My Three Peaks

Well my 3 peaks today just south of Swindon, as I paid a visit to Barbury Castle, Liddington Hill and Fox Hill around midday today.

Barbury Castle

Barbury Castle was very productive with lots of finches in the fields Here. This is just north of the old RAF Wroughton airfield. In amongst the 20+ Chaffinches were several Tree Sparrows, 5 Brambling, a dozen or so Yellowhammers and a separate flock of 30 Linnet. On the opposite side of the road was a very pale Common Buzzard, presumably the same individual I saw here last year. Further up the road there were at least 20 Redwing and Fieldfare battling against the wind.

A very pale headed Common Buzzard

Same bird but different angle

He sat on this post preening for a good 30 minutes...

...................before flying off............

................across the fields.

A Fieldfare comes in to land......

.............on this Ash Tree..........

.............and then realises I'm below him looking up.

In the same tree a Redwing braces itself in the strong wind.

2 Roe Deer scamper over the hill as a Fox Hunt was getting under way.

Birds Recorded: Buzzard, 100+ Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, 3 Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Blue Tit, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, Tree Sparrow, Brambling, Chaffinch, Linnet, Greenfinch, 1 Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer. Also seen 2 Roe Deer.


Liddington Hill

Moving onto Liddington Hill, I turned into the bottom of the turning to Folly Farm, only to see around 200 Starlings, 80+ Fieldfare and 40+ Redwing feeding in the field close to the gate Here. As I left a Merlin came down the slope to my right. What a beautiful tiny falcon.................

Dozens of Fieldfare, Redwing in amongst the large flock of Starlings.

A few more take off in the field.......

......and land in the roadside hedge........

........where a few more have gathered.

At least one Fieldfare gave me a decent pose.

Birds Recorded: Merlin, Wood Pigeon, Robin, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, 200+ Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw and Starling.


Foxhill

From Liddington I went up Foxhill Here, where I came across just 2 Chaffinches, a Common Buzzard and a Red Kite.

This Red Kite was on the scavenge for a meal as it came over Foxhill and heading off towards Wanborough.

Birds Recorded: Buzzard, Red Kite and 2 Chaffinches