6 Crossbill were a surprise today out at Lollingdon seen and heard flying south west just prior to midday.
Crossbills are an irruptive species that can turn up anywhere at this time of year and usually breed and feed in coniferous woodland.
In excess of 50 Swallow out at Lollingdon today feeding around the dwellings and fields and often perching up on wires or trees. The majority were young birds.
A young Chiffchaff on the hill for a time working the hedgerow and getting chased off by a Whitethroat.
A Reed Bunting still on the hill and singing and several Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer present.
A Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Little Owl seen.
A Kingfisher regular out there also. Per TW.
“RB has been working in the crops around Manor Farm this week. There are nesting Yellow Wagtail, Skylark and Corn Bunting.
There are 3 broods of “Mallards” on the Brook – a wild female has fledged 3, the (*”Molly”) type still has 7 (feathered but flightless), and one of her sisters (looks like a wild type but darker/smaller) has 4 of the same age.
A Kingfisher around this week occasionally fly along the brook in the meadow.”
*A “Molly” type duck is an all dark duck with a white breast. The name was coined by Loren a couple of years back for a female duck that spent a lot of time in the garden and made a nest and raised young in the car park at Marymead. There are several offspring with the same or similar plumage in the vicinity still.
Reptiles: a couple of Common Lizard.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Azure Damselfly, Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker and Emperor.
Butterflies: Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown & Ringlet.
Swallows
Swallows
Chiffchaff
Corn Bunting
Corn Buntings
Meadow Brown
Peacock
Meadow Grasshopper (courtesy Alan Dawson)
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