A couple of pics from Alan today.
House Martin & a White-legged Damselfly.
Tuesday, 31 May 2022
Monday, 30 May 2022
A
Cloudy with the odd sunny spell, 14°, light SSW.
Between 40-50 Swift and up to 20 House Martin and the odd Swallow feeding over Lollingdon Hill for a time, they seemed to be moving ahead of the rain clouds that were passing further south with the birds eventually moving off north.
A couple of Corn Bunting present and the usual Common Whitethroat and Blackcap on the hill and a Yellow Wagtail flew over.
Nearby a Little Owl, a vocal Jay and a couple more Yellow Wagtail.
Most frequent songsters today were Yellowhammer and Common Whitethroat followed closely by Blackcap and Chiffchaff with singles of Reed Bunting and Lesser Whitethroat.
River/Bunk: Grey Wagtail, several House Martin, Swallow and Swift, Yellow Wagtail plus the usual Warblers.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Dragonflies: Black-tailed Skimmer.
Butterflies: Common Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood and Meadow Brown.
Paul & Alan.
Between 40-50 Swift and up to 20 House Martin and the odd Swallow feeding over Lollingdon Hill for a time, they seemed to be moving ahead of the rain clouds that were passing further south with the birds eventually moving off north.
A couple of Corn Bunting present and the usual Common Whitethroat and Blackcap on the hill and a Yellow Wagtail flew over.
Nearby a Little Owl, a vocal Jay and a couple more Yellow Wagtail.
Most frequent songsters today were Yellowhammer and Common Whitethroat followed closely by Blackcap and Chiffchaff with singles of Reed Bunting and Lesser Whitethroat.
River/Bunk: Grey Wagtail, several House Martin, Swallow and Swift, Yellow Wagtail plus the usual Warblers.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Dragonflies: Black-tailed Skimmer.
Butterflies: Common Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood and Meadow Brown.
Paul & Alan.
Jackdaws have sussed out the nut feeders
Sunday, 29 May 2022
Quiet times locally
Mainly cloudy, 14°, light N.
Have not got out much this week but Alan has been out most days.
Little change birdwise as most if not all our summer visitors are in now.
A few Gulls still hanging around with 2 Herring Gull, up to 10 Black-headed Gull and the odd Lesser Blackback Gull.
Alan added a few new insects for the year, Common Blue Damselfly, White-legged Damselfly, Broad-bodied Chaser and Blue Emperor.
Have not got out much this week but Alan has been out most days.
Little change birdwise as most if not all our summer visitors are in now.
A few Gulls still hanging around with 2 Herring Gull, up to 10 Black-headed Gull and the odd Lesser Blackback Gull.
Alan added a few new insects for the year, Common Blue Damselfly, White-legged Damselfly, Broad-bodied Chaser and Blue Emperor.
All Dragons courtesy Alan Dawson
Friday, 20 May 2022
A damp one
Rain early then sunny spells, 16°, breezy SW,
An afternoon start for both today to avoid the morning rain.
Both the Bunk line and Marsh/River covered.
A lot of House Martin noted today with around 100 birds plus a good number of Swift and Swallow and a Hobby seen by Alan along the Bunk.
A few Gulls still around with 7 Lesser Blackback moving north and 4 Black-headed still hanging around.
No change as far as the rest goes.
Dragonflies: Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly. Red-eyed Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly.
Butterflies: Large Skipper, Brimstone, Small White, Common Blue, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood and Small Heath.
An afternoon start for both today to avoid the morning rain.
Both the Bunk line and Marsh/River covered.
A lot of House Martin noted today with around 100 birds plus a good number of Swift and Swallow and a Hobby seen by Alan along the Bunk.
A few Gulls still around with 7 Lesser Blackback moving north and 4 Black-headed still hanging around.
No change as far as the rest goes.
Dragonflies: Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly. Red-eyed Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly.
Butterflies: Large Skipper, Brimstone, Small White, Common Blue, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood and Small Heath.
Large Skipper courtesy Alan
Red-eyed Damselfly courtesy Alan
Wednesday, 18 May 2022
Painted Ladies
Sunny intervals, 19°, light S.
Appear to have a small influx of Painted Lady butterflies. With 1 in the garden yesterday and another at Bow Bridge (per JD) and 3 today out at Lollingdon and Alan had at least 1 more along the river.
A Hairy Dragonfly out at Lollingdon today as well, first one I recall out there.
The hill was fairly quiet birdwise, the usual Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff.
Nearby a Great-spotted Woodpecker nest with young, a Little Owl, 3-4 Yellow Wagtail and a Lesser Whitethroat.
River/Marsh: A Lesser Whitethroat plus the regulars.
Mammals: Brown Hare & Roe Deer.
Dragonflies: Beautiful Demoiselle, Banded Demoiselle, Azure Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Hairy Dragonfly, Club-tailed Dragonfly and Four-spotted Chaser.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Green-veined White, Small Blue, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock & Speckled Wood.
Alan & Paul.
Appear to have a small influx of Painted Lady butterflies. With 1 in the garden yesterday and another at Bow Bridge (per JD) and 3 today out at Lollingdon and Alan had at least 1 more along the river.
