Overcast, 19°, light NNW.
Goosander flew upriver and 2 Cuckoo Cholsey Marsh. Per MP.
Great White Egret flew north near Westfield rd. Per AD.
Sunday 30 June 2024
Friday 28 June 2024
River
Mainly cloudy, 19°, breezy SW.
River area: Per Alan. Swallow, Swift, Yellow Wagtail family, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Sparrowhawk and Reed Bunting.
Dragonflies: Emperor, Four-spotted Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Broad-bodied Chaser, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly and Small Red-eyed Damselfly.
Butterflies: Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small Heath, Common Blue, Small Skipper and Green-veined White.
Other Insects: Scarlet Tiger Moth and Roesel’s Bush-cricket.
River area: Per Alan. Swallow, Swift, Yellow Wagtail family, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Sparrowhawk and Reed Bunting.
Dragonflies: Emperor, Four-spotted Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Broad-bodied Chaser, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly and Small Red-eyed Damselfly.
Butterflies: Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small Heath, Common Blue, Small Skipper and Green-veined White.
Other Insects: Scarlet Tiger Moth and Roesel’s Bush-cricket.
Roesel's Bush Cricket
Four-spot Chaser
Marbled White
Scarlet Tiger
Yellow Wagtail
Bunk
Mainly cloudy, 19°, breezy SW.
Pretty quiet along Bunk line today apart from a period mid-afternoon when Hirundines started passing through.
Over a period of just over an hour I counted 70+ Swallow (incl young birds), 20+ House Martin and 6 Sand Martin all moving purposefully in a southerly direction. This also included approx. 40 Swift.
Other than that it was somewhat quiet with bird song greatly diminished although usual regulars still visibly evident.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Beautiful Demoiselle, Azure Damselfly and Common Blue Damselfly.
Butterflies: Large Skipper, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Comma, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Small Heath.
Pretty quiet along Bunk line today apart from a period mid-afternoon when Hirundines started passing through.
Over a period of just over an hour I counted 70+ Swallow (incl young birds), 20+ House Martin and 6 Sand Martin all moving purposefully in a southerly direction. This also included approx. 40 Swift.
Other than that it was somewhat quiet with bird song greatly diminished although usual regulars still visibly evident.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Beautiful Demoiselle, Azure Damselfly and Common Blue Damselfly.
Butterflies: Large Skipper, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Comma, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Small Heath.
Green-veined White
Swollen-thighed Beetle
Wednesday 26 June 2024
Lolligdon
Wall to wall sunshine, 29°, light SW.
Lollingdon: 2 Lesser Whitethroat in song, that makes a minimum of 4 so far in the parish this June. 5-6 Common Whitethroat, 7 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, a Sedge Warbler, Corn Bunting, 2 Reed Bunting, 6 Yellowhammer and again, several Swallow, House Martin and Swift hawking overhead. A few family parties of Swallow.
Mammals: Brown Hare and a possible Water Vole.
Dragonflies: both Banded and Beautiful Demoiselle.
Butterflies: low numbers generally but good numbers of Meadow Brown and Marbled White, a couple of Large White, a Red Admiral, 2 Common Blue and a Brown Argus.
Lollingdon: 2 Lesser Whitethroat in song, that makes a minimum of 4 so far in the parish this June. 5-6 Common Whitethroat, 7 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, a Sedge Warbler, Corn Bunting, 2 Reed Bunting, 6 Yellowhammer and again, several Swallow, House Martin and Swift hawking overhead. A few family parties of Swallow.
Mammals: Brown Hare and a possible Water Vole.
Dragonflies: both Banded and Beautiful Demoiselle.
Butterflies: low numbers generally but good numbers of Meadow Brown and Marbled White, a couple of Large White, a Red Admiral, 2 Common Blue and a Brown Argus.
River
Sunshine, 29°, light SW.
River area, courtesy Alan. Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Lesser Whitethroat, Swallow, Swift, Peregrine and most of the usual suspects.
No additions to the Dragons, but there are a few more Brown Hawkers on the wing which is to be expected or is it?
Butterflies still on a low and I’m yet to see a female Marbled White (as am I)!
Marbled White, Meadow Brown and Small Heath.
River area, courtesy Alan. Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Lesser Whitethroat, Swallow, Swift, Peregrine and most of the usual suspects.
No additions to the Dragons, but there are a few more Brown Hawkers on the wing which is to be expected or is it?
Butterflies still on a low and I’m yet to see a female Marbled White (as am I)!
Marbled White, Meadow Brown and Small Heath.
