Sunny spells, 24°, light SW.
Lollingdon, 3 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat & a Painted Lady. Per Alan.
Friday 30 August 2024
Thursday 29 August 2024
A little livelier
Sunny periods, 20°, light W.
A slow start with little initially seen along the Bunk area today. Around 20 minutes in I started to note a passage of Hirundines and over the next few hours counted over 200 birds. Majority being Swallow and the rest House Martin.
Alan also noted a passage of Hirundine over Westfield Road plus a juv Peregrine Falcon.
A Whinchat also found and seen briefly before being spooked by a worker on the railway and I was unable to relocate the bird.
Alan relocated the Whinchat approx. 2 hours later.
Plus: 2 juv Hobby, 2 Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Common Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap, 10+ Chiffchaff, 5 Yellowhammer, a Raven, 300+ Starling etc.
Dragonflies: Southern Hawker and Common Darter.
Butterflies: Large and Small White, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and a Small Tortoiseshell in the garden.
A slow start with little initially seen along the Bunk area today. Around 20 minutes in I started to note a passage of Hirundines and over the next few hours counted over 200 birds. Majority being Swallow and the rest House Martin.
Alan also noted a passage of Hirundine over Westfield Road plus a juv Peregrine Falcon.
A Whinchat also found and seen briefly before being spooked by a worker on the railway and I was unable to relocate the bird.
Alan relocated the Whinchat approx. 2 hours later.
Plus: 2 juv Hobby, 2 Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Common Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap, 10+ Chiffchaff, 5 Yellowhammer, a Raven, 300+ Starling etc.
Dragonflies: Southern Hawker and Common Darter.
Butterflies: Large and Small White, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and a Small Tortoiseshell in the garden.
Whinchat courtesy Alan
Yellowhammer
Wednesday 28 August 2024
Still pretty quiet
Sunny periods, 25°, light SSW.
Still pretty quiet out there with visits to both Lollingdon and Bunk areas today.
Common Redstart, 3 Common Whitethroat, several Blackcap and Chiffchaff, Yellow Wagtail, 1, pos 2 Hobby, 2 Raven, a Common Sandpiper and the odd Swallow.
Both Swallow and House Martin still visiting nest sites in Church Road.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Dragonflies: Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker and Common Darter.
Butterflies: Large and Small White, Common Blue, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Small Heath.
AD & PC.
Still pretty quiet out there with visits to both Lollingdon and Bunk areas today.
Common Redstart, 3 Common Whitethroat, several Blackcap and Chiffchaff, Yellow Wagtail, 1, pos 2 Hobby, 2 Raven, a Common Sandpiper and the odd Swallow.
Both Swallow and House Martin still visiting nest sites in Church Road.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Dragonflies: Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker and Common Darter.
Butterflies: Large and Small White, Common Blue, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Small Heath.
AD & PC.
Common Sandpiper courtesy Alan
Common Blue
Nuthatch
Tuesday 27 August 2024
Marsh Harrier
Sunny spells, 24°, light SW.
Richard Broughton was lucky enough to find a female Marsh Harrier over the Bunk/Green Lane area today.
Richard Broughton was lucky enough to find a female Marsh Harrier over the Bunk/Green Lane area today.
150+ Linnet, Willow Warbler and 30+ Yellow Wagtail overhead.
Also had 2 Hobby over Church Road yesterday.
Photo taken on phone so not the greatest quality but there you go.
Also had 2 Hobby over Church Road yesterday.
Photo taken on phone so not the greatest quality but there you go.
Friday 23 August 2024
A smattering of migrants
Sunny spells, 20°, breezy WSW.
Alan out at Lollingdon and Cholsey Downs today: 3 Spotted Flycatcher, Nuthatch, Bullfinch, Kingfisher, Stonechat and Whinchat etc.
I covered the Bunk area: 60+ Swallow, 20-30 House Martin, 5 Blackcap, 1 Common Redstart, 1 Common Whitethroat, 10+ Chiffchaff, a Raven, 8 Pied Wagtail, 3 Yellowhammer, 40+ Linnet, 4 Mistle Thrush, etc.
