A Mandarin Duck flew south along the Thames at Cholsey Marsh and a couple of Teal present. Per James Beaumont.
A Small Tortoiseshell and several Peacock present on the Station Road allotments.
Saturday, 21 March 2026
Saturday snippets
Sunny, 14°, light NE.
A Mandarin Duck flew south along the Thames at Cholsey Marsh and a couple of Teal present. Per James Beaumont.
A Small Tortoiseshell and several Peacock present on the Station Road allotments.
A Mandarin Duck flew south along the Thames at Cholsey Marsh and a couple of Teal present. Per James Beaumont.
A Small Tortoiseshell and several Peacock present on the Station Road allotments.
Rooks
A couple of years ago the local parish council got some tree surgeons to pollard some of the Horse Chestnut trees in the meadow adjacent to our garden.
The Rookery located in those trees subsequently moved to some trees further back and put them directly in line of sight to my bird feeders.
As Rooks are fairly large birds they descend on the feeders in a rather ungainly fashion and shake the feeders whilst trying to extract seeds from them sprinkling a lot to the ground.
The seeds on the ground are then scooped up by other Rooks, Ducks and Wood Pigeons.
I’ve tried to hide the feeders from the Rooks but they always find them and it is costing a fair bit as they can empty out feeders in a matter of hours rather than days.
Need to figure out how to outwit them without depriving other birds. This happens from approx late Feb to early May whilst incubating eggs to raising young.
Any thoughts welcome other than “don’t feed the birds” or “ buy some expensive rook proof feeders”.
By the Way the Rookery has over 30 active nests.
The Rookery located in those trees subsequently moved to some trees further back and put them directly in line of sight to my bird feeders.
As Rooks are fairly large birds they descend on the feeders in a rather ungainly fashion and shake the feeders whilst trying to extract seeds from them sprinkling a lot to the ground.
The seeds on the ground are then scooped up by other Rooks, Ducks and Wood Pigeons.
I’ve tried to hide the feeders from the Rooks but they always find them and it is costing a fair bit as they can empty out feeders in a matter of hours rather than days.
Need to figure out how to outwit them without depriving other birds. This happens from approx late Feb to early May whilst incubating eggs to raising young.
Any thoughts welcome other than “don’t feed the birds” or “ buy some expensive rook proof feeders”.
By the Way the Rookery has over 30 active nests.
Friday, 20 March 2026
Ducks etc
Hazy sunshine, 12°, light ENE.
A few hours put in at the gravel pit today.
2 Little Grebe, a Great-crested Grebe, 2 Shelduck, 32 Shoveler, 16 Tufted Duck, 6 Gadwall, a Pochard, 20 Lapwing, an Oystercatcher, 1, pos 2 Little Ringed Plover, c60 Lesser Blackback Gull, 6 Common Gull, 12 Black-headed Gull, a Grey Wagtail and a Chiffchaff and Blackcap.
On the walk, 4 Lapwing near Green Lane, 2 Chiffchaff, 20 Fieldfare and 7 Redwing, 2+ Herring Gull in their usual spot at CSW.
This morning, on the Wally road flood, an Oystercatcher, a Lapwing, a Black-headed Gull, 8 Teal and last evening 2 Lapwing and 3 Gadwall. Per Michael Pocock.
Butterflies: just Peacock today.
A few hours put in at the gravel pit today.
2 Little Grebe, a Great-crested Grebe, 2 Shelduck, 32 Shoveler, 16 Tufted Duck, 6 Gadwall, a Pochard, 20 Lapwing, an Oystercatcher, 1, pos 2 Little Ringed Plover, c60 Lesser Blackback Gull, 6 Common Gull, 12 Black-headed Gull, a Grey Wagtail and a Chiffchaff and Blackcap.
On the walk, 4 Lapwing near Green Lane, 2 Chiffchaff, 20 Fieldfare and 7 Redwing, 2+ Herring Gull in their usual spot at CSW.
This morning, on the Wally road flood, an Oystercatcher, a Lapwing, a Black-headed Gull, 8 Teal and last evening 2 Lapwing and 3 Gadwall. Per Michael Pocock.
Butterflies: just Peacock today.
Thursday, 19 March 2026
Bunk & Gravel pit
Sunny, 15°, light E.
Bunk area pretty quiet today, a couple of Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and 10 Fieldfare.
Gravel pit a bit more productive until everything flushed by a couple of workers walking around the banks.
2 Shelduck, a Little Ringed Plover, 22 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 2 Teal, a Little Egret and 12 Lapwing.
