2 Stonechat on the hill today found by Alan Dawson.
And a Frog on the allotments found by Loren.
Sunday, 30 September 2018
Stonechats & a Frog
Cloudy, 13°, light NNW.
2 Stonechat on the hill today found by Alan Dawson.
And a Frog on the allotments found by Loren.
2 Stonechat on the hill today found by Alan Dawson.
And a Frog on the allotments found by Loren.
A couple from the garden
3 of the family of Moorhen that frequent the garden.
And a visit from the Sparrowhawk.
Friday, 28 September 2018
Clouded Yellow
Sunny spells, 13°, breezy NNE.
A quiet time on the hill again today, 2 Swallow, 2 Raven and a sprinkling of Meadow Pipit and Skylark overhead.
2 Chiffchaff with a Tit flock on the hill (total of 6 Chiffchaff today).
A Clouded Yellow butterfly on the hill and this one decided to stop for a while rather than fly straight through, which they usually do.
Quite a rare butterfly for these parts and it is a highly migratory species from North Africa/Southern Europe.
Another visit by the Sparrowhawk in the garden today and he took a Field Vole.
Reptiles: 3 Common Lizard.
Dragonflies: Several Common Darter.
Butterflies: 1 Clouded Yellow, 6 Large White, 2 Small White and 2 Speckled Wood.
A quiet time on the hill again today, 2 Swallow, 2 Raven and a sprinkling of Meadow Pipit and Skylark overhead.
2 Chiffchaff with a Tit flock on the hill (total of 6 Chiffchaff today).
A Clouded Yellow butterfly on the hill and this one decided to stop for a while rather than fly straight through, which they usually do.
Quite a rare butterfly for these parts and it is a highly migratory species from North Africa/Southern Europe.
Another visit by the Sparrowhawk in the garden today and he took a Field Vole.
Reptiles: 3 Common Lizard.
Dragonflies: Several Common Darter.
Butterflies: 1 Clouded Yellow, 6 Large White, 2 Small White and 2 Speckled Wood.
Thursday, 27 September 2018
a couple of pics
A couple of photos from yesterday courtesy Alan Dawson.
Kestrel
A typical view of Grey Partridge
Wednesday, 26 September 2018
Quiet apart from Red Kites
A warm and sunny day, 20°, light SW.
Pretty quiet out there today, 2 Raven, 1 Swallow and a handful of Meadow Pipit and Skylark over the hill and 2 Chiffchaff on the hill.
Several Jay seen and the usual flock of Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer present.
Not a lot else noted!
A flock of 15 Swallow flying east yesterday. Per TW.
14 Grey Partridge. Per AD.
Dragonflies: 2 Southern Hawker, 1 Migrant Hawker and several Common Darter.
Butterflies: 5 Large White, 3 Common Blue, 2 Red Admiral, 2 Small Tortoiseshell and 3 Speckled Wood.
Pretty quiet out there today, 2 Raven, 1 Swallow and a handful of Meadow Pipit and Skylark over the hill and 2 Chiffchaff on the hill.
Several Jay seen and the usual flock of Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer present.
Not a lot else noted!
A flock of 15 Swallow flying east yesterday. Per TW.
14 Grey Partridge. Per AD.
Dragonflies: 2 Southern Hawker, 1 Migrant Hawker and several Common Darter.
Butterflies: 5 Large White, 3 Common Blue, 2 Red Admiral, 2 Small Tortoiseshell and 3 Speckled Wood.
I don't normally photograph Red Kite but they were the only photogenic species today. 7 around the hill. So here goes!
A Brimstone Butterfly. 1 of 5 seen today by Alan Dawson.
Tuesday, 25 September 2018
Autumn has arrived
Sunny, 16°, light S.
A light movement of Meadow Pipit and Skylark over the hill today with c60 & c40 respectively and a single Pied Wagtail.
A single Chiffchaff, 4 Reed Bunting, a Yellowhammer and 2 Kestrel on the hill. 2 Sparrowhawk noted and at least 4 Buzzard and 7 Red Kite present.
