Catchup

A bit of a catchup as I have been unable to get out recently due to eye surgery so have been relying on others. My vision will be limited for another month or so but I still have one good eye and hope to be getting out from next week.

Thanks to, Alan, Tony W, Richard B and others for their observations.

The mild weather at the turn of the month brought out a flurry of butterflies with Brimstone in the ascendency. Also noted in much fewer numbers were Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Comma.

Buff-tailed Bumble Bee also made an appearance joining the worker Honey Bees on available flowers.

The first Merlin of the year noted by RB on the 28th Feb.

Alan has been out and about most days and Tony W less frequently.

They have recorded a Cetti’s Warbler in good voice at Cholsey Marsh and the odd wintering Chiffchaff in song.

Also, Water Rail, Grey Wagtail, Siskin, Little Owl, Treecreeper, Kingfisher, Little Grebe, Raven, Herring Gull, Little Egret and Teal along with all the usual suspects. Still good numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing present.

And a regular female Brambling being seen in a garden. Per MA.

The first Oxfordshire Sand Martin was seen at Farmoor on the 3rd March.

We can probably expect the first Swallow by the end of the month and House Martin by the middle of April. The first Swift usually arrives around the 5th May.

All this does depend on weather conditions and they are sometimes early sometimes late!

The first fall of Warblers (Chiffchaff) have been noted on the south coast today and numbers of local birds are becoming territorial with Rook, Mistle Thrush, Collared Dove and Tawny Owl in the midst of their breeding cycle, a Robin nest building and a Blue Tit collecting nesting material.

Blackbird, Song Thrush, Wren and Treecreeper in song, to name a few and Great-spotted Woodpecker drumming out their territories.

All photos courtesy Alan Dawson.

Brimstone

Siskin

Little Grebe

Herring Gull