Bunk area pretty quiet today, a couple of Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and 10 Fieldfare.
Gravel pit a bit more productive until everything flushed by a couple of workers walking around the banks.
2 Shelduck, a Little Ringed Plover, 22 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 2 Teal, a Little Egret and 12 Lapwing.
Butterflies: More Peacock than Brimstone today.
Wednesday, 18 March 2026
Waiting for Spring
Sunny, 18°, light ESE.
Not a lot about at Lollingdon today and spring not far away. A Raven on the hill sat on a distant fence post and then flew off overhead to the south west and 28 Lapwing on the flood.
On the walk, 8 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 6 Redwing, a Little Owl, 2 Yellowhammer, a small flock of Siskin and a Grey Heron.
A quick look at the gravel pit on Monday: 2 Shelduck, a Gadwall, Chiffchaff and 16 Fieldfare nearby.
Butterflies: good numbers of Brimstone and Peacock.
Insects: Dark-edged Bee-fly.
Not a lot about at Lollingdon today and spring not far away. A Raven on the hill sat on a distant fence post and then flew off overhead to the south west and 28 Lapwing on the flood.
On the walk, 8 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 6 Redwing, a Little Owl, 2 Yellowhammer, a small flock of Siskin and a Grey Heron.
A quick look at the gravel pit on Monday: 2 Shelduck, a Gadwall, Chiffchaff and 16 Fieldfare nearby.
Butterflies: good numbers of Brimstone and Peacock.
Insects: Dark-edged Bee-fly.
Friday, 13 March 2026
A quiet one
Sunny spells, 7°, breezy SSW.
Bunk area pretty quiet today.
Gravel pit had 2 Shelduck resting on the far bank, 3 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler and the usual Gulls.
Singles of Fieldfare and Redwing, 2 Chiffchaff, a Treecreeper and 3 Jay.
Great-spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch and Coal Tit still regular garden visitors.
Bunk area pretty quiet today.
Gravel pit had 2 Shelduck resting on the far bank, 3 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler and the usual Gulls.
Singles of Fieldfare and Redwing, 2 Chiffchaff, a Treecreeper and 3 Jay.
Great-spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch and Coal Tit still regular garden visitors.
15 Siskin, Wallingford Road. Per Richard Broughton.
Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Lollingdon & The Lees and a Hummer
Sunny periods, 12°, breezy SW.
Lollingdon and The Lees:
Firstly a Hummingbird Hawkmoth in the garden this morning feeding on Rosemary flowers. A very early record for these parts, presumably over wintered nearby.
A flock of c200 Gulls (Lesser Blackback Gull) on the flood out at Lollingdon. Initially didn’t see any waders until a low flying Buzzard spooked the flock. Amongst the panicking Gulls I heard an Oystercatcher calling, then a Ringed Plover call and saw the bird fly off to the north. When the Gulls settled down the Oystercatcher was still present.
Also a single Common Gull present, 16 Black-headed Gull, 32 Lapwing flew in later and 2 male Peregrine overhead.
Fairly sure there was a Yellow-legged Gull in the mix but too distant to be confident of ID.
The Lees was a bit windswept but 2 Stonechat still present and feeding low on the fields, presumably out of the wind.
Elsewhere: 2 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, Meadow Pipit, 2 Yellowhammer and several Skylark.
A Grey Wagtail in the garden.
Mammals: Brown Hare & Roe Deer.
Moths: Hummingbird Hawkmoth.
Lollingdon and The Lees:
Firstly a Hummingbird Hawkmoth in the garden this morning feeding on Rosemary flowers. A very early record for these parts, presumably over wintered nearby.
A flock of c200 Gulls (Lesser Blackback Gull) on the flood out at Lollingdon. Initially didn’t see any waders until a low flying Buzzard spooked the flock. Amongst the panicking Gulls I heard an Oystercatcher calling, then a Ringed Plover call and saw the bird fly off to the north. When the Gulls settled down the Oystercatcher was still present.
Also a single Common Gull present, 16 Black-headed Gull, 32 Lapwing flew in later and 2 male Peregrine overhead.
Fairly sure there was a Yellow-legged Gull in the mix but too distant to be confident of ID.
The Lees was a bit windswept but 2 Stonechat still present and feeding low on the fields, presumably out of the wind.
Elsewhere: 2 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, Meadow Pipit, 2 Yellowhammer and several Skylark.
A Grey Wagtail in the garden.
Mammals: Brown Hare & Roe Deer.