3 Corn Bunting on the walk out mixing with the flock of Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting and a Chiffchaff in song near the Bullshole.
A single Swallow over the garden this afternoon.
A Blackcap and a Reed Bunting in TW’s garden.
The “tail-less” Red Kite still around the village with several sightings recently. Per T&GW.
Dragonflies: 1 Southern Hawker and several Common Darter.
Butterflies: 1 Large White, 2 Small White, 1 Small Copper, 2 Red Admiral, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Peacock and 2 Speckled Wood.
A light movement of Meadow Pipit and Skylark over the hill today with c60 & c40 respectively and a single Pied Wagtail.
A single Chiffchaff, 4 Reed Bunting, a Yellowhammer and 2 Kestrel on the hill. 2 Sparrowhawk noted and at least 4 Buzzard and 7 Red Kite present.
3 Corn Bunting on the walk out mixing with the flock of Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting and a Chiffchaff in song near the Bullshole.
A single Swallow over the garden this afternoon.
A Blackcap and a Reed Bunting in TW’s garden.
The “tail-less” Red Kite still around the village with several sightings recently. Per T&GW.
Dragonflies: 1 Southern Hawker and several Common Darter.
Butterflies: 1 Large White, 2 Small White, 1 Small Copper, 2 Red Admiral, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Peacock and 2 Speckled Wood.
One of the Buzzards hunting over the hill and hovering looking for prey. Appeared to go down s few times to catch insects.
Kestrel hovering
Small Tortoiseshell
Monday, 24 September 2018
Little Egrets
The Little Egret I saw this afternoon on Cholsey Brook was 1 of 3 that were in a field on the other side of Church road.
Thanks to Richard Broughton for the info and to Marta Maziarz for the photos.
Odds & Sods
22nd – 23rd Sep
22nd Sep 19:40: A flock of Canada Geese flew over the garden and headed off west and 2 Egyptian Geese flew north.
2 Jay flew over the garden this morning and settled in the trees towards the Rec and a Mistle Thrush in the garden this morning.
A Little Egret flew on to Cholsey Brook in the meadow mid-afternoon.
It appears the local Swallows and House Martins have departed.
22nd Sep 19:40: A flock of Canada Geese flew over the garden and headed off west and 2 Egyptian Geese flew north.
2 Jay flew over the garden this morning and settled in the trees towards the Rec and a Mistle Thrush in the garden this morning.
A Little Egret flew on to Cholsey Brook in the meadow mid-afternoon.
It appears the local Swallows and House Martins have departed.
A couple of pics from Alan Dawson over the weekend.
Grey Heron
Red Admiral
Friday, 21 September 2018
Wheatears
Cloudy with a few sunny spells and squally showers, 15°, a gusty moderate to fresh SW.
3 Wheatear on the hill today keeping mainly to the areas of the Rabbit dugouts, 2 Kestrel also around the hill and a handful of House Martin and a single Swallow over.
Nearby around 8 Chiffchaff and singles of Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat.
An evening visit by a Sparrowhawk but no casualties today.
Dragonflies: 1 Migrant Hawker and 4 Common Darter.
Butterflies: 3 Large White, 1 Small White and 3 Speckled Wood.
3 Wheatear on the hill today keeping mainly to the areas of the Rabbit dugouts, 2 Kestrel also around the hill and a handful of House Martin and a single Swallow over.
Nearby around 8 Chiffchaff and singles of Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat.
An evening visit by a Sparrowhawk but no casualties today.
Dragonflies: 1 Migrant Hawker and 4 Common Darter.
Butterflies: 3 Large White, 1 Small White and 3 Speckled Wood.
Wheatear
Sparrowhawk
Wednesday, 19 September 2018
Wheatear & Whinchat
Cloudy with sunny spells, 21°, fresh SW.
Ventured out today not expecting much in the windy conditions. The hill was very windy, however 2 Wheatear and a Whinchat present, initially along the fence line. The Wheatear spent most of their time sheltering in Rabbit dugouts keeping out of the worst of the wind and I could not locate the Whinchat again.
