Went for an afternoon walk on the edge of Salisbury Plain this afternoon, between Chitterne and Yarnbury Castle. Most of the walk was pretty dire, the farmland being farmed to within an inch of its life, and practically zero wildlife! However, at just about the furthest point from the two roads bordering the area, I saw a distant patch of long grass, and another field of stubble which looked more promising. The long walk paid off with immediate views of a Short Eared Owl and a Ringtail Hen Harrier. Saw a couple more Short Eared Owls in the distance scrapping with Crows, so headed round the edge of the grassy field to some cover and watched the show!
Must have been double figures for the SEOs.. Saw 8 simultaneously, but they were coming and going from all directions, and dropping into the field. Suspect 15 was a more realistic total. Some were really close, and I had my first ever views of one perched! The Hen Harrier showed well in the distance and a Peregrine passed over. Final bit of excitement was a female Merlin perched in a bush for several minutes before launching itself across the same grassy field and acrobatically swooping for a kill. With all the birds of Prey in the area, there were surprisingly a few passerines! 3 Stonechats, 4 Yellowhammers, 12 Corn Buntings, and a few flocks of Starlings.
Either I was very fortunate today, or Salisbury Plain is a pretty good area for Birds! Might try again soon, and see if other parts are as productive. |
