Bunk

Overcast, 17°, breezy SW.

Pretty quiet along the Bunk this afternoon. A few Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Yellowhammer still in song but little else.

Overhead, c60 Swift, 40+ Swallow, 20+ House Martin and 6 Sand Martin with most moving south.

Alan reported a similar movement of Hirundines and Swift out towards Lollingdon.

A Little Ringed Plover heard calling and a Kingfisher and 2 Jay seen plus the 2 regular Herring Gull.

Dragonflies: a Few Common Blue and Azure Damselfly on the wing in sheltered spots.

Butterflies: Large Skipper, Large White, Small White, Red Admiral, Marbled White, Ringlet and Meadow Brown.

Swift

Large Skipper

What's that coming over the Hill

A cloudy day, 18°, light WSW.

Arrived on Lollingdon hill around 11:30 and started to scan around. Looked pretty quiet apart from a couple of Corn Bunting in song, plus a Common Whitethroat and a couple of Yellowhammer and Chiffchaff calling.

Just before midday I noted several Swift passing over and drifting south west, shortly followed by another 50.

Over the next hour I counted just over 400 Swift over the hill area and they were still passing over when I left.

When I got off the hill I looked back and Swift were still passing through. I estimate in the region of 450-500 Swift passed in that hour and 30 minutes.

Other species noted: Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Yellow Wagtail, Swallow, House Martin etc.

Mammals: Brown Hare.

Dragonflies: Banded and Beautiful Demoiselle and an unidentified Hawker.

Butterflies: Large White, Small White, Marbled White, Speckled Wood, Ringlet and Meadow Brown.

Wren's Nest courtesy Bill Nicholls

Speckled Wood

Bunk, River & Meadows

A cloudy day, 18°, light WSW.

Bunk/River/Meadows: Per Alan.

Common Tern, House Martin, Swallow, Swift, Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine etc.

Dragonflies: Azure Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Emerald Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser and Black-tailed Skimmer.

Butterflies: Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Small Heath and Ringlet.

Common Tern