Sunshine and showers, sometimes very heavy, 12º, light to
blustery SW.
A few hours on Cholsey
Marsh this morning turned up 9 Warbler species, a single Garden Warbler, 20+ Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser
Whitethroat, 20+ Sedge Warblers,
2 Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Reed Warblers, 3 Willow Warblers, 8 Chiffchaff
and as a bonus a male Redstart and a
long awaited Cuckoo.
A Common Sandpiper
was feeding along the riverbank.
Water Rail heard
and 2 Grey Herons seen, Treecreeper heard singing and both
Woodpeckers (Green and Great-spotted)
seen. A steady flow of Swallows
passing upriver and 3, maybe 4 Kingfishers
between Bow Bridge and the 4 Arches.
Buzzard, Red Kite, a pair of Kestrels and a Sparrowhawk all seen.
Then a trip to Farmoor
produced 9 Black-necked Grebe, these
birds were calling and displaying to each other whilst there!
Also 3 Shelduck,
a Whimbrel heard and a Short-eared Owl present, also several Common Terns, Lots of Pied Wagtails and quite a few White (alba) Wagtails and several Yellow Wagtails.
Lots of Swifts, Swallows, Sand Martins and the odd House
Martin, numbers variable as they would disappear after the rain showers,
presumably moving on.
6 Common Sandpipers
also noted.
Arrived at Lollingdon
Hill just as a rain shower had passed and found 5 Wheatear and another Redstart.
A Muntjac and
several Roe Deer seen, also several Orange Tip and Peacock butterflies.
Black-necked Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Common Tern
Four of the nine Black-necked Grebes
Pied (White) Wagtail
Pied (White) Wagtail
Some ole birder @ Farmoor!
