Saturday 29th June 2024 - Avebury

 This month's Bath RSPB field trip was to Avebury. We parked in the National Trust car park and while waiting for everyone to arrive we spotted Buzzard, Woodpigeon, Swift, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Lesser Black Back Gull, Blackbird and Red Kite. Eighteen members arrived all on time so we set off past the cricked pitch towards the village. On the way we added Jackdaw, Collared Dove and Chiffchaff to our day's total. Once in the village after a comfort break we set off down a lane sightings on the way included House Martin, Goldfinch and Sparrowhawk, We stopped at a farm where lots of House Sparrows were flying around chirping, here we also saw Starling, Pied Wagtail and a flyover Raven. Just past the farm is a lane on the right and here we found a Whitethroat which advertised its presence by its call. Also here was a male Chaffinch, Blue Tit and in the fields beyond a few Rooks and our 1st Swallow of the day, also here was our 1st two butterflies Meadow Brown and a female Brimstone. Continuing our walk we found our 1st target species a Corn Bunting singing from the top of a bush.

Corn Bunting - Avebury (Bath Birdwatcher)

In the same bush was our 1st Meadow Pipit of the day. Scanning the surrounding fields we found some Herring Gulls and could also hear a Skylark that kindly landed on a pile of farmyard ???

Skylark - Avebury (Bath Birdwatcher)

Linnets were flying around and were the last new sighting before we stopped for lunch. By this time we had walked as far as we wanted so after lunch we headed back when a Yellowhammer flew past and dropped down into a field of crops and out of sight. A Kestrel was next as was another Meadow Pipit sat on a fence and a male Pheasant.

Meadow Pipit - Avebury (Bath Birdwatcher)

Another 3 Butterflies we also seen Red Admiral, Common Blue and Large Skipper but the worrying fact that only 5 species of butterfly were seen in the day and with the exception of meadow brown all the others were in one's or two's. Continuing back to the cars a Stock Dove ended our days sightings. 

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