A cold end to April

Mainly cloudy again, 11°, light NE.

Both out today in various spots around Cholsey.

Gravel Pit and Bunk line: 2 Little Ringed Plover, c20 Swallow, 8+ House Martin, 2+ Yellow Wagtail, a Lesser Blackback Gull (has a dodgy wing, can fly but not too far), 6 Pied Wagtail and 6 Tufted Duck.

Nearby, several Blackcap, 2 Common Whitethroat.

River/Marsh: no change, Reed and Sedge Warbler all present.

Both Ring Ouzel and a Redwing still present.

Butterflies: despite the cool weather: 2 Small White, a Red Admiral and a Peacock.

First Swifts

Mainly cloudy, 14°, light NE.

Bunk line to the Gravel pit today. A trickle of Hirundines passing thru, c50 Swallow, 9 House Martin and my first Swift of the year.

2 Little Ringed Plover, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Canada Geese, a Greylag Goose, 2 Black-headed Gull. 2 Herring Gull, a Lesser Blackback Gull, 2 Yellow Wagtail and 6 Pied Wagtail.

Several Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Common Whitethroat.

A pair of Kestrel seen mating so will presumably breed nearby and scanning the 360° horizon I counted over 50 Red Kite in the air at various altitudes plus a handful of Buzzard.

Alan covered the River/Marsh area in the morning with the usual and then had another Swift over Cholsey Meadows this afternoon along with some Swallow and House Martin and a Lapwing.

Mammals: Brown Hare.

Butterflies: singles of Small White & Peacock.

Linnet

Church Road Swallows ↕

Cooler

Cloudy, 11°, light NE.

The colder weather seems to have put the brakes on migration locally at the moment.

The 2 Ring Ouzel, Fieldfare and Redwing all still present out at Lollingdon probably waiting for better weather to continue their northward journey.

Lollingdon Hill still relatively quiet, Corn Bunting, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Linnet, Blackcap and Common Whitethroat in the vicinity and a Little Owl seen nearby. Plus 2 Raven overhead.

The River and Marsh area produced the usual Sedge and Reed Warbler, a Nuthatch, 2 Kingfisher and a couple of Swallow.

Mammals: Brown Hare.

Paul & Alan.

Reed Bunting

Corn Bunting

Yellowhammer

Ring Ouzel courtesy Alan

Large Red Damselfly (from yesterday) courtesy Alan

Ouzels still present

Sunshine, 14°, light NNE.

The 2 Ring Ouzel still present out at Lollingdon along with the Fieldfare and Redwing.

The Gravel pit today, 3 Little Ringed Plover, a couple of Egyptian Geese, 4 Canada Geese, 6 Tufted Duck, 3 Mallard plus Hirundines passing thru, c10 Swallow, 4 House Martin and a Sand Martin.

2 Lapwing over and a couple of Yellow Wagtail and 5-6 Pied Wagtail.

Little Owl nearby and the regular Warblers and Yellowhammer present.

A couple of Swallow back in the Church Road area.

The river from the 4-Arches to Bow produced the regular that has been noted over the last week.

Mammals: Brown Hare.

Dragonflies: Large Red Damselfly.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Peacock & Speckled Wood.

Alan & Paul.

Photos courtesy Alan

Ring Ouzel (M)  

Sedge Warbler

Ring Ouzels

Sunny periods, 14°, light NNE.

A nice find by Tony Williams of a pair of Ring Ouzel out at Lollingdon today and singles of Fieldfare and Redwing associating with them.

6 species of Thrush in one field with Blackbird, Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush added to the mix.

Alan got there shortly after and also had 2 Raven over Lollingdon Hill and I made it mid-afternoon.

Earlier in the day Alan was out along the river, with Cetti’s Warbler, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff etc.

I made it out earlier along the Bunk to the Gravel pit, 2 Sand Martin, up to 5 House Martin, c10 Swallow, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 8 Tufted Duck, a Grey Wagtail, 2-3 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtail, a Kestrel, several Yellowhammer, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat and a Garden Warbler.

Sparrowhawk visiting garden again.

Mammals: Brown Hare.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Small White, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Speckled Wood.

Ring Ouzel pics (M & F) last 3 courtesy Alan

A cool one

Cloudy, 11°, breezy NE.

Another breezy day and cooler than of late and no butterflies noted.

Alan had an early walk along the river and just the usual stuff present.

Later we both ventured out along the Bunk line where Alan found 2 Lesser Whitethroat that disappeared before I arrived.

2 Little Ringed Plover at the Gravel pit still and up to 20 Swallow on and off and at least a couple of House Martin feeding over the area.

