Army Ornithological SocietySPTA West
After trips to Corsica and Extramadura it was back to SPTA. Yesterday I was able to get into the Warminster Range Danger Area to survey a grid sqaure. First bird was a calling Nightingale whist 2 Fox Cubs explored the the cut ground in front . I had expectd to hear this bird as the habitat was just right with a lovely scrub canopy and a thicket around it. There were a lot of Whitethroats, Chaffinches and Linnets in dense scrubland as I headed north with steady numbers of Yellowhammer, Goldfinches, Chiffchaffs and Wrens. Towards the end of the survey there were 2 Grasshopper Warblers reeling from amongst the low bushes. Stock Doves had taken up residence in the owl box in a small copse but at least a Kestrel flew out of its box. A Swift passed by and on the grassland Skylarks were singing. There were a number of Marsh Fritillaries as well as Dinghy Skippers, Meadow Browns and lots of moths. Today I spent the morning around Deptford Down. The track I could take my car down last year is now only passable to the most robust of 4x4s thanks to greenlaners. I checked out a scrape from which I could see the A303 but could only find a pair of Red-legged Partridge plus Skylarks. I then surveyed a square with just a hint of woodland plus a small dam and a few Hawthorn bushes. As ever there was a pair of Mallards on the water and plenty of Skylarks singing around the square with one lone Meadow Pipit calling from a post in the centre. Best view was 4 Swifts passing overhead. On the grass there were nearly 200 Rooks but I could not find a Jackdaw. Whitethroat and Corn Bunting were singing from lone bushes. I found a different route off the area and stopped at the Berril Valley on my way home to say hello to Jenni who was carrying out an invertebrate survy as part of her Whinchat study; she has found 24 nests so far and most had been predated. Nearby a pair of Reed Buntings watched proceedings as we discussed the project and sightings of harriers, Hobby and Stone Curlews.
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