Meeting with BBOWT

Sunny at first then clouding over, 5°, light W.

A very positive meeting today with a BBOWT representative at Cholsey Marsh.

Mark Bradfield of BBOWT (community wildlife officer) met with Tony Rayner and myself at Cholsey Marsh this morning.

If all goes well BBOWT should be taking on the management of the reserve sometime this year with a lot of work to be done once that happens.

We discussed the value to local wildlife that the reserve holds from the roosting Corn Buntings in the winter to the various visitors that breed on the marsh during the summer months.

Also Reptiles, Amphibians, Dragonflies, Butterflies and other species that inhabit the marsh including the “British red data” species, Desmoulin’s Whorl Snail that has special conservation status.

One of the major aspects was to engage the local community in many aspects of the marsh and over the coming months it is hoped that we can develop and communicate this to local residents.

Just over 30 species noted this morning on or over the marsh.

Later in the morning a visit to the EastEnders garden where there were at least 7 Lesser Redpoll feeding and I managed to get a few pics through the kitchen window.

Our own garden is still very busy with 2 Nuthatch still visiting, also at least 2 Treecreeper regular.

Belated news of a Bittern flushed from Cholsey Marsh last year.

Also the first Blackcap of the winter in the village seen by Michael Pocock on Saturday.

Bittern!

Sunny spells, showers, 9º, fresh gusting to strong SW.

A visit to Cholsey marsh again this afternoon, the Thames has risen slightly from yesterday.

No sign of the Shrike again today but a Eurasian Bittern put in an appearance. First seen after being flushed by a Spaniel and then seen later on the south section of the marsh and seen to cross the bottom of Ferry rd and move off in to the north section of the marsh and is probably half way to Wallingford by now.
Geoff & Bob Wyatt, Michael Pocock  & Richard Broughton managed to see it also.

Around twenty Common Snipe and the same of Teal seen and a Chiffchaff heard calling.

No Corn Buntings this evening, where do they go? Usual number of Reed Bunting and two Yellowhammer roosted in the Sedge and a probable sighting of the Cetti’s Warbler, also a late Barn Owl showed hunting the southern edge of the marsh.

A ♂ Sparrowhawk in the garden this morning along with a Pheasant and Stock Dove and the ringed ♂ Blackcap still visiting the garden.

Eurasian Bittern courtesy © Richard Broughton

Great Grey Shrike from last week end Courtesy © David Hastings