Willow Emerald

Another sunny day, 24°, light S.

Fortunately the Willow Emerald Damselfly population at Cholsey Meadows survived the drastic clear-out of the ponds by contractors over the winter.

Alan found a couple today. First for the year.

Alan managed the Bunk line today as well as the Marsh and Meadows. Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Yellow Wagtail, Swallow and Lesser Blackback Gull.

I went out to Lollingdon but with little success: 3 Blackcap and 14 Chiffchaff and that was about it.

Although a Redstart was calling from somewhere in the school playing field area, presumably the one seen near the church the other day. Possibly a second one there?

Mammals: Brown Hare.

Dragonflies: all sites, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Small Red-eyed Damselfly, 1 Emerald Damselfly, 2 Willow Emerald Damselfly, Emperor, Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Migrant Hawker, Common Darter and Ruddy Darter.

Butterflies: all site, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown.

Arachnids: 4 Wasp Spider.

all pics courtesy Alan.  

Willow Emerald

Emerald Damsel

Migrant Hawker

Small Red-eyed Damsel

Wasp Spider

Lollingdon & Thames

Mainly sunny, 25°, light NNW.

Pretty quiet bird wise out at Lollingdon today. The Lapwing appear to have departed other than that all the usual present.

Alan had very much the same along the river.

A day all round for insects. Plenty of Marbled White and Meadow Brown on the wing and a few Common Blue on the hill.

Also Large and Small Skipper, Red Admiral, Ringlet and Comma noted.

Alan found about 4 Emerald Damselfly and a female Ruddy Darter.

And the first Southern Hawker for the year out at Lollingdon.

Spent about an hour on the allotment this afternoon with up to 20 Swift screeching around overhead plus the odd House Martin and Swallow.

There was also a male Black-tailed Skimmer hunting on the allotment plus several Common Blue and Azure Damselfly and a Cinnabar Moth.

Full list from Alan: Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Kingfisher, Skylark and Reed Bunting etc.

Dragons: Beautiful Demoiselle, Banded Demoiselle, Ruddy Darter, Common Darter, Four-spotted Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Emperor, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Brown Hawker, Red-eyed Damselfly and Emerald Damselfly.

Butterflies: Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Comma and Red Admiral.

Young Blackbird bathing ↕

Emerald Damsel courtesy Alan ↕

Large Skipper

Ruddy Darter (imm m) courtesy Alan

Southern Hawker

Speckled Wood

Wild flower meadows or not

Sunny, 26°, light NE.

A source has informed me that 2 fields between the railway tunnel and the rail bridge that was being worked on (out by the Lees) have been planted with wild flowers. The reason being that the farm cannot now get a combine over the bridge to harvest the crop. So uneconomical to sustain it.

I had a walk out there today and the fields have been worked but all I could see were mainly thistle growing and sparse areas of other plants otherwise quite devoid of any insect life. Will wait and see how this develops.

Further out beyond the Lees, both Sedge (5) and Reed Warbler (2) present, Chiffchaff (2), Blackcap (2), Common Whitethroat (1), Yellow Wagtail (3), Yellowhammer (5), Reed Bunting (6), Skylark (10+) and Corn Bunting (1).

Although insects were relatively sparce there were a few:

Dragonflies: Beautiful Demoiselle, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Emperor and Black-tailed Skimmer.

Butterflies: Large Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood and Small Heath.

A few more Bees, solitary Wasps and others noted.

Alan out and about along the river and added: Cuckoo, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Kingfisher, Common Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, Swallow, House Martin, Swift and Grey Wagtail.

Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Beautiful Demoiselle, Emerald Damselfly, White-legged Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Black-tailed Skimmer, Four-spotted Chaser, Emperor, Broad-bodied Chaser, Ruddy Darter and Common Darter.

Butterflies: Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Small Blue, Brown Argus, Small Heath, Red Admiral and Common Blue.

Still no sign of Swallow and House Martin nesting in the Church Road area of the village.

The House Martins that turned up last week probably have not been able to find mud to either repair or rebuild their nests and have not discovered pre-built nest boxes nearby?

Or, could it be lack of aerial insects?

Emerald Damselfly courtesy Alan

Marsh Orchid or hybrid sp ?

 Sedge Warbler song

Cooler?

Sunny at first then clouding up, 28°, light WSW.

Lollingdon Hill quite busy today at least 12 Red Kite and up to 4 Buzzard overhead and a flock of c 80 Corvids. Mainly Rook with c20 Jackdaw and 4 Raven put in an appearance.

Singles of Mistle Thrush, Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat and 2 Blackcap.

Nearby, 2 Little Owl calling and several Yellow Wagtail, plus the usual Yellowhammer and Linnet.

Alan covered the Bunk and River: Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Grey Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail and Yellowhammer.

Mammals: Brown Hare.

Dragonflies: Willow Emerald Damselfly, Common Emerald Damselfly, Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker, Brown Hawker, Emperor, Ruddy Darter & Common Darter.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Brown Argus, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper & Meadow Brown.

Arachnids: Wasp Spider.

Yellow Wagtail

Brown Hare ↕

Migrant Hawker courtesy Alan

Yellow Wagtail

Wasp Spider with Red-eyed Damsel as prey courtesy Alan

Common Emerald courtesy Alan

Another warm one

Sunny, 28°+, light NNW.

Alan out at Lollingdon and a few other spots: Spotted Flycatcher, Common Redstart (m), Yellow Wagtail, Raven, Sparrowhawk and Little Owl.

Dragonflies: Emerald Damselfly.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Peacock.

Moths: Hummingbird Hawkmoth frequenting Alan’s garden recently.

Insects: Wasp Spider.

Emerald Damselfly courtesy Alan

Wasp Spider courtesy Alan