Blue Emperor
Young Swallow
Some More Moths
A few more Moths courtesy Andy King
Festoon
Lilac Beauty
Scarlet Tiger
Small Emerald
Swallow-tailed Moth ↕
Monday 24 June 2024
Bunk
Sunny, 25°, light SW.
A foray out along the Bunk area this afternoon with Loren:
Fairly quiet and few butterflies around.
9 Chiffchaff, 7 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Yellowhammer and 2 Reed Bunting worth a mention.
Several Swallow, House Martin and Swift hawking overhead.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle.
Butterflies: a few Whites, a Common Blue and good numbers of Meadow Brown.
Moths: Blood Vein and Box Tree Moth.
A foray out along the Bunk area this afternoon with Loren:
Fairly quiet and few butterflies around.
9 Chiffchaff, 7 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Yellowhammer and 2 Reed Bunting worth a mention.
Several Swallow, House Martin and Swift hawking overhead.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle.
Butterflies: a few Whites, a Common Blue and good numbers of Meadow Brown.
Moths: Blood Vein and Box Tree Moth.
Chiffchaff
Blood Vein courtesy Loren
Box Tree Moth courtesy Loren
River
Sunny, 25°, light SW.
Alan covered the river area today: Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Tern, Cuckoo, Swallow, Swift and House Martin etc.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Beautiful Demoiselle, Emperor, Four-spotted Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Broad-bodied Chaser, Red-eyed Damselfly, Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly and Common Darter.
Butterflies: Marbled White (very few), Meadow Brown (very few), Common Blue, Speckled Wood and Small Heath.
Alan covered the river area today: Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Tern, Cuckoo, Swallow, Swift and House Martin etc.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Beautiful Demoiselle, Emperor, Four-spotted Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Broad-bodied Chaser, Red-eyed Damselfly, Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly and Common Darter.
Butterflies: Marbled White (very few), Meadow Brown (very few), Common Blue, Speckled Wood and Small Heath.
Blackcap
Small Red-eyed Damselfly
Sunday 23 June 2024
Just a few bits
Sunny spells, 22°, light W.
Emperor Dragonfly, Painted Lady and 2 Scarlet Tiger on allotment.
Little Ringed Plover Bunk line area. Per BJW & AD.
Brown Hawker and Southern Hawker (yesterday) and a Ringlet (Weds). Per AD
Emperor Dragonfly, Painted Lady and 2 Scarlet Tiger on allotment.
Little Ringed Plover Bunk line area. Per BJW & AD.
Brown Hawker and Southern Hawker (yesterday) and a Ringlet (Weds). Per AD
Southern Hawker courtesy Alan
Wednesday 19 June 2024
Moths & Butterflies
A few of the Moths caught by Andy King recently and 2 pics of Marbled White. One by Andy and the other by Alan.
Marbled White and possibly an Orange-footed Furrow Bee?
Elephant Hawk
Green Oak Tortrix
Marbled White courtesy Alan
Poplar Hawk
Scorched Carpet
A Shaggy Inkcap growing amongst our Carrots, courtesy Loren
Monday 17 June 2024
River
Sunny, 20°, light W.
River area: Common Tern, Black-headed Gull, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Cuckoo over, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler, etc.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Beautiful Demoiselle, Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, White-legged Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly.
Butterflies: Small Blue, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Common Blue and Speckled Wood.
River area: Common Tern, Black-headed Gull, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Cuckoo over, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler, etc.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Beautiful Demoiselle, Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, White-legged Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly.
Butterflies: Small Blue, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Common Blue and Speckled Wood.
AD.
All photos courtesy Alan
Garden Warbler
Emperor egg laying
Black-tailed Skimmer
Meadow Brown
Small Blue
Speckled Wood
My previous post on this blog was determined to be spam when posted to Facebook, so does not show. I have challenged this but as usual no response from FB.
Friday 7 June 2024
The Lees & River
Cloudy, 18°, light WSW.
Quite noticeable in the difference of what Alan and I note during our walks. I tend to cover an area of high impact farming whereas Alan mainly covers the river areas that are far less cultivated.
The birds are fairly similar but insects are far less common on cultivated areas.
Farms tend to over use pesticides and herbicides plus they are always cutting and mowing areas that do not really need it. Subsequently very few wild flowers etc that encourage pollinators.
Today I walked out to the Lees and out to the reedy ditch and Alan covered the river.
The Lees: 4 Lapwing, 4 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, 3 Corn Bunting, 3 Yellowhammer and 4 Reed Bunting. The odd Swift, Swallow and House Martin overhead.
Mammals: Brown Hare & Roe Deer.
Dragonflies: 2 Banded Demoiselle and 2 unidentified.
Butterflies: None.
