A morning visit to Cholsey Marsh where I bumped in to an old friend, Brian Wyatt. I had already been along the marsh earlier and decided to walk it again.
When Brian arrived I had just seen a BOP being mobbed by another, the bird doing the mobbing was obviously a Red Kite and I initially thought the other was a Buzzard but it did not look quite right.
As the birds got closer I could see it was a Harris Hawk and it settled in a nearby tree and stayed for a few minutes.
Good to see it is still around and has been for at least 5 years now.
Other species on the marsh were: 6+ Blackcap, 4 Whitethroat, 10+ Sedge Warbler, 1 pos 2 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler and 6+ Chiffchaff, 6 Reed Bunting and 2 Jay,
2 Water Rail, a Siskin flew over, several Swallow, 2 Great Crested Grebe on the river also 2 Mute Swan and at least 1 Kingfisher evident.
Lollingdon: quiet again, 3 Bunting species present, 1 Willow Warbler, several Blackcap and Chiffchaff and the lone Fieldfare.
A late report of at least 1 Sand Martin with other Hirundines over Cholsey SF last week. Brian Wyatt.
Butterflies: a good day with 7 species: Brimstone, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma and Speckled Wood.
How great it is to see a Harris Hawk on the marsh... Thanks for sharing such a great set of photo's ...on such a beautiful spring day.
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