Wednesday, 16 July 2025

Redstart

Sunny spells then clouding up, 25°, light WNW.

Lollingdon: The first Common Redstart of the autumn on the hill today, plus a Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, 2-3 Common Whitethroat and Blackcap. Nearby a Lesser Whitethroat, several more Chiffchaff, 5+ Yellowhammer and 3 Grey Heron.

A few Swift moving overhead.

The Marsh Harrier seen on Cholsey Hill again yesterday. Per GW. And a young Chiffchaff frequenting the garden over the last few days.

Mammals: Brown Hare, 2-3 Hedgehog and several Common Pipistrelle after dark in garden over the last week.

Dragonflies: Banded and Beautiful Demoiselle and a Southern Hawker.

Butterflies: Large White, Small White, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Comma, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown.

Moths: A Hummingbird Hawkmoth in garden yesterday.



Monday, 14 July 2025

Cooler

Sunny spells, 23°, breezy SW.

Still fairly quiet out there, although a fair number of Swallow, c50 that appeared to be passing through and c20 House Martin, 6 Swift and a single Sand Martin.

Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Yellowhammer, 100+ Starling, c50 Linnet, 2 Herring Gull, 2 Black-headed Gull, 5 Lesser Blackback Gull, a Grey Heron etc.

A few Swift moving through yesterday and a Sparrowhawk in garden today.

Marsh Harrier seen on Cholsey Hill yesterday. Per MP.  

Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Common Blue Damsel and Black-tailed Skimmer.

Butterflies: Large White, Small White, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown.



Friday, 11 July 2025

Garden Muntjac

Sunshine, 32°, light S.

Not a lot going on birdwise and the weather quite oppressive. However the garden has been busy with several Tit flocks dropping in to feed and bathe along with a couple of Great-spotted Woodpecker.

A Muntjac Deer appeared this afternoon for a drink and a wander.


Monday, 7 July 2025

Cholsey Hill

Mainly sunny, 22°, breezy NW.

A female Marsh Harrier seen quartering Cholsey hill this afternoon. Per RB.

Bunk area pretty quiet again, no change from last week.



Friday, 4 July 2025

The Lees

Sunny, 26°, light SW.

The Lees area: Another warm one. Several Sedge and Reed Warbler in brief song, a couple of Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Common Whitethroat, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer and a Corn Bunting. 2 Pied Wagtail taking food to a nest site and a single Yellow Wagtail and Grey Heron.

Dragonflies: Banded and Beautiful Demoiselle and Common Blue Damsel.

Butterflies: Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Small Heath.



Thursday, 3 July 2025

A quiet start to July

Sunny periods, 23°, light SW.

Bunk area still pretty quiet birdwise: a Hobby heading north, a Sparrowhawk being mobbed by a flock of Hirundines, several Yellowhammer and Common Whitethroat, 20+ Swallow, 10+ House Martin, 3-4 Sand Martin, 20+ Swift, good numbers of Linnet in what looked like family groups, 2 Herring Gull at the usual site and couple of young Green Woodpecker.

Mammals: A Grey Squirrel in the garden feasting on Gooseberries.

Dragonflies: Beautiful and Banded Demoiselle, Common Blue Damsel, Azure Damsel and Southern Hawker.

Butterflies: Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Large White, Small White, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet.