Army Ornithological SocietySPTA West
Earlier this month the area was out of bounds so I missed the Red-back Shrike seen by our PhD student and her BTO supervisor. That said I have been helping with the Whinchat study normally as muscle to move the batteries for nest cameras and sward measurer and scribe for inverterbrate surveys. We have had 52 pairs of Whinchat breed on the Imber area alone. I have a few nests to check this coming week though one has already been predated and it is too late in the season for the pair to try again. As an aside I have been helping with ringing at a CES site just north of the Plain and quite a few adults are already in molt rather than breed again. I have also been ringing in the Centre with a good mix of birds including Nightingale, Grasshopper Warbler and Redstart. Of course all this dry weather has meant a few fires on the impact area but fortunately the wind direction has not affected the very early starts ringing involves. Elsewhere on the Plain the summer is quite quiet. There have been plenty of Swallows, and corvids plus Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. The Southdown Barn road always provides Stonechat, Whinchat, Wheatear and Reed Bunting and it did not let me down on an organised walk last weekend. The highlight was a Hobby that mobbed a Buzzard, chased a Woodpigeon and caught a Swallow. The Plain is covered in Butterflies and Marbled White, Small Skipper, Ringlet and Meadow Browns dominate. In addition Dark Green Fritillary and Gatekeeper are increasing in number. There are plenty of moths as well and areas that have been previously grazed are a riot of colour from wild flowers. The annual nature walk and picnic was more of a botany walk than anything as obscure plants that are normally found in Western Germany training areas were located!
Follow us:
