I know what to look out for on the West. Some birds still around are Grasshopper Warbler and Tree Pipit. Redstart have bred near Southdown Barn but every time I have looked I never found them. I saw lots of other birds though but all are expected to be there including Linnet and Goldfinch. I also will move my nest boxes around Imber as I will not wade through shoulder high nettles next year to check on Great Tits! None of my new open fronted boxes had anything in them. I will have to put up more boxes in the autumn!
CommentsSPTA West
This has been a good month for birds though I have spent some time away. I attended Beating Retreat and Trooping the Colour on Horseguards for the first time and was suitably impressed. I also watched Slovenia play England live. I flew in and out using Zagreb which has changed since I last visited when UN HQ was based there. At the beginning of the month I had organised a Bio-blitz for Heytesbury Wood and surrounding areas. The sun shone but it was rather windy (a common feature this month). There were lots of Swallow, Goldfinch, Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer as well as masses of corvids. We saw many butteflies including Marsh Fritillary and a few Painted Ladies amongst the many invertebrates. We also recorded about 130 species of plant. My House Martin Survey at the old SASC camp near Netheravon produced lots of Swallow and Swift as the only hirundines. There were none near home as well though I saw a few using a pond just in the square. I also checked my bird boxes on the Plain and they will have to move as I am not keen on walking through Stinging Nettles at shoulder height. The majority of my broods have fledged or were about to. The boxes with holes were mainly occupied by Great Tit families. I also did a lot of ringing though none on the Plain as the planned day's forecast was strong wind. I carried out my BTO BBS instead and the forecast was right. Besides recording lots of Skylark as I dodged the UXBs there were lots of butterflies which were mainly Dark Green Fritillary and Marbled White. I had a long walk in from the north as there were restrictions but I did hear Grasshopper Warbler and a Barn Owl flew over me with a vole in its claws. On the East Quail are regularly heard near Baden Down Farm and a ringtail Montagu's Harrier was spotted as I drove along the A342 (pure chance). A Great Bustard is rearing a chick and Stone Curlew scrapes seem to be active though it is hard to spot the birds at present even in low vegetation. A few Lapwings are also on the scrapes. I have been birding in the New Forest (Goshawk, Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart and Firecrest) and at Heaven's Gate and Shearwater in the County (Siskin and Crossbill). I have been ringing at Trowbidge (Reed Warblers) and in the Braydon Forest area (Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Garden Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff). There are a series of woods north of the M4 between Royal Wooton Bassett and Minety. There are lots of Corn Buntings, Yellowhammers, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits on the Plain and the young are active.
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