Lollingdon

Sunny, 28°, fresh ENE.

Just the 1 Common Redstart noted on the hill today along with a couple of Corn Bunting and Common Whitethroat and a single Swallow over.

Nearby, several Yellowhammer, a Kestrel and 4 Raven flew north.

Dragonflies: Only Beautiful Demoiselle seen.

Butterflies: Large Skipper, Clouded Yellow, Large White, Small White, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet.

The Clouded Yellow was forever on the move and impossible to get a decent shot.

A warm one

Sunny, 34°, light E.

A brief trip along the Bunk area. The bunds around the gravel pit have been mowed, subsequently a small area of the gravel pit can be seen, approx. 1/6th.

2 Mute Swan and 2 Tufted Duck seen plus a handful of Black-headed Gull. That was it.

Little else noted: 3 Yellowhammer in song and the odd warbler heard calling.

Great-spotted Woodpecker taking a drink in the garden.  

Dragonflies: Beautiful Demoiselle, Common Blue Damsel, Azure Damsel, Migrant Hawker and Black-tailed Skimmer.

Butterflies: Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Large White, Small White, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock, Comma, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown.

Moths: Hummingbird Hawkmoth.

Bunk

Sunny, 31°, light SW.

A walk along the Bunk today and a pretty warm one. Still fairly quiet birdwise but another Lesser Emperor dragonfly at the gravel pit and a Clouded Yellow butterfly near Green Lane.

Birds: a Lesser Whitethroat at Green Lane and the usual warblers present on the walk including a family group of 4-5 Chiffchaff.

Several Yellowhammer in song and Lapwing heard at the gravel pit and a Raven nearby. A single Sand Martin over the pit and several Swallow, House Martin and Swift.

Mammals: Roe Deer.

Dragonflies: Beautiful Demoiselle, Common Blue Damsel, Azure Damsel, Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker, Lesser Emperor (2nd record) and a Common Darter.

Butterflies: Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Clouded Yellow, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Marbled White, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown.

Moths: Small Scallop & Cinnabar Moth caterpillar.

 

A Dragon, a Bird and a Fire

Sunny, 31°, breezy SW.

A quietish day birdwise but a large fire and a new Dragonfly for Cholsey.

Just after 14:00, I was just leaving the hill when I noticed a large plume of smoke just to the south-west of Lollingdon Hill. A large fire had broken out in one of the fields and was being fanned by a breezy south-west wind. It was eventually subdued by the prompt action of the fire brigade but around 100 acres was burnt to a crisp. 14 fire trucks attended and the A417 was closed for a time between Westfield Road and Aston Tirrold/Upthorpe.

Back to the wildlife: few birds, 2 poss 3 Common Redstart still present on the hill and a Corn Bunting noted.

The walk out produced 5 singing Yellowhammer and the odd Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat and Blackcap.

A female Sparrowhawk mobbing a Red Kite over the football field.

Mammals: A couple of Brown Hare ran past me, presumably from the fire area.  

Dragonflies: a new species for Cholsey in the form of a Lesser Emperor seen out at Lollingdon, also both Banded and Beautiful Demoiselle, a Hairy Dragonfly, Southern Hawker and Migrant Hawker.

Butterflies: Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Large White, Small White, Brimstone, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet.

Garden

Sunny spells, 23°, breezy SW.

A Sparrowhawk hit the garden this morning. Nearly caught one of the Great-spotted Woodpeckers that frequent the garden.

Also a Migrant Hawker Dragonfly, 2 Painted Lady, several Red Admiral, Large White and Small White, 12 Peacock, 2 Meadow Brown, 2 Holly Blue, a Comma and Gatekeeper and a Hummingbird Hawkmoth.

Bunk

Sunny, 24°, light WSW.

A quietish walk along the Bunk area today. only a few Yellowhammer frequently in song with the occasional Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat and Blackcap.

The usual around the gravel pit with a couple of Sand Martin and Swallow plus 20+ Swift and a similar number of House Martin.

2 Raven along Green Lane and that was about it as far as the birds go.

Dragonflies: several Banded and Beautiful Demoiselle, Lots of Common Blue Damsel, and singles of Brown Hawker and Black-tailed Skimmer.

Butterflies: Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Small Copper, Small Blue, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet.

Moths: Hummingbird Hawkmoth.

Other: Stag Beetle (f).

Pied Hoverfly courtesy Loren

Redstarts & Buntings

Sunny spells, 25°, light SW.

The big loop to the Lees, skirting Aston and then to Lollingdon and back.

Highlight of the day was 3 Common Redstart on Lollingdon Hill, a male and 2 juvenile birds. Initially heard calling then located. At least 4 weeks earlier than seen before on the hill after breeding elsewhere.

3-4 Corn Bunting present plus a family group of 6 Common Whitethroat and a few more nearby and a singing Garden Warbler.

Initially out at the Lees, 5 Reed Bunting, several Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler and 6+ Skylark.

7 Yellowhammer on walk along with Chiffchaff and Blackcap and several family groups of Swallow overhead.

Dragonflies: Banded and Beautiful Demoiselle, Common Blue Damsel, a Hairy Dragonfly, an Emperor and a Black-tailed Skimmer.

Butterflies: Many on the wing today. Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Small Heath.

Male Redstart with a juv, out of focus to the right.

Juv Redstart above and 3 sp of Bunting below.

Some cooler weather at last

Sunny periods, 22°, light SW.

First time out in a while as last week was too hot for any meaningful birding for me. So a steady walk out along the Bunk.

Little Ringed Plover still present at the gravel pit along with several Lapwing. 3-4 Sand Martin still feeding overhead, suggests they may have bred there. Also several Swallow with young and 20+ House Martin and 20+ Swift overhead.

4 Raven along Green Lane, eventually flew off towards Cholsey Hill and a Lesser Whitethroat along the lane.

5 Yellowhammer, several Blackcap, Common Whitethroat and Chiffchaff still in song.

200+ Starling at CSW along with several Herring and Black-headed Gull.

Mammals: Stoat.

Dragonflies: Common Blue Damsel and an unidentified Hawker.

Butterflies: Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Large Skipper, Large White, Small White, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Small Heath.

Moths: Herald and Riband Wave.

Bunk

Sunny, 26°, light to breezy SW.

A bit samey birdwise along the Bunk area: Little Ringed Plover and several Lapwing at the gravel pit plus a few Gulls.

3 Sand Martin feeding overhead along with Several Swallow (a few young on the wing) and House Martin and c30 Swift.

Usual Yellowhammer, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff.

A flock of c30 Starling at CSW.

Dragonflies: Common Blue Damsel and Hairy Dragonfly. A probable Norfolk Hawker near gravel pit briefly.

Butterflies: Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Large White, Small White, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Small Heath.

Moths: Scarlet Tiger and Hummingbird Hawkmoth in garden.

The Lees

Mainly cloudy, 22°, breezy SW.

Bullshole-Lees-Long Ditch etc.

Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail (Church Road), Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Grey Heron, a single Black-headed Gull over and 3 Kestrel and several Swallow near Manor Farm.

A small flock of Swift feeding along the edge of the Lees.

Grasshopper Warbler reeling on Cholsey Marsh yesterday evening. Per James Beaumont.

Mammals: Roe Deer.

Dragonflies: Beautiful Demoiselle.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock, Comma, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Small Heath. 

Burnet Companion?