Spring on its way

Sunshine, 16°, light E.

Lollingdon, Bunk and Marsh:

Our first Wheatear of the year out at Lollingdon today, plus 2 Corn Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer, a Reed Bunting, a couple of Meadow Pipit, c20 Fieldfare, 6 Teal and c20 Lapwing.

3 Cetti’s Warbler, Water Rail and Reed Bunting on the Marsh.

Bunk: 21 Lapwing, 4 Shoveler, 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Teal, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Jay, 6 Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Grey Heron, Little Egret and a Little Owl.

Chiffchaff, everywhere.

A Swallow, 2 Gadwall and 2 Oystercatcher over the weekend.

Mammals: Brown Hare and Roe Deer.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Green-veined White and Peacock.

AD, PC & TW.

First Swallow

Prolonged sunny spells, 12°, fresh WNW.

Our first Swallow of the year seen by Alan out at Lollingdon this morning and 4 Ringed Plover later in the day seen by Tony Williams and possibly a 5th one dropped in later. Per Alan.

Elsewhere, pretty quiet, 2 Cetti’s Warbler at Cholsey Marsh along with a Water Rail. A Common Gull, Goldcrest and a couple of Meadow Pipit along the Bunk, an Oystercatcher yesterday but little else.

Butterflies: Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock.

AD, PC & TW.

Peacock

Chiffchaff courtesy Alan

Butterflies on the rise

Sunny, 16°, light WSW.

With warmer weather and early spring on the way, butterflies are on the wing now.  

Lollingdon, Bunk and The Marsh:

Lollingdon: Nothing of note.

Marsh: 2 Cetti’s Warbler, possibly 3 and Chiffchaff everywhere.

Bunk: 2 Sand Martin over, 3 Meadow Pipit, Many Chiffchaff, 3 Little Grebe, a Tufted Duck, 2 Teal, 2 Herring Gull, 30 Black-headed Gull and 50+ Lesser Blackback Gull.

Mammals: Brown Hare & Roe Deer.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Red Admiral, Peacock & Comma.

Insects: Dark-edged Bee-fly.

AD & PC.

Comma

Herring Gull

Roe Deer courtesy Alan

No change

Sunny, eventually, 12°, light N.

A very quiet day all round at Lollingdon and Bunk areas.

The hill was particularly lifeless and the flood held 32 Teal, 2 Shoveler and 10 Lapwing. Well down on previous visits.

A Tawny Owl calling nearby, 2 Yellowhammer and Chiffchaff song ringing out from all sides.

Bunk had little of note, 22 Lapwing and 2 Yellowhammer and Alan noted a Barn Owl around the Church Road area.

Mammals: Brown Hare and Roe Deer.

Still a bit quiet

Overcast, 15°, moderate SE.

A brief late afternoon trek along the Bunk found very little of note. 6 Chiffchaff, 3 Yellowhammer, 30 Fieldfare with a Starling flock, 28 Lapwing, Little Owl, 60+ Black-headed Gull, 10 Lesser Blackback Gull, 6 Herring Gull and Grey Wagtail.

The lull before ?

Sunny, 18°, light S.

The flood out at Lollingdon was a little quieter today. 6 Shoveler, 24 Teal, c30 Lapwing, 30+ Pied Wagtail, 4 Common Gull, 21 Black-headed Gull and a single Lesser Blackback Gull.

Several Chiffchaff in full song nearby.

Mammals: Brown Hare.

Butterflies: many Brimstone.

More Waders

Mainly sunny, 16°, light S.

Lollingdon threw up another wader today with Alan finding a Curlew out on the flood. 2 Little Ringed Plover, a Common Snipe present and a flyover Redshank.

Several singing Chiffchaff nearby.

Bunk area: 6-8 Chiffchaff, Treecreeper, Grey Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Yellowhammer, 40+ Fieldfare, 20+ Redwing, 38 Lapwing, an Oystercatcher, 5 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebe, a Little Owl and the usual Gulls.

Mammals: Brown Hare.

Butterflies: Brimstone.

AD & PC.

Curlew courtesy Alan

Yellowhammer

Red Kite collecting nest material

LRPx4

Sunny, 12°, moderate E.

Lollingdon: 4 Little Ringed Plover found by Alan today on the flood, 11 Common Gull, plus the usuals.

Bunk: still relatively quiet, 6 Chiffchaff, 3 Redwing, 40+ Lapwing flushed by a Sparrowhawk, several Buzzard displaying, a Little Grebe and a Coot.

Mammals: Brown Hare and Roe Deer.

AD & PC.

LRP courtesy Alan ↕

A little samey

Overcast, 9° (felt colder), light NNE.

Very quiet all round today, Lollingdon and Bunk.

3 Chiffchaff, 50+ Fieldfare, 20+ Redwing, 2 Yellowhammer, 56 Lapwing, 30 Shoveler, 38 Teal, a Little Egret and a few Gulls, incl 2-3 Common Gull.

Mammals: Brown Hare.

AD & PC.

Common Gull courtesy Alan

Little Egret, Teal and Lapwing

Bunk & Lollingdon

Cloudy with very light rain, 6°, light NNE.

Another somewhat chilly day.