The ever present Tufted Duck and Canada Geese plus 3 Black-headed Gull and a single Lesser Blackback Gull.

A second visit later in the by Alan added Yellow Wagtail to the tally.

Completely forgot about this! This afternoon while driving back from Wallingford I heard a Cuckoo near the brook on the other side of Cholsey Hill.  

Mammals: Brown Hare.

Chiffchaff courtesy Alan

A bit of a lull

Sunny intervals, 18°, breezy ENE.

Nothing much on Lollingdon Hill this morning with a fresh breeze blowing across the hill.

A single Raven flew south and the usual Corvids, Red Kite and the odd Buzzard present.

Elsewhere, a Little Owl, good numbers of Blackcap now in and approx. 50% of Common Whitethroat so far.

Alan visited the River/Marsh: Cetti’s Warbler, Reed Warbler (nos up), Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler Etc.

Tony Rayner had a lone Swallow a few days ago and a Sedge Warbler near the Caps Lane and Wallingford junction.

9 butterfly species in the garden today including my first Small Tortoiseshell of the year.

Am putting the moth trap out tonight. Have had some good species already including Oak Beauty and Dotted Chestnut and Brindled Beauty.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Small White, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Speckled Wood.

Buzzard courtesy Alan

Unknown grub/caterpillar courtesy Ben (awaiting ID)

Summer visitors arriving

Cloudy with sunny intervals, 18°, breezy NE.

Bunk line/ Gravel pit today: up to 5 House Martin, 2 Swallow, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Lapwing flew north, singles of Herring Gull, Lesser Blackback Gull and Black-headed Gull, a couple of Yellow Wagtail, 4 Canada Geese, 6 Tufted Duck and 3 Mallard.

Elsewhere, 4 Lapwing, several Yellowhammer, Blackcap and Common Whitethroat.

Alan out briefly later in the day along the river, a Willow Warbler of note and all the usuals in the area.

Mammals: Brown Hare.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Small White, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Speckled Wood.

Thames/Marsh/Bunk Line

Mainly sunny again, 16°, light W.

Alan out along the River/Marsh this morning and the first Reed Warbler of the year. Other warblers were Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler.

Plus, Water Rail.

I took a walk along the Bunk line to the Gravel pit: 2 Little Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Lesser Blackback Gull, a single Black-headed Gull, 10 Tufted Duck, 4 Canada Geese and 2 Mallard and 3 House Martin over.

Green Lane had several Blackcap and Common Whitethroat and heard and saw an Oystercatcher flying over the gravel pit heading south east and whilst watching that caught sight of a bird in a hedgerow that turned out to be a Common Redstart.

Elsewhere a Little Owl, a Kestrel, several Yellowhammer, Chiffchaff and 2 Swallow over CSW.

Alan did the Bunk line later in the day and added 3 Swallow and 4-5 more Yellow Wagtail to todays tally.

Mammals: Brown Hare & Roe Deer.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Small White, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Speckled Wood.

Grasshopper Warbler courtesy Alan (Benson)

Grebes and a touch of the Tropical

Mainly sunny, 18°, light S.

Not a lot to report today. Just a pair of Great Crested Grebe on the river that appeared to be moving through.

And quite bizarrely a report of 2 Blue and Yellow Macaw flying over Station Road by a colleague of Richard Broughton’s.

Apparently seen the following day in Ewelme then Lewknor.  

Must have been quite a sight to see. A native of tropical South America popular with aviculturists.

A few butterflies in the garden today, Brimstone, Small White & Holly Blue and a Green-veined White seen by Alan.

Green-veined courtesy Alan

Great Crested Grebe courtesy Alan

Common Whitethroat courtesy Alan

First Dragon of the year

Mainly sunny, 18°, light ESE.

The first Dragonfly of the year found by Alan today, a *Large Red Damselfly along the River. Birdwise: Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler & Water Rail.

Common Sandpiper at the gravel pit still. Per Paul Rainsden.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Small White, *Green-veined White, Orange Tip, *Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma & Speckled Wood.

Large Red Damselfly courtesy Alan

A warm one

Mainly sunny, 20°, light SSW.

Appears to have been an arrival of Sedge Warbler overnight as Alan counted quite a few along the River/Marsh this morning along with several Chiffchaff and Blackcap and a Common Whitethroat.

I took a hike out to Lollingdon. Although reasonably quiet there was a Willow Warbler in song on the Hill along with a Common Whitethroat, several Chiffchaff and Blackcap.

Another Common Whitethroat noted at Little Lollingdon plus the usual Yellowhammer, Linnet and 3 Reed Bunting, etc.

