Army Ornithological SocietySPTA West
Whitethroats, Whinchats et al
It has been a few weeks since I updated you on SPTA West. We are well into surveys and and monitoring. The expectant summer visitors have arrived with Whitethroats once more dominating the scattered bushes. Whinchats have returned and this year we are checking the valleys rather than random grid squares. Practically every valley has had a bird reported and in some there are several pairs. Our PhD researcher has been busy with her experiments this year though at times she has been battling the elements. All our scrapes have reported sightings of Stone Curlew and we are using the same nomenclature as the RSPB to ensure no confusion. We have been checking some Schedule 1 land on the northern side for Corn Buntings which was missed in a previous survey and quite a few singing males have been recorded. In the Warminster Danger Area, Nightingales have been recorded in dense scrub though not yet in the grid square that is managing habitat for them. During the surveys up to 3 Short-eared owls were seen so we hope that they indicate a least one breeding pair on the west. Also recorded across the area was Grasshopper Warbler, Redstart, Wheatear and Willow Warbler. Our nesting Peregrines are doing well with 2 nests found though initial reports on owl boxes suggest many birds are breeding slightly later than normal. During my walks I have also been recording Fairy Shrimps and Toad spawn. I found a Common Newt in one puddle in a valley off Tinkers Track. Butterflies have been scarce and plants seem to be late. Unfortunately due to commitments of leaders there is no walk this month but hopefully in June we will find orchids, butterflies and and plenty of young birds.
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