Army Ornithological SocietyBlog Category | UK Birding
SPTA West
After a very succesful trip to South Africa with a total of 380 species seen my next trip abroad was a week later. I took a tour to the Oman with 208 species which included a Black Drongo in the desert on a farm as we looked for Sandgrouse. In fact I found all 4 types of Sandgrouse and thanks to a tip a decent flock of Golden Grossbeak. I have also been to Frampton Marsh and Slimbridge in December with lots of duck and geese. More importantly I have been busy with SPTA West as I am now the Chairman of the Conservation Group so quite a few meetings to say hello to people. I led a walk at the end of November around Fish Hook and saw 6 Woodcock. There were also quite a few Coal Tit and Goldcrest besides the numerous corvids and pigeons. There were also decent sixe flocks of Fiedfare with some Redwing mixed in. Only 16 species were recorded. In December however the wind was much stonger as we walked on the western edge by Bigbury Wood and Bishopstrow Down. The wind was very strong and most birds kept their heads down. There were however large flocks of Starling, Fieldfare and smaller flocks of Goldfinch and Linnet. A female Great Spotted Woodpecker did not seem to mind the wind at Bigbury Wood. Even in the deep gorse that provided shelter the only bird regularly heard was Blackbird. At least 19 species were recorded that beat November's sorry tally. The next day whilst on a survey at Bridge Site 3 a ringtail Hen Harrier flew right past heading west. There was also a Barn Owl hunting as well as a Buzzard displaying. The majority of birds were however corvids including 2 Raven. At home there seems to be a paucity of birds though the Coal Tit is frequently seen besides the normal suspects. Even the Starlin mumuration at Gore Cross is disappointing with numbers in thousands rather than tens of thousands. There is even only small numbers of Lapwing and Golden Plover. We require some cold weather across the country and NW Europe!
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.
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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.
CommentsSPTA West
It has been quite a while since I last posted some news about the Plain. At the end of April and into May I was based in Sicily helping out and leading bird tours. Just before I left when carrying out a Bee Survey I disturbed a Short-eared Owl which was a surprise. To bring you up to date with May I should first of all mention that Stone Curlews are back and some have had chicks already. I was looking at one with 8 Great Bustards yesterday and there was a pair with a chick on the Driver Trg Area at Tidworth. There are also plenty of Whinchats about and a nest with 7 eggs on Deptford Down was predated. Of my nest boxes all but one with holes are occupied (it lost the lid earlier on) but the open fronted boxes remain empty less an old one by Imber Village which has 7 Robin eggs. Yesterday I saw 2 Hobbys on the west and on Saturday a Wheatear was at the refurbished junction of Berril Valley and Tinkers tracks. Cuckoos are calling from Westdown Plantation and near Southdown Barn. Everywhere I go there are plenty of Swifts and Swallows as well as Whitethroats. In the valleys there are lots of Stonechats some with young families already. Tree Pipits have been noticeable and one by Imber Road perfomed as per the book as it took off from and parachuted back to a large Hawthorn bush whilst singing. Butterflies include Adonis Blue, Small Blue, Grizzled Skipper, Dinghy Skipper, Duke of Burgundy, Marsh Fritillary, Brown Argus, Green Hairstreak as well as whites. Of course there are plenty of Corvids about including Jays. Ravens nested again in the quarry however the Peregrines have moved to the old cement factory building and not the tower. Salisbury Cathedral has it pair back this season nesting on the south side of the spire. Skylaks are singing across the area as are Corn Buntings. Yellowhammers are bit more circumspect but they are still around. One of my BBS squares is in the middle of the impact area and all my recording is done by sound as my eyes are glued to watching I do not place my feet too close to some half buried metal (especialy those with fins). There is a Redstart near Southdown Barn and a Grasshopper Warbler has a nest around the corner of the track. The whole eastern bank by the track south of the barn is occupied by birds including Reed Bunting. There are Nightingales near Southdown Plantation as well as Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap and Willow Warbler. Chiffchaffs are quite common across the area as are Linnets and Goldfinches. That brings me up to date with ongoing birds and with the weather getting better I aim to be out more weekdays.
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