Alan out at Lollingdon and Cholsey Downs today: 3 Spotted Flycatcher, Nuthatch, Bullfinch, Kingfisher, Stonechat and Whinchat etc.
I covered the Bunk area: 60+ Swallow, 20-30 House Martin, 5 Blackcap, 1 Common Redstart, 1 Common Whitethroat, 10+ Chiffchaff, a Raven, 8 Pied Wagtail, 3 Yellowhammer, 40+ Linnet, 4 Mistle Thrush, etc.
Tawny Owl in garden @ 21:40.
Dragonflies: Common Blue Damsel and Southern Hawker.
Butterflies: Large White, Small White, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Small Heath.
Dragonflies: Common Blue Damsel and Southern Hawker.
Butterflies: Large White, Small White, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Small Heath.
Whinchat courtesy Alan.
Long-tailed Tit
Wednesday 21 August 2024
A couple of Redstart
Overcast, 20°, breezy SW.
Lollingdon & Bunk: A female type Common Redstart on the hill this morning and Alan found a male on there this afternoon.
A good numbers of Swallow moving through with 50+ in one flock and several more in smaller groups.
Richard Broughton had 3 Spotted Flycatcher out at Lollingdon earlier but not relocated later plus 5 Swift over the Lees early evening..
Elsewhere, 30+ Swallow, a few House Martin, 3 Blackcap, 2 Common Whitethroat, several Chiffchaff, a single Yellow Wagtail and a Little Owl.
Dragonflies: a single Common Darter and Banded Demoiselle.
Butterflies: several Large and Small White, a Red Admiral, several Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper.
Lollingdon & Bunk: A female type Common Redstart on the hill this morning and Alan found a male on there this afternoon.
A good numbers of Swallow moving through with 50+ in one flock and several more in smaller groups.
Richard Broughton had 3 Spotted Flycatcher out at Lollingdon earlier but not relocated later plus 5 Swift over the Lees early evening..
Elsewhere, 30+ Swallow, a few House Martin, 3 Blackcap, 2 Common Whitethroat, several Chiffchaff, a single Yellow Wagtail and a Little Owl.
Dragonflies: a single Common Darter and Banded Demoiselle.
Butterflies: several Large and Small White, a Red Admiral, several Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper.
Redstart ↕. female type above and male below. Male courtesy Alan
Swallow ↕
Red Admiral
Monday 19 August 2024
All quiet except for Tigers
Cloudy, 20°, light SW.
Very quiet out at Lollingdon and the Bunk today.
A few Hirundine flocks moving through of both Swallow and House Martin. The only other migrants noted were c12 Chiffchaff and 2 Common Whitethroat. Other than that, all quiet.
Chiffchaff and Red Kite in the garden.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Butterflies: a handful of Large and Small White, 4 Speckled Wood and 2 Meadow Brown.
Moths: Loren found a colony of Ruby Tiger moths on her allotment. At least 10 individuals seen and appear to have metamorphosed in one of the cold frames with some still in the pupa cycle.
Very quiet out at Lollingdon and the Bunk today.
A few Hirundine flocks moving through of both Swallow and House Martin. The only other migrants noted were c12 Chiffchaff and 2 Common Whitethroat. Other than that, all quiet.
Chiffchaff and Red Kite in the garden.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Butterflies: a handful of Large and Small White, 4 Speckled Wood and 2 Meadow Brown.
Moths: Loren found a colony of Ruby Tiger moths on her allotment. At least 10 individuals seen and appear to have metamorphosed in one of the cold frames with some still in the pupa cycle.
Friday 16 August 2024
Lollingdon
Sunny, 22°, light SSE.
Almost identical observations out at Lollingdon today compared with Wednesday.
A single Common Redstart and Willow Warbler, 4 Common Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, several Chiffchaff, a Reed Bunting, 3 Yellowhammer, 2 House Martin and a single Swallow, plus a flyover Raven.
Dragonflies: A Migrant Hawker, 2 Southern Hawker and 6+ Common Darter.
