What was striking today was the numbers of just a few
species around, in roughly 3 hours I counted 500+ Swifts passing through all heading in a southerly direction feeding
as they went. There were mainly small flocks of between 6 to 50 but one large
flock of over 100 went over!
Also, gull numbers have increased again with another field
being ploughed and 800+ gulls in the area, again a similar mix of species with
the majority being Lesser Blackbacks,
c 20 Herring Gulls and 30-40 Black-headed Gulls.
Large numbers of corvids (400+), mainly Rooks in the area of the pig farm and mixed in with the large gull
flock in the field being ploughed. A flock of around 50 Starlings at the pig farm also.
2 Kestrels
hunting over Lollingdon hill and looked as if they were catching insects.
Several Buzzards around and a
juvenile noted, also plenty of Red Kites.
A couple of small Tit flocks (Long-tailed, Blue and Great) and a couple of Chiffchaffs with them. An adult Reed Warbler and 2 juveniles also several Sedge Warblers along the “reedy ditch”.
Swallows and House Martins feeding near Manor Farm
and a Mistle Thrush there.
When not raining the air temperature was still warm enough
for butterflies to be on the wing, Large
and Small Whites, Fewer Ringlets and Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers,
Small and Large Skippers, also a Banded
Demoiselle seen (2km from the river)
and a couple of Common Darters.
Quite a few Froglets noted
in one area.
A Sparrowhawk shopping
at Sainsbury’s in Didcot, or rather hunting the pigeons that inhabit the
Orchard centre!
Stock Doves still
visiting garden but a lack of small birds, only a Robin, Wren and a couple
of Dunnocks (residents) this week.
No comments:
Post a Comment