Wiltshire continued.......

2 Jan - Another New Year foray in bright breezy conditions. The party of 4 Whooper Swans still by the Thames floods near Kempsford, with a nice party of at least 80 Golden Plover, with huge numbers of Lapwing and also several Snipe. In the afternoon, with a travel lockdown looming, I made a repeat visit to the Plain and was rewarded with views of a couple of hunting Short-eared Owls in reasonable light, and also a bonus male Merlin that flew in and perched briefly before departing low, barely bigger than a Mistle Thrush but with blue/grey plumage. Corn Bunting is reliable here, and a small party came in to roost.