Moths: Hummingbird Hawkmoth.
Monday, 9 March 2026
Bunk
Mainly cloudy with few sunny spells, 11°, light SSW.
A walk along the Bunk trail to the Gravel pit.
7 Chiffchaff on walk with 3 in song, 1 in the garden 1 at CSW and another at the GP.
Gravel pit had a Little Ringed Plover, 8 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, 4 Lapwing, c100 Lesser Blackback Gull, 10 Black-headed Gull and a Common Gull.
A Raven, Sparrowhawk and 2 Meadow Pipit over.
A Tawny Owl calling nearby, a Grey Heron, c20 Fieldfare and 2 Redwing and a singing Goldcrest and Blackcap.
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A walk along the Bunk trail to the Gravel pit.
7 Chiffchaff on walk with 3 in song, 1 in the garden 1 at CSW and another at the GP.
Gravel pit had a Little Ringed Plover, 8 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, 4 Lapwing, c100 Lesser Blackback Gull, 10 Black-headed Gull and a Common Gull.
A Raven, Sparrowhawk and 2 Meadow Pipit over.
A Tawny Owl calling nearby, a Grey Heron, c20 Fieldfare and 2 Redwing and a singing Goldcrest and Blackcap.
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Friday, 6 March 2026
Lollingdon
Overcast then rain, 7°, light N.
An uneventful walk out to Lollingdon and a wet walk back.
Lollingdon Hill was quite deserted but I could see c1000 Gulls in the vicinity of Kingstanding Hill on fields that were being worked. approx. 1km away.
The flood had 40 Lapwing, c200 Lesser Blackback Gull, c20 Black-headed Gull, 5 Common Gull, 1-2 Herring Gull plus 2 Chiffchaff in song on the periphery.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
An uneventful walk out to Lollingdon and a wet walk back.
Lollingdon Hill was quite deserted but I could see c1000 Gulls in the vicinity of Kingstanding Hill on fields that were being worked. approx. 1km away.
The flood had 40 Lapwing, c200 Lesser Blackback Gull, c20 Black-headed Gull, 5 Common Gull, 1-2 Herring Gull plus 2 Chiffchaff in song on the periphery.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Thursday, 5 March 2026
Bunk again
Hazy sunshine, 16°, light SE.
Bunk area was fairly quiet today. 3 Chiffchaff at CSW, 2 in song, 2 Goldcrest, a Grey Heron, Yellowhammer, 2 Herring Gull and 20+ Fieldfare and 6 Redwing.
Gravel pit was a bit more active with 4 Shelduck, 26 Shoveler, 14 Tufted Duck, 4 Gadwall, a Green Sandpiper, 4 Lapwing, a Tawny Owl, and Chiffchaff and Blackcap. Again around 300 Gulls.
Butterflies: numbers of Brimstone and Peacock.
Bunk area was fairly quiet today. 3 Chiffchaff at CSW, 2 in song, 2 Goldcrest, a Grey Heron, Yellowhammer, 2 Herring Gull and 20+ Fieldfare and 6 Redwing.
Gravel pit was a bit more active with 4 Shelduck, 26 Shoveler, 14 Tufted Duck, 4 Gadwall, a Green Sandpiper, 4 Lapwing, a Tawny Owl, and Chiffchaff and Blackcap. Again around 300 Gulls.
Butterflies: numbers of Brimstone and Peacock.
Monday, 2 March 2026
Bunk
Sunny, 15°, light SSE.
Bunk:
2 Mute Swan, 7 Gadwall, 5 Tufted Duck, 4 Lapwing, 300+ Gulls, mainly Lesser Blackback, a few Black-headed Gull and 1 Great Blackback Gull at the Gravel Pit.
Elsewhere: a single Chiffchaff, Blackcap, 3 Goldcrest, 50+ Fieldfare, a handful of Redwing, a Jay, a Grey Heron and 2 Herring Gull.
Good to hear several Skylark in song.
Butterflies: several Brimstone and Peacock.
Bunk:
2 Mute Swan, 7 Gadwall, 5 Tufted Duck, 4 Lapwing, 300+ Gulls, mainly Lesser Blackback, a few Black-headed Gull and 1 Great Blackback Gull at the Gravel Pit.
Elsewhere: a single Chiffchaff, Blackcap, 3 Goldcrest, 50+ Fieldfare, a handful of Redwing, a Jay, a Grey Heron and 2 Herring Gull.
Good to hear several Skylark in song.
Butterflies: several Brimstone and Peacock.
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