Wessex

18 May - A trip south for exercise with the new relaxed rules, with an early start. Firstly, a walk on the edge of Salisbury Plain gave good views of no less than 5 adult Stone Curlews, one pair with 2 fledged young. Such strange birds with their large eye and ungainly appearance - one also seen in flight with its white wing bar, and the mournful slightly eerie call also heard. An undisclosed location a few miles away was scanned and after a few minutes a real bonus - a male Montagu's Harrier hunting the grassy slopes - watched for a few minutes, very buoyant flight with upturned wings, and the grey upperparts and white rump contrasting with the chestnut on the underwing. Such a rarity these days. Eurasian Curlew and several Stonechats also present here. Very good numbers of Brown Hares present throughout the area.