Pretty quiet along the Bunk today: 2 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, a Treecreeper and very few Fieldfare and Redwing.
Gravel pit: just a single Little Grebe on the water and c200 Lapwing scattered around and around 20 Canada Geese.
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Quiet
Cloudy with the odd rain shower, 11°, light SSW.
Pretty quiet along the Bunk today: 2 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, a Treecreeper and very few Fieldfare and Redwing.
Gravel pit: just a single Little Grebe on the water and c200 Lapwing scattered around and around 20 Canada Geese.
Pretty quiet along the Bunk today: 2 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, a Treecreeper and very few Fieldfare and Redwing.
Gravel pit: just a single Little Grebe on the water and c200 Lapwing scattered around and around 20 Canada Geese.
Tuesday, 10 February 2026
Lollingdon
Overcast and rain, 10°, light SE.
A walk out to the flooded area at Lollingdon today proved rather wet.
Having said that the birds were not too bad.
As a flock of Tits passed through, I heard a call I’ve not heard for a while and confirmed it when a Marsh Tit popped up and soon moved on along the hedgerow with the rest of the flock. I couldn’t follow as the water was too deep along the field edge. First record in 5 years. Also a Chiffchaff with the flock.
The flood was deserted but I had an Oystercatcher fly over and there were 2 Little Egret and 3 Grey Heron nearby. A distant flock of c100 Lapwing in the air again and the usual Fieldfare and Redwing.
A Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a couple of Goldcrest in the Bullshole area and 20+ Pied Wagtail on the football field.
8 Song Thrush heard singing on the walk out. Great to hear them. In the 90’s when we took part in a bird race, we had a job to find a Song Thrush. So good they have made a comeback over the last 20 or so years.
Yesterday: A male Merlin and Jack Snipe at Hithercroft along with c. 50 Common Snipe and 2 Peregrine. Per Connor Pimm. Not sure if they were seen in or close to the Parish boundary but worth a mention. The 2 Peregrine were probably the same 2 that I saw out by the Lees last week and maybe the 2 males from last years nest out at South Stoke?
Mammals: Roe Deer (3 Bucks).
A walk out to the flooded area at Lollingdon today proved rather wet.
Having said that the birds were not too bad.
As a flock of Tits passed through, I heard a call I’ve not heard for a while and confirmed it when a Marsh Tit popped up and soon moved on along the hedgerow with the rest of the flock. I couldn’t follow as the water was too deep along the field edge. First record in 5 years. Also a Chiffchaff with the flock.
The flood was deserted but I had an Oystercatcher fly over and there were 2 Little Egret and 3 Grey Heron nearby. A distant flock of c100 Lapwing in the air again and the usual Fieldfare and Redwing.
A Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a couple of Goldcrest in the Bullshole area and 20+ Pied Wagtail on the football field.
8 Song Thrush heard singing on the walk out. Great to hear them. In the 90’s when we took part in a bird race, we had a job to find a Song Thrush. So good they have made a comeback over the last 20 or so years.
Yesterday: A male Merlin and Jack Snipe at Hithercroft along with c. 50 Common Snipe and 2 Peregrine. Per Connor Pimm. Not sure if they were seen in or close to the Parish boundary but worth a mention. The 2 Peregrine were probably the same 2 that I saw out by the Lees last week and maybe the 2 males from last years nest out at South Stoke?
Mammals: Roe Deer (3 Bucks).
Friday, 6 February 2026
The Lees
Overcast with frequent showers, 11°, light S.
The Lees: 3 Chiffchaff and a Treecreeper with a Tit flock and several Siskin and 2 Jay heard.
2 Stonechat and a Kingfisher along the Long Ditch and 2 Peregrine on the pylons.
50+ Fieldfare and 20+ Redwing.
30+ Skylark, 5 Meadow Pipit, a Reed Bunting, 2 Mute Swan and 100+ Black-headed Gull in adjacent fields.
Male Blackcap in garden.
