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?

A good day for Butterflies

Cloudy with few sunny spells, 23°, fresh SE.

Bunk line walk.

Little Ringed Plover heard calling at gravel pit and Sand Martin, House Martin, Swallow and Swift feeding overhead.

Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, and Garden Warbler.

A single Lapwing, Kestrel and 4 Yellowhammer and 3 Herring Gull and 5 Black-headed Gull at CSW.

“Hobby low over the garden this morning. Reed Warbler singing on the brook just off Church Rd just now, and 5 Mallard families there (currently 32 ducklings in total), with another nest in our garden due to hatch this week. Grey Wagtails on 2nd brood at Church Rd/brook bridge (first was successful). Nuthatch calling yesterday.

Goldcrest bred again alongside our garden – fledglings were noisy all last week. Loads of Chub and Minnow in the brook – there’s also been a big shoal of Minnow spawning at the Bullshole tunnel, with Chub hunting them. Otter scats in the garden and on the steps into the brook in the meadow.” Per Richard Broughton.

Mammals: Muntjac Deer.

Dragonflies: Beautiful and Banded Demoiselle, Common Blue Damselfly and a Hairy Dragonfly.

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

Twin-lobed Deer Fly Chrysops relictus

Lollingdon

Mainly cloudy, 21°, breezy SW.

A bit of a blustery day out at Lollingdon.

Relatively quiet, 4 singing Yellowhammer and a Corn Bunting, the usual Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Common Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat.

20+ Swift feeding over the hill area along with a few Swallow and House Martin.

2 Mistle Thrush in the meadow.

Mammals: Brown Hare.

Dragonflies: Beautiful and Banded Demoiselle.

Butterflies: Large Skipper, Common Blue, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood and Meadow Brown.

Moths: Privet Hawkmoth.

Privet Hawkmoth courtesy Bryan Reagan.