Butterflies: again vey poor abundance. A section of Buddleia that would usually hold around 2 dozen butterflies this time of year had just 4. Overall, the majority being seen today were Small White with a few Large White, several Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper, 2 Holly Blue and a single worn Comma.
Almost identical observations out at Lollingdon today compared with Wednesday.
A single Common Redstart and Willow Warbler, 4 Common Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, several Chiffchaff, a Reed Bunting, 3 Yellowhammer, 2 House Martin and a single Swallow, plus a flyover Raven.
Dragonflies: A Migrant Hawker, 2 Southern Hawker and 6+ Common Darter.
Butterflies: again vey poor abundance. A section of Buddleia that would usually hold around 2 dozen butterflies this time of year had just 4. Overall, the majority being seen today were Small White with a few Large White, several Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper, 2 Holly Blue and a single worn Comma.
Other than the Buddleia and some Bramble in flower there was a complete lack of any other flowering plants.
Common Darter
Wednesday 14 August 2024
The Hill
Cloudy with rain showers, 21°, light NNE.
A visit to Lollingdon today: 1 Common Redstart, 1 Willow Warbler, 5-6 Common Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, c10 Chiffchaff, 2 Reed Bunting, 3 Yellowhammer, 3 Raven over and a few small flocks of Swallow and House Martin and 2 Swift.
Mammal: Roe Deer.
Dragonflies: singles of Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker and Common Darter.
Butterflies: very few, Small White, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper.
A visit to Lollingdon today: 1 Common Redstart, 1 Willow Warbler, 5-6 Common Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, c10 Chiffchaff, 2 Reed Bunting, 3 Yellowhammer, 3 Raven over and a few small flocks of Swallow and House Martin and 2 Swift.
Mammal: Roe Deer.
Dragonflies: singles of Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker and Common Darter.
Butterflies: very few, Small White, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper.
Raven ↕
Monday 12 August 2024
River
Sunny, 29°, breezy SW.
Alan went out at a more sensible time of day.
Yellow Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Chiffchaff and most of the usual suspects present.
Dragonflies: Emperor, Migrant Hawker, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter, Banded Demoiselle, Common Blue Damsel, Azure Damsel, Small Red-eyed Damsel, Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker and Willow Emerald.
Butterflies: Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Brown Argus, Common Blue and Peacock.
Arachnids: Wasp Spider.
Alan went out at a more sensible time of day.
Yellow Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Chiffchaff and most of the usual suspects present.
Dragonflies: Emperor, Migrant Hawker, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter, Banded Demoiselle, Common Blue Damsel, Azure Damsel, Small Red-eyed Damsel, Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker and Willow Emerald.
Butterflies: Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Brown Argus, Common Blue and Peacock.
Arachnids: Wasp Spider.
Brown Hawker
Willow Emerald
Wasp Spider
Bunk
Sunny, 29°, breezy SW.
Probably not the best time to go birding, early afternoon on a hot day but there you go.
Needless to say rather quiet along the Bunk area. Good numbers of Chiffchaff around and a couple of Blackcap.
A flock of 30+ Linnet near the Green Lane area and 2 Raven over.
A few small flocks of Swallow and House Martin appeared to be passing through and a trickle of Lesser Blackback Gull moving. Maybe looking for fields being ploughed.
Mammals: Roe Deer.
Dragonflies: a single Banded Demoiselle, a few Azure and Common Blue Damsel and a single Migrant Hawker and 2 Common Darter.
Butterflies: still very low numbers: 1 Brimstone, a few Large and Small White, 2 Common Blue, 1 Holly Blue and several Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper.
Probably not the best time to go birding, early afternoon on a hot day but there you go.
Needless to say rather quiet along the Bunk area. Good numbers of Chiffchaff around and a couple of Blackcap.
A flock of 30+ Linnet near the Green Lane area and 2 Raven over.
A few small flocks of Swallow and House Martin appeared to be passing through and a trickle of Lesser Blackback Gull moving. Maybe looking for fields being ploughed.
Mammals: Roe Deer.