The Lees: 3 Chiffchaff and a Treecreeper with a Tit flock and several Siskin and 2 Jay heard.
2 Stonechat and a Kingfisher along the Long Ditch and 2 Peregrine on the pylons.
50+ Fieldfare and 20+ Redwing.
30+ Skylark, 5 Meadow Pipit, a Reed Bunting, 2 Mute Swan and 100+ Black-headed Gull in adjacent fields.
Male Blackcap in garden.
Did not take the camera out today due to wet weather so an old pic of 2 Stonechat. Pretty much as I saw them today.
Thursday, 5 February 2026
Wednesday, 4 February 2026
Bunk
Mainly sunny, 9°, breezy E.
Quiet along the Bunk area today: 4+ Chiffchaff in the usual spot near CSW and a Raven over.
c200 Lapwing at the gravel pit plus a Little Grebe and 2 Tufted Duck and the usual Fieldfare and Redwing around and that was about it!
Quiet along the Bunk area today: 4+ Chiffchaff in the usual spot near CSW and a Raven over.
c200 Lapwing at the gravel pit plus a Little Grebe and 2 Tufted Duck and the usual Fieldfare and Redwing around and that was about it!
2 Redpoll along Bunk yesterday. Per Brian Wyatt and a singing Blackcap, Papist Way. Per Phil Dyson.
Monday, 2 February 2026
Quiet
Overcast, 8°, moderate E.
A walk out to Lollingdon today and very quiet.
The regular 2 Little Egret present, a Grey Heron, c60 Lapwing and a Sparrowhawk and the usual Fieldfare and Redwing.
3 Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest, Millennium Wood/Bullshole area and c50 Pied Wagtail on the football fields.
Mammals: Brown Hare and Muntjac Deer.
A walk out to Lollingdon today and very quiet.
The regular 2 Little Egret present, a Grey Heron, c60 Lapwing and a Sparrowhawk and the usual Fieldfare and Redwing.
3 Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest, Millennium Wood/Bullshole area and c50 Pied Wagtail on the football fields.
Mammals: Brown Hare and Muntjac Deer.
Friday, 30 January 2026
Bunk area
Sunny spells then clouding over, 10°, light SE.
Gravel pit only had a Little Grebe present and c70 Lapwing flushed by a Sparrowhawk.
Canada Goose and Greylag Goose heard only.
Bunk line area fairly quiet today: 6 Chiffchaff along the hedgerow by CSW.
A flock of c100 Linnet and approx. 20 of each Greenfinch and Chaffinch around a shelter belt and plenty of Fieldfare and Redwing about.
c200 Lesser Blackback Gull, 2 Herring Gull and 8 Black-headed Gull in nearby fields.
A male Blackcap in garden again.
A Muntjac Deer in the garden yesterday.
Gravel pit only had a Little Grebe present and c70 Lapwing flushed by a Sparrowhawk.
Canada Goose and Greylag Goose heard only.
Bunk line area fairly quiet today: 6 Chiffchaff along the hedgerow by CSW.
A flock of c100 Linnet and approx. 20 of each Greenfinch and Chaffinch around a shelter belt and plenty of Fieldfare and Redwing about.
c200 Lesser Blackback Gull, 2 Herring Gull and 8 Black-headed Gull in nearby fields.
A male Blackcap in garden again.
A Muntjac Deer in the garden yesterday.
Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Lollingdon
Mainly cloudy, 8°, light ESE.
A touch of the winter doldrums today with very little out at Lollingdon. The flood area was quite deserted.
2 Little Egret nearby and up to 8 Yellowhammer and 3 Meadow Pipit in the area, the usual Fieldfare and Redwing and c 40 Lapwing high in the distance.
3 Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff in the Millennium wood/Bullshole area.
A touch of the winter doldrums today with very little out at Lollingdon. The flood area was quite deserted.
2 Little Egret nearby and up to 8 Yellowhammer and 3 Meadow Pipit in the area, the usual Fieldfare and Redwing and c 40 Lapwing high in the distance.
