We arrived at Greenham Common Control Tower car park at 7.00am to find rain. We'd seen photos and reports of a ring ouzel there from the previous day (including from our friend Bryan Manston). We knew that shortly dog walkers, runners and cyclists would descend and so wanted the best chance of seeing the bird - we kitted up and set out. The rain came and went and fortunately never got too heavy, although it was accompanied by a stiff wind.
We scanned the grass as we made our way to the last pin drop on Birdguides but couldn't spot it, although Kev (@kev07713) did have nice views of a woodlark on the ground, it flushed as I made my way over. We. reached the far hedge line and walked to get parallel to the pin drop, stopping where we could see diagonally to the spot - nothing. At least not until I scanned again and there it was! - I directed Kev to the spot and he got on it - within ten seconds it flew and back behind a long wall of gorse. A tick if only a brief one. I walked along the gorse and looked for an opening but couldn't find the bird and there was very little chance along this stretch. We decided to go back and try and look from the concrete pad at the end of the runway as at least it would allow a view down the channel. Try as we might, we couldn’t locate it.
After 15 minutes we decided that we should make use of our time here and set off down the old runway - on a gravel path as is the etiquette at this time of year with breeding birds. A woodlark rose above us and sang - I snapped aa few times as I don't really have a proper photo of this species. Damn me, it dropped and into a nearby bush - what luck. I grabbed a number of photos before it departed. We walked on and heard another woodlark and this time found it on the ground. This stayed longer and I took my fill.
Out across the grass and between the gorse bushes Kev picked out a wheatear, which became three. My first of the year.
We walked along spotting meadow pipits, stonechats, skylarks and heard more woodlarks - we eventually reached the end of the path by the bench. Kev walked ahead and out flushed a Dartford warbler from behind him - it was calmer in the wind here and we stood hoping to get a better view. We did but I fluffed an attempt for a photo (locked focus onto the bush rather than the bird). It reappeared briefly but I missed that shot altogether. The rain got heavier again and so we decided it was time for breakfast in the Control Tower cafe - delicious rolls and sausage with coffee.
We decided that we would move on from here having ticked our target birds and had previously discussed a visit to RSPB Winterbourne - apparently their stone curlews had returned and been reported. This working farm lies in the heart of Wiltshire's rolling chalk country, where former arable fields are being transformed into flower-rich grasslands. On arrival, the car park was already full and we left the car in a layby just outside the entrance gate. To get views it had been suggested the best thing to do was to walk up the track (a gentle incline) to a screen and view from there - who were we to argue. We got to the screen and started scanning - we thought the most likely area for the birds would be the clod field, fenced off with what appeared to be an electric wire. We spotted numbers of hares, stock doves and a few lapwings … but no stone curlews. We kept scanning. Eventually another birder joined us (Cliff Smith (@01000011S) and he asked if we'd seen them yet ...
Cliff said they favoured the bottom corner and the edges of the field and started scanning himself. Within a couple of minutes he was on one, and so were we. One became four - a lucky mascot. They remained distant, soon splitting up, and two became invisible once more. Cliff had left saying he was going off to visit the bustards, less than 25 minutes from here - we had planned to do the same and ten minutes after him we departed, finding that the car park was now empty. There was a large group that must have been together on some form of tour and must have all been in individual cars.
We arrived in the vicinity of where the bustards were to be found and even as we approached a group could be seen on the slope, on the other side of the valley. We picked a spot where we would not disturb and jumped out the car, setting up Kev's scope to get better views. Within ten minutes Cliff turned up and joined us - he'd been searching in "their usual spot" but they had crossed the road. We chatted for a while and when he left, we were joined by three "Bustard Project" Land Rovers each containing about 10 people. They all jumped out and viewed from our spot - one of the ladies came over and asked if we were on a tour and when we said not, she said that she and he husband had both paid £20 to see these birds - we said we'd have done it for less. They and then we left - we drove down the slope and past the birds, opening the passengers window so I could get some photos from closer range.
As we set off again, a bird dropped onto the fence ahead and then onto the fence opposite - corn buntings! We then watched as they worked around, often dropping onto and around the muck heap at the entrance to the farm. We also saw meadow pipit, stonechat, red kite and a flyover merlin. What a productive little spot.
We had eventually to drag ourselves away but decided to drive along the track to see what else we might find. It was a pleasant drive and we saw meadow pipits, kestrel, red kites and red-legged partridges amongst others.
As usual we ran out of time to get me home in time for dinner and visiting friends, leaving very happy with our day's birding.
Year List: 169.
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