Army Ornithological SocietySPTA West
A few late Wheatears are passing through. Winter thrushes are arriving with flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares present. Over the weekend I saw 3 major flocks of Fieldfares at over 100 birds. Redwings are found by the small woods and I was able to count 17 flying around Imber Firs on Saturday. During that walk besides 27 bird species there were numerous fungi, some Fairy Shrimps and good plants including Small Toadflax, Pale Flax, Dwarf Spurge and of course a non UK plant, Hairy Rocket, found on training areas in Germany. On the walk there were large flocks of Goldfinch (50+), Rooks (150+), Linnet (30+) plus a range of woodland and grassland birds. Meadow Pipits have formed small flocks and Skylarks were calling. Small flocks of Starlings have started to form and on Sunday night I saw several flocks of over 200+ heading for refuge near their favourite winter haunt on Larkhill. There was also another flock of 100+ Fieldfare flying overhead and 50+ Golden Plover flying around the escarpment. There are quite a few coveys of Red-legged Partridge about that must belong to the local shoot but have survived so far. Sunday was not a good day for weather but this did not stop a team ringing near Marlborough so I can add Marsh Tit and Willow Tit to my ringing list. My fingers were easy meat for Blue Tits and Coal Tits though the greatest haul out out of the nets were Goldcrests. Last weekend was also rubbish weather and our Hen Harrier survey on the Imber area recorded no birds though one was recorded on Larkhill impact area. In fact hardly any birds were seen the previous weekend though there was a Snipe, some Starlings and in my location a miserably looking Robin. The weather forecast for the next week is not looking good.
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