3 Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff in the Millennium wood/Bullshole area.
3 White-fronted Geese with a large mixed flock of Canada and Greylag Geese in a field near Waterloo Close yesterday. Per Mike Amphlett. Seen again today by Michael Pocock. The flock is quite mobile and often vacates the area to the other side of the Thames.
An anonymous comment on my blog "Just seen Black Redstart on the Highcroft new housing estate next to the new allotments. 10AM Jan 25 2025". That's off Calvin Thomas Way.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Monday, 26 January 2026
Cholsey Marsh
Overcast, 8°, light ESE.
A late afternoon visit to Cholsey Marsh to monitor the Corn Bunting roost saw just over 120 birds come in over a 30-minute period at dusk and 2 Meadow Pipit in the roost.
Also a Goose flock in a nearby field comprising of c150 birds, mainly Canada Geese plus 5 Egyptian Geese and a handful of Greylag Geese.
A Cormorant and a Peregrine overhead, a Tawny Owl heard nearby, both Mistle and Song Thrush in song, a Great-spotted Woodpecker drumming, 2-3 Water Rail, a Jay, a Reed Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer, a Chiffchaff and Goldcrest and several Fieldfare and Redwing.
A Firecrest found by Andy King in a Honey Lane garden on Sunday.
Mammals: Roe Deer.
A late afternoon visit to Cholsey Marsh to monitor the Corn Bunting roost saw just over 120 birds come in over a 30-minute period at dusk and 2 Meadow Pipit in the roost.
Also a Goose flock in a nearby field comprising of c150 birds, mainly Canada Geese plus 5 Egyptian Geese and a handful of Greylag Geese.
A Cormorant and a Peregrine overhead, a Tawny Owl heard nearby, both Mistle and Song Thrush in song, a Great-spotted Woodpecker drumming, 2-3 Water Rail, a Jay, a Reed Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer, a Chiffchaff and Goldcrest and several Fieldfare and Redwing.
A Firecrest found by Andy King in a Honey Lane garden on Sunday.
Mammals: Roe Deer.
Friday, 23 January 2026
Lollingdon
Rain showers, 8°, breezy SE.
Lollingdon floods were pretty deserted today: Just 2 Little Egret present and 11 Lapwing over.
Up to 500 Starling and good numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing roaming the fields nearby.
A Chiffchaff and Goldcrest at the Millennium Wood and 55 Pied Wagtail on the football field.
Lollingdon floods were pretty deserted today: Just 2 Little Egret present and 11 Lapwing over.
Up to 500 Starling and good numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing roaming the fields nearby.
A Chiffchaff and Goldcrest at the Millennium Wood and 55 Pied Wagtail on the football field.
Snowdrop and Aconite and the odd Daffodil in flower and an active Ladybird.
2 Little Egret taken on the phone camera from c250m.
Thursday, 22 January 2026
Rain stopped play
Overcast then rain, 8°, light SE.
Went down to check the roost out on Cholsey Marsh but not long after arriving it started to rain consistently. Stayed for about an hour but then gave up.
Not a great deal noted, a Great-spotted Woodpecker drumming, 2 Cormorant, a Little Grebe, Sparrowhawk, Water Rail heard, several Fieldfare and Redwing and c80 Canada Geese in a nearby field.
Went down to check the roost out on Cholsey Marsh but not long after arriving it started to rain consistently. Stayed for about an hour but then gave up.
Not a great deal noted, a Great-spotted Woodpecker drumming, 2 Cormorant, a Little Grebe, Sparrowhawk, Water Rail heard, several Fieldfare and Redwing and c80 Canada Geese in a nearby field.
Monday, 19 January 2026
Goshawk
Overcast with some light rain, 10°, light SSE.
Bird of the day has to be a female Goshawk that passed briefly through Cholsey airspace this afternoon, c14:00, flew from roughly Winterbrook area towards Carmel College when it was lost from view. Per Geoff Wyatt. 1st record since 1978.