Dragonflies: a single Banded Demoiselle, a few Azure and Common Blue Damsel and a single Migrant Hawker and 2 Common Darter.
Butterflies: still very low numbers: 1 Brimstone, a few Large and Small White, 2 Common Blue, 1 Holly Blue and several Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper.
Holly Blue
Monday 5 August 2024
Quiet all round
Sunny spells, 22°, breezy SSW.
Lollingdon, again very quiet. 50+ Swift and several Swallow and House Martin moving south west overhead and that was about all.
Bunk area also very quiet apart from a couple of Yellow Wagtail.
River was a little livelier later in the day: 4 juvenile Lesser Blackback Gull on the river, Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Yellow Wagtail, Blackcap, Swallow and House Martin.
Late evening, Church road, 50+ Lesser Blackback Gull south, and the Swallow family still roosting and House Martin visiting nests still.
Mammals: Roe Deer.
Dragonflies: Emperor, Migrant Hawker, Four-spotted Chaser, Azure Damsel, Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Banded Demoiselle, Large Red Damsel and White-legged Damsel.
Butterflies: Peacock, Red Admiral, Common Blue, Comma, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, and Gatekeeper.
Lollingdon, again very quiet. 50+ Swift and several Swallow and House Martin moving south west overhead and that was about all.
Bunk area also very quiet apart from a couple of Yellow Wagtail.
River was a little livelier later in the day: 4 juvenile Lesser Blackback Gull on the river, Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Yellow Wagtail, Blackcap, Swallow and House Martin.
Late evening, Church road, 50+ Lesser Blackback Gull south, and the Swallow family still roosting and House Martin visiting nests still.
Mammals: Roe Deer.
Dragonflies: Emperor, Migrant Hawker, Four-spotted Chaser, Azure Damsel, Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Banded Demoiselle, Large Red Damsel and White-legged Damsel.
Butterflies: Peacock, Red Admiral, Common Blue, Comma, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, and Gatekeeper.
AD & PC.
White-legged Damsel courtesy Alan
Young Roe Deer courtesy Alan
Banded Demoiselle courtesy Alan
Comma courtesy Alan
Sunday 4 August 2024
Friday 2 August 2024
Bunk
Mainly sunny, 26°, light WSW.
A Common Redstart along the Bunk line today found by Alan. also, a Yellow Wagtail, 3 Blackcap feeding on Elder Berries, several Chiffchaff, a Sparrowhawk, etc. all in all, very quiet.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Azure Damsel, Common Blue Damsel, Emperor and Common Darter.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Brown Argus, Red Admiral, Peacock, Marbled White, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper.
AD & PC.
A Common Redstart along the Bunk line today found by Alan. also, a Yellow Wagtail, 3 Blackcap feeding on Elder Berries, several Chiffchaff, a Sparrowhawk, etc. all in all, very quiet.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Azure Damsel, Common Blue Damsel, Emperor and Common Darter.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Brown Argus, Red Admiral, Peacock, Marbled White, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper.
AD & PC.
Common Darter courtesy Alan
Linnet courtesy Alan
Thursday 1 August 2024
Lollingdon
Sunny, 28°, light NNW (Thunderstorm later).
Pretty dire out at Lollingdon today. Just 2 Raven, a single Common Whitethroat, single Reed Bunting and several Chiffchaff and Yellowhammer, and a few family groups of Swallow passing through.
Guess this weather is not conducive to much bird activity as even the garden was quiet. Although a Coal Tit and Nuthatch heard calling nearby.
Dragonflies: several Beautiful and Banded Demoiselle and singles of Brown Hawker and Common Darter.
Butterflies: Large Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper.
Pretty dire out at Lollingdon today. Just 2 Raven, a single Common Whitethroat, single Reed Bunting and several Chiffchaff and Yellowhammer, and a few family groups of Swallow passing through.
Guess this weather is not conducive to much bird activity as even the garden was quiet. Although a Coal Tit and Nuthatch heard calling nearby.
Dragonflies: several Beautiful and Banded Demoiselle and singles of Brown Hawker and Common Darter.
Butterflies: Large Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper.
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