March 2025 Ramsbury Bird Notes by Paul Swan

Raven

Spring Hill and Burnt Wood continue to be rich in bird life. The golden plover, fieldfares, redwings and skylarks are all present in some numbers, but the surprise was to see eleven lapwings on the airfield. A few years ago, the lapwings came regularly and brought up their young there. Fingers crossed that they will return. The resident ravens have been ‘cronking’, and as they are one on the earliest birds to lay eggs, we expect to see the young birds soon.

Towards Littlecote, we have been keeping an eye on the tree where red kites nested last year. The nest has almost gone now but we see a red kite nearby every time we visit. It will be interesting to see if it starts this year’s nest in the same tree. We also had the absolute treat of seeing a barn owl not far away. These stunning, and very popular birds are in steep decline – mainly due to deaths on major roads and being poisoned by rat and mouse poison.

In the garden we have been entertained by a family of blackbirds. Mum, Dad, two young males and a young female. They now feel that they ‘own’ one of our bird tables. The young female is particularly tame and stays remarkably close while I am restocking their larder. Probably because a few minutes later either mum or dad appears and chases her off. Pecking order!