11 House Martin and 4 Swallow over struggling against the wind and 5 Meadow Pipit.
Elsewhere, a Yellow Wagtail overhead, approx. 10 Chiffchaff (incl 1 singing at the Bullshole). Also several Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting and Jay nearby.
Butterflies: 5 Large White, 1 Small White, 1 Red Admiral and 6 Speckled Wood.
Ventured out today not expecting much in the windy conditions. The hill was very windy, however 2 Wheatear and a Whinchat present, initially along the fence line. The Wheatear spent most of their time sheltering in Rabbit dugouts keeping out of the worst of the wind and I could not locate the Whinchat again.
11 House Martin and 4 Swallow over struggling against the wind and 5 Meadow Pipit.
Elsewhere, a Yellow Wagtail overhead, approx. 10 Chiffchaff (incl 1 singing at the Bullshole). Also several Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting and Jay nearby.
Butterflies: 5 Large White, 1 Small White, 1 Red Admiral and 6 Speckled Wood.
Wheatear
Wheatear & Whinchat
Whinchat
Garden Spider (courtesy Alan Dawson)
New Bees on the Block
The Ivy Bee was first recorded in the UK in 2001 and is now found in Southern England and Wales.
As their name suggests they feed and collect Ivy pollen and nectar on Ivy flowers.
The males emerge in late August and the females later in early September. The females are quite a bit larger than the males and the male’s only task in life is to mate!
The males will cluster around the female until one has mated then all fly off.
The Bees will be on the wing until mid-November if weather conditions are right.
They are solitary bees but in suitable conditions they will nest in large colonies in sandy or similar soil.
The males Bees do not have a sting and the females an ineffective one likened to a nettle sting.
The Bees were noticed by Alan Dawson today in Cholsey and the following photos were taken by Alan.
As their name suggests they feed and collect Ivy pollen and nectar on Ivy flowers.
The males emerge in late August and the females later in early September. The females are quite a bit larger than the males and the male’s only task in life is to mate!
The males will cluster around the female until one has mated then all fly off.
The Bees will be on the wing until mid-November if weather conditions are right.
They are solitary bees but in suitable conditions they will nest in large colonies in sandy or similar soil.
The males Bees do not have a sting and the females an ineffective one likened to a nettle sting.
The Bees were noticed by Alan Dawson today in Cholsey and the following photos were taken by Alan.
Under all the cluster of Bees is a female as can be seen in some photos!
Tuesday, 18 September 2018
Sparrowhawk strikes again
Cloudy and windy, 22°, moderate to fresh SW.
Noticed a Sparrowhawk around the garden this afternoon sitting in one of the trees above the feeders and about 10 minutes later he struck.
A case of you feed the birds you feed them all!
Monday, 17 September 2018
Raven & Red Kite
Cloudy at first then brighter, 21°, breezy SSW.
Fairly quiet on the hill today with 123 House Martin over in a 1 hour period, 3 Meadow Pipit and a Skylark.
A Raven being mobbed by a Red Kite but it did not seem to deter the Raven that spent a good couple of minutes over the hill before flying off to the south east.
Elsewhere, 1 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 3 Reed Bunting and approx. 12 Yellowhammer.
Dragonflies: 1 Southern Hawker and 5 Common Darter.
Butterflies: a handful of Large White and Small White, 1 Green-veined White and 3 Speckled Wood.
Fairly quiet on the hill today with 123 House Martin over in a 1 hour period, 3 Meadow Pipit and a Skylark.
A Raven being mobbed by a Red Kite but it did not seem to deter the Raven that spent a good couple of minutes over the hill before flying off to the south east.
Elsewhere, 1 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 3 Reed Bunting and approx. 12 Yellowhammer.
Dragonflies: 1 Southern Hawker and 5 Common Darter.
Butterflies: a handful of Large White and Small White, 1 Green-veined White and 3 Speckled Wood.
Raven & Red Kite
Speckled Wood
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