5 Gadwall seen on a small flood in a field off Green Lane on Saturday. Per Richard Broughton.
Back to today and along the Bunk area: up to 5 Chiffchaff with a Tit flock at CSW.
2+ Yellowhammer, a Goldcrest, several Siskin, good numbers of Fieldfare, Redwing and Starling and 2 Egyptian Geese.
Gravel pit: a Little Grebe, 3 Tufted Duck, c10 Shoveler in flight and settling in to pits that are not viewable and c120 Canada Geese. Also up to 1000 Gull distantly, most too far for ID but some nearer birds noted. Lesser Blackback, Black-headed and Herring Gull.
Bird of the day has to be a female Goshawk that passed briefly through Cholsey airspace this afternoon, c14:00, flew from roughly Winterbrook area towards Carmel College when it was lost from view. Per Geoff Wyatt. 1st record since 1978.
5 Gadwall seen on a small flood in a field off Green Lane on Saturday. Per Richard Broughton.
Back to today and along the Bunk area: up to 5 Chiffchaff with a Tit flock at CSW.
2+ Yellowhammer, a Goldcrest, several Siskin, good numbers of Fieldfare, Redwing and Starling and 2 Egyptian Geese.
Gravel pit: a Little Grebe, 3 Tufted Duck, c10 Shoveler in flight and settling in to pits that are not viewable and c120 Canada Geese. Also up to 1000 Gull distantly, most too far for ID but some nearer birds noted. Lesser Blackback, Black-headed and Herring Gull.
Friday, 16 January 2026
Lollingdon floods
Sunny spells, 6°, light SSE.
Another walk out to the Lollingdon floods: c80 Lesser Blackback Gull, 9 Black-headed Gull and 2 Common Gull, a Little Egret, 3 Common Snipe and 67 Lapwing.
Several hundred Fieldfare and c50 Redwing, 2 Raven, a Chiffchaff and 2-3 Goldcrest etc.
Another walk out to the Lollingdon floods: c80 Lesser Blackback Gull, 9 Black-headed Gull and 2 Common Gull, a Little Egret, 3 Common Snipe and 67 Lapwing.
Several hundred Fieldfare and c50 Redwing, 2 Raven, a Chiffchaff and 2-3 Goldcrest etc.
Wednesday, 14 January 2026
Lollingdon
Overcast, 6°, Light SSE.
A walk out to the floods at Lollingdon:
2 Little Egret, 32 Lapwing, 2 Shoveler, 6 Teal and 8 Black-headed Gull with numerous other Gulls moving overhead.
A male Peregrine mobbing a Buzzard, numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing scattered about and 16 Yellowhammer.
Mammals: 2 Muntjac Deer.
A walk out to the floods at Lollingdon:
2 Little Egret, 32 Lapwing, 2 Shoveler, 6 Teal and 8 Black-headed Gull with numerous other Gulls moving overhead.
A male Peregrine mobbing a Buzzard, numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing scattered about and 16 Yellowhammer.
Mammals: 2 Muntjac Deer.
Monday, 12 January 2026
Fieldfare & Redwing
Overcast, 12°, light SSW.
Bunk area:
2 Little Grebe, 20 Shoveler and a Common Snipe at the gravel pit.
A mixed flock of c500 of mainly Fieldfare with a good number of Redwing spread along the Bunk, esp Green Lane.
3 Grey Heron, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Jay, a Little Owl, 3 Yellowhammer and 2 Chiffchaff at CSW.
Distantly over Cholsey Hill at dusk, c1000 Starling appeared to be flying NW.
Bunk area:
2 Little Grebe, 20 Shoveler and a Common Snipe at the gravel pit.
A mixed flock of c500 of mainly Fieldfare with a good number of Redwing spread along the Bunk, esp Green Lane.
3 Grey Heron, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Jay, a Little Owl, 3 Yellowhammer and 2 Chiffchaff at CSW.
Distantly over Cholsey Hill at dusk, c1000 Starling appeared to be flying NW.
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