It was a slow morning, but the day had warmed up nicely and at least a walk was needed before the weather broke during the week. Initially we thought about a circular at Nether Worton but eventually decided on Borough Hill Daventry. After lunch we tidied up and almost exactly half an hour we were in the car park pulling on our walking boots. On the ascent up to the mast we heard and then located four linnets in a bush at 11 o'clock. I closed the distance to take a photo but even at this range they were having none of it and flocked off. Hopefully this wouldn't be repeated by the other species.
Due to the nature of short-wave broadcasting, large areas of Borough Hill were occupied with towers, and masts to support large antennas. Transmissions from the short-wave station could be received across the world. The BBC eventually decided to close the station and on 28 March 1992 the last transmission took place, and the transmission equipment was moved to other BBC World Service transmitters. All but one of the radio masts have been taken down, with Arqiva now operating the single remaining mast.
We decided to take the high path heading north and soon flushed a skylark from the edge of the path. It must have been in the grass edge as it hadn't been visible as we approached. However, we were soon rewarded by another individual, this time stopping on the path ahead - instead of taking to the wing it ran along the path ahead of us. Only at the furthest corner did it disappear into the scrub and become lost from view. Overhead a passing red kite was being mobbed by a crow, getting close enough for the kite to keep his eye on the crow over its 'shoulder'.
Passing a concrete pad with bramble scrub at the far end we scanning the area and found a meadow pipit perched on the front side. Despite being prominent it wasn't easy to pick out but easily good enough for a photo. Soon it left and a second then third bird joined, and they flew back towards the Transmission Station.
We journeyed back along the lower path encountering only magpie, buzzard and kestrel. We stopped below the Transmission Station and sat on a bench looking down the eastern slope and across the fields towards Northampton. Within minutes a stonechat appeared on a post and then another behind; they showed for about 5 minutes at various distances but worked back to our left and were lost from view. Despite a search we returned to the car with no further species on our list.
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