Trip reports

Mini-bus trip to Greenham Common Sat 28th & Sun 29th April

Monday, 30 April 2007

Saturday's trip started at Thatcham Marsh, where Sand Martins were making full use of the artificial bank. In the hedgerow, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff sang joyously from high perches. Bullfinch, Swifts, Reed and Sedge Warblers were also seen.
Moving on to Greenham Common, we marvelled at what has been achieved in the 15 years since the former USAF base was declared redundant.
Where once B52 bombers lumbered down the longest landing strip in Europe, a sea of gorse now dominates and the only things lumbering were the cattle cropping the grass.
Criss-crossing the gorse Skylark and Linnet were the most common species seen, but there had also been a fall of migrating Wheatears and in the small area of the common we walked 20-30 were seen.
In the "fireplane" area 3 Nightingale were heard and for a lucky few, seen. More obliging were a pair of Woodlark seen by everyone, whilst overhead Buzzard were the most common raptor.
Also seen were Dartford Warbler, Swallow and House Martin.
Sunday trip a near repeat of the previous day, saw the same species minus the Woodlark.