Saturday 14th June 2025 - Pewsey Down

 

This months Bath RSPB field trip was a visit to Pewsey Down looking mainly for farmland birds, butterflies and moths plus anything else of interest. 14 members arrived for a 10am start and while waiting we spotted a Red Kite circling and 2 Starlings that flew past. Skylarks were singing high above but took some finding. A Kestrel was hovering over the fields, we saw it or another many times during the morning. As we set off several Woodpigeons flew over as did a small flock of gulls containing both Herring and Lesser Black Backs. A House Sparrow was perched in the weeds besides the footpath and 2 Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies were on the nettles. A Blue Tit was our next sighting then Anne spotted a small moth in the vegetation which was a Yellow Shell

Yellow Shell (Bath Birdwatcher)

Followed quickly by another moth this time a Common Carpet.

Common Carpet Moth
(Bath Birdwatcher)

We then heard the call of one of our target species a Yellowhammer which showed very well in the top of a bush. I could hear the call of a Tree Pipit so stopped for a while to try and locate it but without any luck, but I did find a Whitethroat not sure how many of the group saw it. Next 2 species of butterfly Meadow Brown and Small Heath. Walking along the edge of this enormous field 2 Stock Doves flew past and here we found a patch of Bee Orchids.

Bee Orchid (Bath Birdwatcher)

Fragrant Orchid (Bath Birdwatcher)

Magpie was our next sighting then someone spotted 2 Brown Hares in the next field with 2 Carrion Crows. As we reached the bottom of the field we heard the distinctive call of a Corn Bunting that was on the top of a bush, another of our target species, in the same area we also found a Chiffchaff and several Swifts. Time to return to the cars for lunch adding another butterfly species Green Veined White and a lovely male Chaffinch. After lunch we were going to walk the hill looking for butterflies but as the wind was so strong we decided it would be futile and a plan was hatched to visit a site near Avebury, looking for Tree Sparrows, a species many of the group have never seen, so 5 cars set off in convoy following Tom who knew the way. On arrival we managed to squeeze in the 5 cars and set off along a bridleway where a Blackbird was on the ground and Yellowhammers were calling all around but no sparrows until we reached an old barn at first we heard the chattering of sparrows then one male perched on a bush our 1st Tree Sparrow, in the end we saw at least 12 along with a few House Sparrows. In a field behind us several of the group were very excited to see quite close views of 3 Brown Hares and in the same field we found a single Pheasant. Walking back to the cars Anne and Tony found another 2 species of moth Silver-Ground Carpet and Green Carpet.

Silver Ground Carpet
(Bath Birdwatcher)

Green Carpet (Bath Birdwatcher)

We all agreed that it had been a good day with some great sightings, not just birds, but also butterflies, moths and flowers.

 

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