Monday, 22 November 2010

Monday 22nd November - Up on the Downs

Not fully 100% but needed to get some air today, after morning admin I went up onto the Downs near North Stoke to The Burgh area for a couple of hours. Grey Partridges were plentiful 24 in 3 coveys, with a single Red-legged and lots of Pheasants. A flock of 30+ Skylarks were joined by a similar number of Linnets and 8 Corn Buntings in a bush on the field edge where a large number of Fieldfares mixed with a Starling flock and several Yellowhammers were joined by Chaffinches and Goldfinches.  A group (tower ?) of 13 Buzzards were thermalling. A distant ringtail Hen Harrier was hunting over a cover crop and a Red Kite drifted slowly overhead. 2 Kestrel and 2 Sparrowhawk were the other raptors and a Raven was being mobbed by Carrion Crows. I spent too long examining an exceptionally pale Common Buzzard that was sitting in a field  and showed a large amount of white on the tail but was definitely just a Common Buzzard, then a completely black Pheasant ran across in front of me more reminiscent of a Caucasian Grouse - which I took as a sign that maybe the virus hasn't gone yet and it was time to go.

Yellowhammer
Red Kite (Not a great pic!)
Downland View from 'The Burgh'

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