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For questions you can contact Adam at: adamchartley "at" gmail "dot" com or Jason at: jasoncppk "at" yahoo "dot" co "dot" uk

Saturday 7 April 2012

Aston Rowant NNR Ring Ouzels Sat 7th 18:15

People parking on wide verge, where Bridelway crosses road, just north of Cowlease Wood. Follow signed public right of way downhill as far as second bench seat (left side) and sit down. Look 45 degrees left of straight ahead, over near fence and down across rough chalk grassland to fence bordering open grassland. Note three close hawthorns ON fence line with left hand the tallest. This was the default refuge perch for the three birds, with feeding forays no more than some 20 metres in all directions. Very successful feeding with many large worms noted that had to be bit into smaller chunks for swallowing. Three Wheatears between seat and hawthorn and at around 18:00 most unexpectedly, a tristus (?)looking Chiffchaff passed seat on way up slope, and across track to continue uphill. Plumage stunningly greyish, lacking any yellowish nature anywhere (including around alula) with very pale whitish underparts and the jet black legs that I have previously associated with this sub-species. Seen by Heathrow area birder/naturalist and myself. Did not call which was unhelpful as regards albietinus.
Click on title for location of Ouzels from c16:00 up to 18:15

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