Alan visited the Gravel pit later in the day: 4 Little Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Yellow Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail and a Lapwing.

Mammals: Brown Hare, Roe Deer & Muntjac in garden again.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Small White, Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma and Speckled Wood.

Common Whitethroat

A pair of Crows collecting nest material

One of several Yellowhammer present

Common Sandpiper courtesy Alan

Lapwing courtesy Alan

Muntjac taken a liking to the Tulips in the garden.

A few migrants and LRP's protected - we hope.

Mainly cloudy, 16°, light SSW.

Managed to get out today so a walk along the Bunk line was in order and Alan out along the Marsh/River.

Firstly, a Willow Warbler singing in the small wood by the school was a good start followed by a Tawny Owl hooting near the brook.

Up at the gravel pit were 10 Tufted Duck, 3, poss 4 *Little Ringed Plover, 2 Mallard and singles of Black-headed Gull and Lesser Blackback Gull.

A good number of Yellowhammer, Blackcap and Chiffchaff in song today, plus another Willow Warbler at CSW, 2 Jay, 2 Green Woodpecker, a Common Whitethroat, Green Lane, Little Owl, Kestrel and a Yellow Wagtail flew over towards Cholsey Hill.

The River/Marsh: Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Cetti’s Warbler, Water Rail, Swallow and Grey Wagtail.

Late afternoon at the Gravel Pit were 3 Yellow Wagtail, 10 Tufted Duck still, a single Lesser Blackback Gull and 2 Little Ringed Plover.

Mammals: Brown Hare.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Small White, Orange Tip, Peacock, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral.

*Alan had a meeting yesterday with the site supervisor at the Gravel Pit in Cholsey regarding the potential breeding of at least one pair of Little Ringed Plover.

Grundon’s (who work the pit) site supervisor was very accommodating regarding the bird’s presence and stated that the area they were frequenting would be left alone.

We will continue to monitor the progress of the LRP’s throughout their stay at this site.

If successful this will be the first record of LRP’s breeding in the parish.

These birds are protected by the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and thank you to Grundon’s for assisting in this and to Alan for being alert to the situation.

Little Ringed Plover(s)

Yellow Wagtail ↕ courtesy Alan

Possible Great Egret

Mainly cloudy, 16°, light SW.

A couple of weeks ago we had a report from 2 people of an Egret with an orange bill out along the “Long Ditch”. Alan subsequently checked it out but it had gone.

We obviously speculated that it was either a Great Egret or a Cattle Egret as both are present in Oxfordshire. Given the location it was more likely to be a Great Egret.

Today a post was put on the Facebook page of a Great Egret near Blewbury. (The post was removed as it was not in Cholsey), however it does throw up the probability that the Cholsey bird was a Great Egret and is still in the area. So worth keeping an eye out for it in Cholsey as it would be only the 2nd record of that species in the parish.

Also, worth keeping an eye out for Cattle Egret as they bred in the county for the first-time last year and have been seen in several locations. They usually frequent areas with livestock present.

Meanwhile Alan has been out today covering the Marsh, Lollingdon, Bunk line etc.

Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Water Rail, Skylark, Corn Bunting, Stonechat (m), Little Owl, Herring Gull plus the usual.

Mammals: Brown Hare & a Stoat near Cholsey Hill.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell & Peacock.

Orange Tip  ↕ courtesy Alan

Brown Hare courtesy Alan

Stonechat courtesy Alan

Egret collage: Little (top), Cattle (left). Great (right)

A trickle

A few light showers and sunny spells, 16°, light SSW.

Alan out today and covered a fair bit of the parish.

The marsh produced our first Sedge Warbler of the year plus Blackcap, Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff and Water Rail.

Male and female Blackcap along the Bunk line, 2 Herring Gull and 2 Tufted Duck on the Gravel pit.

Several Corn Bunting along Westfield Road then later 2 Swallow feeding over the Gravel pit plus a Little Owl nearby

A Muntjac Deer visited the garden again.

Muntjac Deer

Corn Bunting courtesy Alan

Not a lot

Sunny spells, 16°, breezy SE.

Very quiet locally with most areas covered and a complete lack of migrants noted.

Only summer visitors noted today were Chiffchaff and Blackcap.

Skylark quite prominent and song flight heard in most areas and several Yellowhammer and Linnet along the hedgerows.

Water Rail on the marsh and 2 Lapwing over.

Mammals: Brown Hare and Roe Deer.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Small White, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Comma.

Insects: Dotted Bee-fly.

Chiffchaff

Dotted Bee-fly courtesy Alan