A Hairy Dragonfly out at Lollingdon today as well, first one I recall out there.
The hill was fairly quiet birdwise, the usual Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff.
Nearby a Great-spotted Woodpecker nest with young, a Little Owl, 3-4 Yellow Wagtail and a Lesser Whitethroat.
River/Marsh: A Lesser Whitethroat plus the regulars.
Mammals: Brown Hare & Roe Deer.
Dragonflies: Beautiful Demoiselle, Banded Demoiselle, Azure Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Hairy Dragonfly, Club-tailed Dragonfly and Four-spotted Chaser.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Green-veined White, Small Blue, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock & Speckled Wood.
Alan & Paul.
Painted Lady
Yellow Wagtail
Great-spotted Woodpecker (f) delivering food.
Azure Damselfly courtesy Alan
Roe Deer courtesy Alan
Small Blue courtesy Alan
Tuesday, 17 May 2022
Just about the garden
Sunny, 24°, light SSE.
Just about the garden today as I spent some time just pottering about and tidying a few bits.
The Rook squad come in early along with a few Jackdaw and decimate the bird feeders whilst the Mallard flotilla and the Stock Dove posse wait underneath and clean up the copious spillage.
The Great Tit brood has fledged with at least 2 young and the Blue Tit family are still feeding young.
A few songsters in or near the garden include, a Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Wren and Chiffchaff. A male Great-spotted Woodpecker made a brief visit.
And just looking up watching Swift, Swallow and House Martin wheeling and feeding overhead and alarm calling every time a Red Kite drifted over.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Small White, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Painted Lady and Peacock.
Tony Rayner left me a message today: he had his moth trap out last night and when he opened it up this morning 2 Great Tit flew out. Obviously tempted by a moth breakfast!
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Just about the garden today as I spent some time just pottering about and tidying a few bits.
The Rook squad come in early along with a few Jackdaw and decimate the bird feeders whilst the Mallard flotilla and the Stock Dove posse wait underneath and clean up the copious spillage.
The Great Tit brood has fledged with at least 2 young and the Blue Tit family are still feeding young.
A few songsters in or near the garden include, a Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Wren and Chiffchaff. A male Great-spotted Woodpecker made a brief visit.
And just looking up watching Swift, Swallow and House Martin wheeling and feeding overhead and alarm calling every time a Red Kite drifted over.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Small White, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Painted Lady and Peacock.
Tony Rayner left me a message today: he had his moth trap out last night and when he opened it up this morning 2 Great Tit flew out. Obviously tempted by a moth breakfast!
Rook ↕
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Stock Dove
Jackdaw
Mallard
New Bug Hotel
Monday, 16 May 2022
No change
Mainly cloudy, 19°, light to breezy SW.
No great changes out along the Bunk line and River/Marsh area today.
We seem to have lost one of our Kestrel pair as the male was found dead by RB on the bypass at the week end and no sign of the female today at the usual site. A sad loss.
However there was a Kestrel hunting at the village end of the Bunk line.
A few Yellow Wagtail around, a couple of Green Woodpecker, the usual songsters and several Swift and Swallow plus a couple of House Martin prospecting around Church Road.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Small White and Orange Tip.
Alan & Paul.
No great changes out along the Bunk line and River/Marsh area today.
We seem to have lost one of our Kestrel pair as the male was found dead by RB on the bypass at the week end and no sign of the female today at the usual site. A sad loss.
However there was a Kestrel hunting at the village end of the Bunk line.
A few Yellow Wagtail around, a couple of Green Woodpecker, the usual songsters and several Swift and Swallow plus a couple of House Martin prospecting around Church Road.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Small White and Orange Tip.
Alan & Paul.
Yellow Wagtail
Greylag
Banded Demoiselle
Green Woodpecker
Kestrel
Blue-tailed Damselfly courtesy Alan
Four-spotted Chaser courtesy Alan
Great-spotted Woodpecker
Common Whitethroat courtesy Alan
Friday, 13 May 2022
Ditto
Cloudy at first then brighter, 15°, breezy SW.
Very little change along the Bunk line today. Plenty of Swift around and a good number of Swallow but no House Martin noted.
A couple of Black-headed Gull and the usual Warblers and Buntings in song. A flock of c40 Linnet and Goldfinch feeding on Dandelion seed heads.
The River/Marsh has settled down birdwise and has become somewhat static as it usually does at this time of year. A Lesser Whitethroat still in song.
Insectwise the area is waking up:
Dragonflies: Beautiful Demoiselle & Club-tailed Dragonfly.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Orange Tip, Small White, Green-veined White, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock & Speckled Wood.
Alan & Paul.
Very little change along the Bunk line today. Plenty of Swift around and a good number of Swallow but no House Martin noted.
A couple of Black-headed Gull and the usual Warblers and Buntings in song. A flock of c40 Linnet and Goldfinch feeding on Dandelion seed heads.
The River/Marsh has settled down birdwise and has become somewhat static as it usually does at this time of year. A Lesser Whitethroat still in song.
