River

Sunny periods, 22°, light S.

Alan along the river and 2 new for the year*: Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Kingfisher, Sedge Warbler, Nuthatch, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Swallow, House Martin and Swift.

Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Beautiful Demoiselle, *Small Red eyed Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, White-legged Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Emperor, Brown Hawker, Black-tailed Skimmer, Emerald Damselfly, Ruddy Darter and Common Darter.

Butterflies: *Essex Skipper, Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Brimstone, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Comma, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Gatekeeper and Small Heath.

All pics courtesy Alan

Yellow Wagtail

Gatekeeper

Emerald Damselfly

Ruddy Darter

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Brimstone

Essex Skipper

Tony & Alan's stuff

Sunshine, 26°, light to breezy SSE.

A communication from Tony Rayner today regarding his garden:

“Now seeing lots of butterflies - Meadow Brown, Marbled White, Ringlet, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Small Heath, Large White, Small Copper, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Brimstone to name but a few.

Still hearing Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer in the distance.” 

Tony has also been catching a few good moths lately including the following.

Eyed Hawk Moth

 Large Emerald Moth

200+ Pyramid Orchids growing in Tony's garden.

Alan found an Essex Skipper yesterday. Difficult to tell apart from Small Skipper. Small Skipper is similar but lacks the black tips to the antennae. 

And a Hedgehog is a regular visitor to Alan’s garden.

The Lees area

Sunny intervals, 24°, breezy NW.

A walk out to the Lees this afternoon found the farmland on the way out quite barren. Some of the so called “conservation strips” had been mown and were pretty lifeless. Any wild flowers gone, no butterflies and no bees. Still can’t figure out why some local farms do this?

Beyond the Lees things were a little different as the habitat became a little more diverse with the woodland, long ditch and the reedy ditch.

A couple of Sedge Warbler and a single Reed Warbler noted carrying food, so presumably still have young in the nest.

A Grey Heron nearby and couple of Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer and Skylark seen along with Jay, Blackcap and Common Whitethroat.

A few dragonfly along the long ditch and a lot of butterflies and bees around an area of mainly Common Vetch and a few other flowers.

Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly and Common Darter (1st of the year).

Butterflies: Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Large Skipper, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet.

 Skylark

 Essex Skipper (though I may be wrong)

 Small Tortoiseshell

 Banded Demoiselle

 Azure Damselfly

 Jay

Ringlets

Agatha Christie Trail

Sunny, 24°, light SSE.

A walk alongside the Bunk line along the Agatha Christie trail today.

At least 2 Sand Martin over Cholsey SF and 16 Black-headed Gull over also.

Whitethroats still prominent along with Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Yellowhammer and Linnet.

Swift, Swallow and House Martin overhead, a Sparrowhawk with prey, 3 Buzzard and the usual Red Kites.

Dragonflies: Common Blue Damselfly, Brown Hawker and Common Darter.

Butterflies: Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Large White, Small White, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Marbled White, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet. Also a 6-spot Burnet Moth.

A sample of 10 skippers on the Eastenders plot 6 Small Skipper and 4 Essex Skipper.

Sand Martin, Brown Hawker and Essex Skipper all new for the year.

 6-spot Burnet

Meadow Brown