Bunk again

Hazy sunshine, 29°, light to breezy NNW.

Very quiet birdwise along the Bunk area this afternoon. The odd Yellowhammer and Common Whitethroat, 2 Herring Gull at CSW and a few Black-headed Gull that appeared to be feeding on flying ants, was about it.

Mammals: Brown Hare.

Dragonflies: Beautiful Demoiselle and Common Blue Damsel.

Butterflies: a drop in numbers: Small Skipper, Large White, Small White, Small Copper, Small Blue, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown.

Moths: Jersey Tiger.

Bunk

Sunny with light cloud, 28°, light ENE.

Birdwise, very quiet again. A single Lapwing seen at the gravel pit and a Reed Warbler nearby but little else.

Several Swift, Swallow and House Martin over.

Dragonflies: Common Blue Damsel, Azure Damsel and Black-tailed Skimmer.

Butterflies: Large White, Small White, Small Blue, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady (2), Small Tortoiseshell (1), Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Marbled White (1), Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet (1).

Black-tailed Skimmer, F above, M below

A good mix

Cloudy, 20°, light to breezy NE.

A welcome relief from the heat of the last week but warming up again mid-afternoon and just a few bits from around the home and garden incl 9 species of Butterfly.

Jersey Tiger Moth

Hummingbird Hawkmoth

Female Blackcap bathing with Blue and Great Tits

Brown Hare courtesy Loren

White-legged Damsel

Large Tabby, a large micro moth.

Iron Prominent

Garden Pebble (micro)

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.