The past few days have been rather steady, with a change for
the better weather wise. Several species seen carrying nesting material, i.e.
Linnets and food i.e. Whitethroats etc.
Lollingdon Hill has been quiet, just the local breeding
species around and Cholsey Marsh much the same. 2 adult Black-headed Gulls flew downriver the other day which is a scarcity
at this time of year.
Just an observation but Whitethroat numbers appear to be
down on last year with an estimated 25% drop!
Spring so far has been relatively cold and wet and breeding
birds appear to have suffered, some will obviously attempt breeding again but
some may not!
Sunday 17th June saw the 2nd “Agatha
Christie Trail” walk (of which I help out on).
62 visitors joined the walk from Wallingford Museum to Cholsey Church via the
footpath along the “Bunk Line”, with Judy Dewey and Tony Rayner talking about
Agatha Christie and local archaeology on the way.
There is a section at the museum dedicated to Agatha
Christie and the walk takes in Winterbrook House (Cholsey) where she lived until 1976 and Cholsey Church where she is
buried.
In addition, there are several Bronze and Iron Age sites
along the route that are still to be fully investigated.
A few Yellow Wagtail
heard and several Linnet, Whitethroat and Blackcap seen.
From Cholsey Church, we made for Cholsey railway station
where we took the train (An old steam
engine pulling 2 coaches) back to Wallingford along the heritage “Bunk
Line”.
Recent activity in the garden has seen 3 different Great-spotted Woodpeckers (♂, ♀ and a young ♀),
also young of Robin, Dunnock, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Blue and Great Tit,House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Greenfinch and the Moorhen
along the brook has at least 3 young, so at least some have managed to breed
and some young survive albeit lower numbers.
2 Stock Doves
still visiting the garden and 10 Jackdaws,
which included several young, seen feeding next to the garden this morning by a
neighbour.
Only one House
Martins nest occupied this year at Marymead, several House Sparrows in the area of the front garden and 2 Goldcrests seen, 10+ Red Kites, and 2 Buzzards soaring over the village today.
Meadow Brown
butterflies appearing now.
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