Disappointing

Sunny intervals, 18°, moderate WSW.

A disappointing time out along the Bunk line today:

A Hobby was the bird of the day that flew through towards the gravel pit.

Several Swift, House Martin, Sand Martin and Swallow feeding overhead.

Nothing more to note at the gravel pit and unable to see in now the nettles have grown high.

The usual Warblers seen and heard on route but little else.

Butterflies: a Large White, 2 Small White, an Orange Tip and Common Blue and 2 Small Heath.

House Sparrows courtesy Bill Nicholls

Ditto

Cloudy at first then brighter, 15°, breezy SW.

Very little change along the Bunk line today. Plenty of Swift around and a good number of Swallow but no House Martin noted.

A couple of Black-headed Gull and the usual Warblers and Buntings in song. A flock of c40 Linnet and Goldfinch feeding on Dandelion seed heads.

The River/Marsh has settled down birdwise and has become somewhat static as it usually does at this time of year. A Lesser Whitethroat still in song.

Insectwise the area is waking up:

Dragonflies: Beautiful Demoiselle & Club-tailed Dragonfly.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Orange Tip, Small White, Green-veined White, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock & Speckled Wood.

Alan & Paul.

Beautiful Demoiselle ↕ courtesy Alan

Grey Wagtail courtesy Alan

Common Clubtail courtesy Alan

Banana Cockroach courtesy Bill Nicholls

Lollingdon

Sunny, 25°, light ESE,

Lollingdon: During the walk out this morning I was continuously hearing both Common Whitethroat and Yellowhammer in song in the warm sunshine.

Also, Chiffchaff (3), Blackcap (4), Lesser Whitethroat (1) and Reed Bunting (2) plus all the regulars present.

Mammals: Roe Deer.

Dragonflies: Large Red Damselfly & an early Common Darter.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Orange Tip, Common Blue, Small Tortoiseshell & Peacock.

Common Blue ↕

Common Whitethroat ↕

No change

Cloudy with sunny spells, 15°, light NNW.

Another couple of hours around the hill today and again very little happening.

2 Raven flew over to the east and a couple of Mistle Thrush present.

A small flock of 8 House Martin over Church road mid-afternoon and 6 Swift early evening.

Reps: 2 Common Lizard.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Small White, Holly Blue, Common Blue (per AD), Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Peacock and Speckled Wood.

 Common Blue (courtesy Alan Dawson)