Army Ornithological SocietySPTA West
January is normally a quiet time on the Plain for birds and the military. What is noticeable is that only a few Short-eared Owls are about though one is regularly seen at NZ Camp. There are no roosting Hen Harriers on the west and are usually found on the Impact Area though this year they tend to be ringtails. During a Hen Harrier survey mid month we only saw one Buzzard all afternoon despite there being quite a few about. Even Kestrels that were suceesful fledging last year have moved on. There are still lots of corvids and Woodpigeons about and Jays are common. There are still good flocks of Fieldfares and Golden Plover plus there was a flock of 40+ Linnet at Bishopstrow Down and 48 Corn Bunting at Vedette 8. Stripwood had numerous Great and Blu Tits as well as Bullfinch but very few Chaffinches. There are plenty of Stonechat about and even Goldcrests are in full song from most copses. The Starling murmuration at COTEC continues though whether all the birds twirl and dance in the sky is pot luck. There has to be around a million birds at times (I was 3 miles away when I saw that many) as a huge cloud continually morphed in the blue sky. This month I have counted 44 species on the Plain which is about right given I spend a lot of time in other parts of Wiltshire birding and ringing; never mind the excellent trip to the AOS weekend in Norfolk.
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