Army Ornithological SocietySPTA 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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