River: Spotted Flycatcher, Goldcrest, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Reed Bunting, Jay, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Nuthatch, Black-headed Gull and Kingfisher, etc.
Dragonflies: Emperor, Four-spotted Chaser, Large Red Damselfly, Black-tailed Skimmer, Azure Damselfly, Common Blue Damsel, Red-eyed Damselfly, Broad-bodied Chaser and Blue-tailed Damselfly.
Butterflies: Common Blue, Red Admiral, Small Heath, Large Skipper, Meadow Brown and Brimstone.
Quite noticeable in the difference of what Alan and I note during our walks. I tend to cover an area of high impact farming whereas Alan mainly covers the river areas that are far less cultivated.
The birds are fairly similar but insects are far less common on cultivated areas.
Farms tend to over use pesticides and herbicides plus they are always cutting and mowing areas that do not really need it. Subsequently very few wild flowers etc that encourage pollinators.
Today I walked out to the Lees and out to the reedy ditch and Alan covered the river.
The Lees: 4 Lapwing, 4 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, 3 Corn Bunting, 3 Yellowhammer and 4 Reed Bunting. The odd Swift, Swallow and House Martin overhead.
Mammals: Brown Hare & Roe Deer.
Dragonflies: 2 Banded Demoiselle and 2 unidentified.
Butterflies: None.
River: Spotted Flycatcher, Goldcrest, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Reed Bunting, Jay, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Nuthatch, Black-headed Gull and Kingfisher, etc.
Dragonflies: Emperor, Four-spotted Chaser, Large Red Damselfly, Black-tailed Skimmer, Azure Damselfly, Common Blue Damsel, Red-eyed Damselfly, Broad-bodied Chaser and Blue-tailed Damselfly.
Butterflies: Common Blue, Red Admiral, Small Heath, Large Skipper, Meadow Brown and Brimstone.
Reed Warbler courtesy Alan
Broad-bodied Chaser courtesy Alan
Common Blue Damselfly courtesy Alan
Roe Deer
Nuthatch courtesy Alan
Thursday 6 June 2024
Lollingdon & Bunk
Variable sunshine, 17°, light WNW.
Lollingdon and Bunk:
The Lapwings appear to have moved on after raising at least 2 young and the first Hobby of the year seen by Alan late afternoon.
Common Whitethroat numbers appear to be down by approx. 30%. Unknown reason.
Other species noted: Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Yellow Wagtail, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin and Swift, Treecreeper, Raven, Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting and 2 Herring Gull. The Herring Gulls, I suspect may well breed somewhere in CSW as pair have been present for a few years and nearly all year round.
Dragonflies: Azure Damselfly.
Butterflies: several Whites, 6 Common Blue, a Brown Argus, a Red Admiral, 2 Speckled Wood and a Meadow Brown.
Lollingdon and Bunk:
The Lapwings appear to have moved on after raising at least 2 young and the first Hobby of the year seen by Alan late afternoon.
Common Whitethroat numbers appear to be down by approx. 30%. Unknown reason.
Other species noted: Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Yellow Wagtail, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin and Swift, Treecreeper, Raven, Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting and 2 Herring Gull. The Herring Gulls, I suspect may well breed somewhere in CSW as pair have been present for a few years and nearly all year round.
Dragonflies: Azure Damselfly.
Butterflies: several Whites, 6 Common Blue, a Brown Argus, a Red Admiral, 2 Speckled Wood and a Meadow Brown.
AD & PC.
Meadow Brown
Brown Argus
Song Thrush in full flow
Herring Gull
Red Admiral
A couple of Collared Dove, regular garden visitors
Wednesday 5 June 2024
Bunk & River
Sunny spells, 15°, light WNW.
Bunk and River: A cooler day with a reasonable selection of birds, very few butterflies on the wing and a relatively poor showing of other insects.
Singles of Black-headed Gull and Lesser Blackback Gull, Kingfisher, Little Owl, Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Beautiful Demoiselle, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser.
Butterflies: did not see any myself but Alan found Brown Argus and Meadow Brown.
AD & PC.
Bunk and River: A cooler day with a reasonable selection of birds, very few butterflies on the wing and a relatively poor showing of other insects.
Singles of Black-headed Gull and Lesser Blackback Gull, Kingfisher, Little Owl, Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Beautiful Demoiselle, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser.
Butterflies: did not see any myself but Alan found Brown Argus and Meadow Brown.
AD & PC.
Spotted Flycatcher courtesy Alan
WTF has someone done to Green lane? Very recent as foliage still green and dumped in ditch. Hedge cut and foliage gone. So very irresponsible!!!!!!!!!
adult Jackdaw above and youngster below.
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