Monday, 17 August 2020

Peregrines take the day.

Cloudy with a few sunny spells and the odd rain shower, 22°, light SSW.

A mixed weather day with a few thunderstorms rumbling by at a distance.

On arriving out at Lollingdon there were a good number of House Martin perched on the wires over the cattle field. I counted up to 63 before a Kite flew over and they all took off. Impossible to count from then on so 60+ was a good number but maybe up to 80?

A Common Redstart, Willow Warbler, 3 Yellowhammer and 5 Kestrel on the hill today. With a max of 3 Buzzard and 8 Red Kite soaring overhead most of the time.

2 Raven flew south to the west of the hill.

A couple of Blackcap, a Common Whitethroat and several Chiffchaff around the north of the hill and a couple of Yellow Wagtail flew over the cattle field.

As I was passing thru some trees on the way back I heard a commotion overhead and a Buzzard burst thru the trees followed by 3 Falcons.

I managed to get a good view of 2 of the Falcons and they were Peregrines and I am assuming the 3rd was also a Peregrine.

They wheeled around back over the trees and disappeared from view. I cleared the trees to try and take a further look and saw 1 of the Peregrines flying off to the east. That was it, all took place in a matter of less than a minute.

Found the Buzzard a little later perched up in a tree but no further sign of the Falcons.

Alan managed to get out today: Family of Yellow Wagtail, Common Sandpiper x2, Peregrine Falcon, Good numbers of Swallow passing through, Red Admirals and lots of Speckled Wood and a Southern Hawker +.

(2 Peregrine Falcon reported high over Cholsey School this afternoon).

Looks as though Peregrines were doing the grand tour of Cholsey 😀

Two of the local Grey Wagtail still frequenting the garden.

Mammals: Brown Hare.

Dragonflies: Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker and Common Darter.

Butterflies: 1 Brimstone, several Large White and Small White, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Peacock and several each of Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown.

Some of the House Martins


Southern Hawker
Small Heath from yesterday (courtesy Alan)

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