2014 a brief review
According to records it has been the wettest and warmest
year both globally and locally.
The year started off very wet with localised flooding in
many areas in Cholsey. 111 species of bird recorded this year, a little down on
recent years probably due to a mild winter?
22 Mammal species, 6 species of Reptile and Amphibian, 21
species of Butterfly, 12 species of Dragonfly also recorded but unfortunately I
do not have full data on Moths and other Insects recorded.
January proved fairly steady birdwise a few Redpoll and
Siskin around and several Blackcap wintering in 5 or 6 different gardens in the
village and a couple of Stonechat overwintering out on the western outskirts.
February was quite a wet month which suited the local flocks
of Lapwing and Golden Plover that stayed in the area. The only record of Barn
Owl this year was of one found dead along Church road.
The first butterflies appeared in early March with several
Brimstone on the wing followed closely by Peacock, Comma and Small Tortoiseshell.
A first for Cholsey appeared on the 14th March in
the form of a 2nd winter Iceland Gull found by Tony Williams out on
floods at Lollingdon and continued to be seen for the rest of the month.
In the latter half of the month the first Wheatear appeared along
with the first migrant Chiffchaff and Blackcap, also Common Toads were on the
move and a Little Egret made a brief appearance in Lollingdon.
April saw the arrival of most of our summer visitors arrive
and most of our winter visitors departing with good numbers of Fieldfare and
Redwing moving north east.
A couple of Redstart passed through as did most of the
Willow Warblers that were seen.
Early May saw the emergence of the first dragonflies of the
year with several Large Red Damselflies around, also several more species of
butterfly emerging.
The local Swifts arrived early May and all settled down for
the summer months.
The summer months were quiet except for an unusual passage
of Swift on the 16th June with 1500+ passing north over Lollingdon
hill accompanied by 100+ House Martin and at least one pair of Lapwing bred
successfully in the parish.
Several more dragonfly and butterfly species appearing
around midsummer and the first Hummingbird Hawk Moth appearing on the 5th
July.
Mid-July saw the first Redstart back on the hill with a
minimum of 6 individuals passing through in to September.
A good year for a few amphibians and reptiles with good
numbers of Common Frog, Common Toad, Slow Worm and Grass Snakes.
August saw most of our summer visitors leaving with most
warblers leaving their breeding areas and some passage birds passing through, all
the Common Whitethroats appeared to leave in one go as one day they were there
and the next not one to be found!
In to September and the first returning Wheatear started to
pass through and by the end of the month summer migrants had all but
disappeared and passage and winter visitors were appearing with a reasonable
passage of Jays at month’s end.
October saw several records of the migrant Clouded Yellow
butterfly appear and still Wheatear passing through and Stonechat adding to the
passage.
On the 14th October the first of the winter thrushes
appearing with around 400 Redwing out at Lollingdon and a few days later the
first Fieldfare began arriving along with migrant Blackbirds and Song Thrushes.
At the end of the month a Black Redstart turned up in a
garden in the village (one of three in the county this year).
November was reasonably mild with at least 6 butterfly
species and a dragonfly still on the wing to about mid month when it became
decidedly chillier.
Winter thrushes still moving through along with good numbers
of Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails.
December turned up a couple of firsts for the year with 2
Woodcock and a Jack Snipe flushed from a couple of spots. A couple of
Chiffchaff still around and the first wintering Blackcap appeared in a garden
on the 13th.
A nice Xmas present was a Firecrest that turned up in a
birders garden on Xmas day, the 111th species for Cholsey this year.
I fortunately managed to catch up with the Firecrest on the 28th and
noted the 2nd Jack Snipe of the year on the 30th and at
least 4 Blackcap present in the village by year end.
A few tantalising reports of an Otter being seen along the Thames
in Cholsey and with one seen near Goring recently adds credence to the reports.
For me the bird of the year has been Ravens that have been
noted in every month and good to see them back!
Thanks to all who contributed to Cholsey Wildlife this year
in one way or another.
Tony Williams, John Lucas, Tony Rayner, Bob Wyatt, Roger Wyatt, Brian
Wyatt, Richard Broughton, Michael Pocock, Ben Hobbs, Mike Amphlett, Gerry Quinn,
Andy King, Ralph Watts, Louise Cranmer, Bob Dryden and Badger, apologies if I
have missed anyone.
A special thanks to my partner Loren Chaplin for her photos, comments & critique.
Here’s to a productive 2015!
Confirmed breeding of Lapwing in Cholsey 2014
