Berkshire bird news

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You searched for all sightings reported between 01/01/2023 and 31/12/2023.

Date	Species	Site	Count	Observer
05/11/23	Merlin	Eastbury Fields	1	A B Merrick
09:30	ad m. In Hawthorns, occasionally making hunting flights. Watched, fairly distantly, for over an hour and a half.
30/10/23	Merlin	Lea Farm Lake	1	A B Tomczynski
16:00
13/10/23	Merlin	Finchampstead Ridges	1	C Gent
15:30	male. small light blue falcon flashed across in front of car. shape, size and colour all indicate male merlin too small and compact for hobby, which all departed 2 weeks previous.
08/10/23	Merlin	Lea Farm Lake	1	F J Cottington
11:30	Very distant bird East of landfill heading South.
09/09/23	Merlin	Englefield	1	R Crawford
07:30	fem/juv. Between gate and Mayridge Farm, flew low along lane in front of my vehicle for some distance before disappearing through a gap in the hedge.
23/04/23	Merlin	Lambourn	1	J Lerpiniere
09:27	male. Tiny dark slate grey pointed wings skimming side to side down White Shute byway at knee height between high hedges in front of car before turning left on side track. SU3277.
27/03/23	Merlin	Bury Down	1	A E Hickman
14:15	fem/imm. Pulled up in the Bury Down car park, saw a group of skylarks flush and then saw the Merlin shooting passed, in very fast flight, south eastwards. Very opportune!
16/02/23	Merlin	Fobney Meadow	1	A B Tomczynski
12:45	male. Flew rapidly low over marsh from NW direction at something, missed then rose up circling before flying rapidly south into the drizzle. Site tick! Seen well. Small falcon. Blue back, terminal tail band and darker primaries. Peachy-yellowish breast.
09/02/23	Merlin	Brimpton Airfield	1	A E Hickman
10:00	prob imm male. Seen with Joe Monkhouse while doing the Big Farmland Bird Count for Wasing Estate. Falcon appeared suddenly, possibly from hedgerow, attacking, and scattering some passerines feeding on a winter bird cover crop. It eventually singled out a Redwing and chased it as it performed some erratic evasive manoeuvres escape, which the Merlin matched with speed and agility. Outcome of chase unknown as both birds went out of view. The Merlin was small, and for a spit second when it was flying low over the ground, I thought it was a Mistle Thrush until it gained height and accelerated into full chase mode! It had sharply pointed wings and a moderate length tail, and its flight was fast and very agile with rapidly flickering wing beats. Due to the dull conditions no plumage details were discernible. It just appeared to be dark greyish brown. Due to its apparent small size, we thought that it was likely to be a male, possibly immature. Pointed wings ruled out Sparrowhawk, too small and lightweight for Peregrine, too fast and agile for Kestrel. . SU578653.
31/01/23	Merlin	Cow Down, West Ilsley	1	A B Tomczynski
14:10	male.
30/01/23	Merlin	Jouldings Farm, Farley Hill	1	J Taylor
16:37
16/01/23	Merlin	Sulhamstead	1	P Driver
13:11	1w. On Milehouse Farm (private site). Looks like same one as last month. About half a mile distant across two fields, sat preening and resting. Russet chest with bold streaking, pale throat contrasting with chest. Thin pale supercilium, thin moustachial stripe , second stripe down behind ear coverts.stretched tail feathers to reveal four bands and broad terminal band. Wings short, not extending to length of tail. Flew off Eastwards at 13.51. Photos uploaded . SU631701.