Insectwise the area is waking up:
Dragonflies: Beautiful Demoiselle & Club-tailed Dragonfly.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Orange Tip, Small White, Green-veined White, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock & Speckled Wood.
Alan & Paul.
Beautiful Demoiselle ↕ courtesy Alan
Grey Wagtail courtesy Alan
Common Clubtail courtesy Alan
Banana Cockroach courtesy Bill Nicholls
Thursday, 12 May 2022
Bunk & River
Sunny periods, 16°, breezy SW.
Bunk line and River/Marsh covered today and the warmer weather is more amiable for larger insects.
Birdwise: a good number of Swift around now with most of the local population in as well as passage birds passing thru. Plus, good numbers of Swallow and House Martin.
A Lesser Whitethroat, Treecreeper along the Bunk and a Cormorant over. No change otherwise.
River/Marsh very much the same as well.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Dragonflies: Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Club-tailed Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser and a Common Darter.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Speckled Wood and Small Heath.
Bunk line and River/Marsh covered today and the warmer weather is more amiable for larger insects.
Birdwise: a good number of Swift around now with most of the local population in as well as passage birds passing thru. Plus, good numbers of Swallow and House Martin.
A Lesser Whitethroat, Treecreeper along the Bunk and a Cormorant over. No change otherwise.
River/Marsh very much the same as well.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Dragonflies: Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Club-tailed Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser and a Common Darter.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Speckled Wood and Small Heath.
Treecreeper
Azure Damselfly courtesy Alan
Large Red Damselfly courtesy Alan
Wednesday, 11 May 2022
Whinchat
Light rain, 13°, breezy SSW, brighter later.
Lollingdon was rather quiet today, not surprising given the weather.
However, there was a lot of song, with Skylark, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, 3 Thrush species and the other regulars.
A flock of 20+ House Martin and a handful of Swallow passed thru.
Alan was near the Gravel pit and found a cracking female Whinchat, which I managed to go and see later in the day.
During the rain earlier there were approx. 50 Swift over the gravel pits plus several Swallow and House Martin. And the Greenshank was still present.
Good numbers of young Starling being seen and heard.
Lollingdon was rather quiet today, not surprising given the weather.
However, there was a lot of song, with Skylark, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, 3 Thrush species and the other regulars.
A flock of 20+ House Martin and a handful of Swallow passed thru.
Alan was near the Gravel pit and found a cracking female Whinchat, which I managed to go and see later in the day.
During the rain earlier there were approx. 50 Swift over the gravel pits plus several Swallow and House Martin. And the Greenshank was still present.
Good numbers of young Starling being seen and heard.
Whinchat
Tuesday, 10 May 2022
Waders
A few rain showers then sunny, 15°. Light WSW.
A couple of good waders at the Gravel pit this morning in the shape of a Whimbrel and a Greenshank.
The Whimbrel was only present for a short time having been spooked by a digger and then flew off north.
The Greenshank fortunately stayed in time for Alan to get there. For the record this appears to be the first occurrence for c40 years in Cholsey.
Also present, Little Ringed Plover, 12 Tufted Duck, a Black-headed Gull. Several Canada Geese, a couple of Yellow Wagtail and a few Swallow overhead.
A few more Swift overhead in the village today.
Photos have been heavily cropped as the bird was always distant.
Greenshank courtesy Alan
Greenshank ↕
Canada Goose with 5 young
Yellow Wagtail & Little Ringed Plover
Whimbrel courtesy Alan, taken at Little Wittenham April 22nd.
Monday, 9 May 2022
Cholsey Marsh & a few Swift arrive
Some sunshine, 16°, light S.
An early visit to the Marsh this morning for a dawn chorus. Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler and an assortment of other songsters.
The 3 Geese species, 2 Kingfisher, a Cormorant, several Swallow, a Grey Wagtail, a Kestrel, a Grey Heron plus a few others.
Alan visited a bit later and added a flock of 20+ House Martin.
2 Swift high over Church Road late afternoon and 3 Swift over Cholsey Meadows..
Mammals: Roe Deer & Muntjac Deer.
Dragonflies: Club-tailed Dragonfly & Four-spot Chaser.
Butterflies: none early morning but Alan had a few species later. The first Small Heath of the year found by Alan yesterday.
An early visit to the Marsh this morning for a dawn chorus. Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler and an assortment of other songsters.
The 3 Geese species, 2 Kingfisher, a Cormorant, several Swallow, a Grey Wagtail, a Kestrel, a Grey Heron plus a few others.
Alan visited a bit later and added a flock of 20+ House Martin.
2 Swift high over Church Road late afternoon and 3 Swift over Cholsey Meadows..
Mammals: Roe Deer & Muntjac Deer.
Dragonflies: Club-tailed Dragonfly & Four-spot Chaser.
Butterflies: none early morning but Alan had a few species later. The first Small Heath of the year found by Alan yesterday.
A few photos from the weekend and today.
Greylag Goose with one young
Small Heath courtesy Alan
Garden Warbler courtesy Alan
Grey Wagtail courtesy Alan
Four-spot Chaser courtesy Alan
Great-spot
Blackbird
Orange Tip (M&F) courtesy Alan
Large Red Damselfly courtesy Alan
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