Bunk: 2 Oystercatcher, 8Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebe, a Little Egret, 2 Herring Gull, 1 Common Gull, c30 Lesser Blackback Gull, a Stonechat, Treecreeper and 4 Chiffchaff and singing well.

Lollingdon: Much the same as yesterday but with fewer Gulls, 2 Common Gull, several Fieldfare and Redwing, a Mistle Thrush, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Yellowhammer and a Chiffchaff.

Mammals: Brown Hare.

AD & PC.

Oystercatchers courtesy Alan

Song Thrush

Greenfinch perched up after a display flight

Nothing special

Rain, Hail and Sun. 6°, light N.

Several hours spent around the Lollingdon flood area. Gulls coming and going with a max of around 400. Around equal numbers of Lesser Blackback and Black-headed Gull and 1-2 Common Gull. Up to 50 Lapwing, 14 Shoveler and 20+ Teal. 40+ Pied Wagtail and nearby a couple of Yellowhammer and a Little Egret. A Goldcrest singing at the Bullshole.

Bunk area very quiet.

Mammals: Brown Hare.

AD & PC.

LRP

Sunshine & showers, 7°, light NNW.

Lollingdon Flood: A Little Ringed Plover found this afternoon plus the usual present. c40 Lapwing, approx. 12 of each Teal and Shoveler, 40+ Lesser Blackback Gull, c20 Black-headed Gull and 20+ Pied Wagtail, 2-3 Little Egret and 50+ Fieldfare over.

Although not to everyones liking the wet weather this winter has proved to be beneficial for Waders with 10 species noted so far on floods in the fields around Cholsey this year. It brings back memories of the marshy land that once was prevalent in the local area back in the 60's before the land was drained for agriculture.

Nearby a Chiffchaff in song and 3 Yellowhammer.

Mammals: Brown Hare.

AD & PC.

LRP courtesy Alan

LRP ↕

Pied Wagtail

A quiet one

Light rain a.m., then overcast, 10°, light NNE.

Feels like a change in the weather has put the mockers on things.

Lollingdon fairly quiet, a Redshank of note and the usuals.

Bunk line very quiet, c6 Chiffchaff, 3 Redwing, Grey Wagtail, 24 Lapwing, 12 Tufted Duck, very few Gulls.

AD & PC.

One of several Green Woodpecker seen.

A Buzzard perching up on the Herring Gulls favourite perch that didn't go down too well with the Gulls.

Lollingdon & Bunk

Light rain at first then sunny spells, 15°, light SSE.

Lollingdon: Ruff still present, Oystercatcher, usual Teal, Shoveler and Lapwing and a Little Egret.

Bunk: a Merlin (f) flew through, Oystercatcher, 2 Stonechat, Sparrowhawk, 25+ Lesser Blackback Gull, 6 Black-headed Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 8 Tufted Duck, 60+ Lapwing, 100+ Starling, c80 Fieldfare, 20+ Redwing, a Grey Wagtail, 9 Pied Wagtail, 7 Chiffchaff and a Blackcap.

AD & PC.

Stonechat

Oystercatcher courtesy Alan

Ruff ↕ courtesy Alan

Stonechat

Starling

Ruff times

Sunny then clouding up, 13°, light SSE.

Lollingdon: Alan out earlier and the 3 Ruff back on the Lollingdon flood. They are ranging from Lollingdon to the floods out towards Aston. 2 Redshank over, Shelduck, Shoveler, Teal, Lapwing, Little Egret, Goldcrest and Treecreeper.

I checked out the hill later but relatively quiet, a flock of Fieldfare and Starling with the sheep plus a few Pied Wagtail and Skylark. After, I went down to the flood. c60 Lapwing, 21 Shoveler, 6 Teal and a little later the 3 Ruff turned up.

As it was sunny I thought I’d go back to the Bunk area and at least 5 Chiffchaff present, feeding along the hedgerow at the south west corner of CSW. A Common Snipe over and a Blackcap.

Ruff & Chiffchaff

Here & There

Sunshine, 12°, light S.

Lollingdon: 3 Ruff, 20 Lapwing, Common Gull, 15 Shoveler, c20 Teal and a Little Egret.

Wallingford Rd flood: c80 Teal and Chiffchaff and Blackcap in song nearby.

Bunk: 7 Chiffchaff (3 in song), c50 Fieldfare, c20 Redwing, Treecreeper, Grey Wagtail, 2 Grey Heron, 10 Tufted Duck and a Sparrowhawk. Plus the 2 Herring Gull on their usual perch.

Cholsey Hill: c30 Golden Plover.

Mammals: Brown Hare and Roe Deer.

Butterflies: Brimstone.

AD, GW & PC.  

Whilst Alan was out at Lollingdon photographing birds on the flood, a dog walker came along. Aware that Alan was photographing birds on the flood and proceeded to let their dog run into the flood and flush everything.

Inconsiderate? Thoughtless? Keep the dog under control for a time or let it run free? What do you think? I know what I think but it’s not for here!

Fortunately Alan did get a pic of the 3 Ruff together.

Ruff

Another sunny day, 10°, light SSW.

3 Ruff still present on Lollingdon flood. Per Alan.

Greylag Goose over garden.

Ruff with Lapwing courtesy Alan