Thames, Cholsey, 25th March

Sunny, 16º, light N.

4 Arches to Winterbrook.

Around 8 Great-crested Grebe on the river and I’ve had a report of a drake Mandarin Duck near Winterbrook. Probably escaped from the Beale Trust in Pangbourne.

4 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron seen.

Many Red Kites and Buzzards with a pair of Buzzards displaying over Cholsey Marsh. Also 2 Sparrowhawk and a Peregrine seen.

1 flyover Lapwing and 3 Common Snipe flushed from Cholsey Marsh by a dog.

Coot seen on nest.

Stock Dove seen at 6 sites and 5 Kingfishers seen including a mating pair.

Both Green and Great-spotted Woodpeckers seen frequently, around 6 Skylark in song, 5 Meadow pipits, 2 Pied Wagtail and 1 Grey Wagtail.

A few Song and Mistle Thrushes and 5 Redwing and 1 Fieldfare.

Chiffchaffs are definitely in with 11 heard singing between the 4 Arches (Moulsford boundary) and Winterbrook (Wallingford boundary), approximately a 5km stretch.

Goldcrest and Coal Tit heard singing and a Nuthatch seen, also 7 Treecreepers.

1 Jay near the 4 Arches.

Chaffinch and Goldfinch in good numbers with c10 Greenfinch, 2 Lesser Redpoll (Cholsey Marsh) and 5 Bullfinch.
Reed Bunting now a common sight all along the river.

Many Toads seen again and Brimstone, Small Tortoishell, Comma and Peacock butterflies all seen.

Chiffchaff singing near garden.

Common Buzzard at Cholsey Marsh