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.
Birds Recorded: Buzzard, Red Kite and 2 Chaffinches