Army Ornithological SocietySPTA West
After a short break by the tropical waters of the South Atlantic it was back to local birding. There was however a quick trip to the south coast with the AOS within a few days of returning. All the major exercises have finished so access is good to the Plain. Last week I was walking around several areas but there was nothing out of the ordinary. Corvids and pigeons still dominate the area however Ravens are now a common sight or more precisely sound. There are large flocks of Linnet and Goldfinch as well as increasing number of tit flocks. Meadow Pipits are moving through as are Swallows. There seems to be quite a migrant passage going on. Last Saturday there was a Marsh Harrier hunting along a grass ridge before being spotted by local Jackdaws that drove it off across a field with one week old lambs (destined for Waitrose). An organised walk was held covering Ranscombe Bottom and Thirteenhundred Down finishing past the grenade range. It was very quiet but still 22 species were seen including a Wheatear and Jay. Our local Peregrines did not dissapoint though one flew off before the main party had made it up the steep incline to the fence line. One was still at its nest not far from a Raven nest. A Jay ended up in the ringing nets on Monday when I joined some colleagues on Haxton Down (SPTA East). This confirmed migration was in full swing with lots of Chifchafs, Blackcaps and Meadow Pipits caught. We also caught Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Redstart, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting as well as several other species; I ringed my first Goldcrest. On two previous walks there did not seem to be much about and even on the day of ringing there was little actitviy in the air except for the Swallows. There was however a lot of birds caught (199 new birds in 6 hours) that showed there was a lot going on. The difficulty for observers is that the birds are feeding on the centre of vegetation and not displaying on the edges thus giving the impression that not a lot is happening. Reality is that there is a lot of movement but to those out walking there are few birds hence my statement that there was nothing out of the ordinary. Of course there is nothing ordinary about the Plain and on Saturday we found some Bastard Toadflax; a nationally scarce plant that somewhere else would have conservationists declaring the area a national nature reserve. Also reported are temporary pools with Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly. The one that did get away from me, as I was at Portland, was a Great Reed Warbler ringed on the Centre which has caused quite a stir. Salisbury Plain out of the ordinary?; obviously I am not looking hard enough.
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