Hare coursers, Geese and an Owl

Sunny, 9°, breezy NW.

A bit of a mixed bag today.

Pretty quiet today and the birding somewhat overshadowed by hare coursers out at Lollingdon. Full details passed on to the Police.

The Police arrived but I am unaware of what ensued afterwards!

A small party of 5-7 Greenfinch seen out at Lollingdon. We get them regularly in the garden but a scarce bird out there for some reason.

Alan went to Little Wittenham where 3 Greater White-fronted Geese turned up and were associating with the Local Greylag Geese. A rare visitor to Oxfordshire and vary rare in Cholsey, the last record being in January 2011 for Cholsey. Photos follow.

And Gerry Sexton managed to get a great photo of a sleeping Barn Owl near Cholsey Marsh!

White-fronted Goose (all Geese photos courtesy Alan Dawson)

Barn Owl (courtesy Gerry Sexton)

Dazed & Confused

Overcast and murky, 13°, light NE.

A much cooler day than of late and no butterflies on the wing.

Very little noted today, a single Swallow flew north over the hill, a Raven over and 2 Mistle Thrush and 2 Grey Partridge on the hill.

Early evening there was a sudden thump on the living room window and a few feathers falling. On looking out I could see a grounded Greenfinch that had obviously flown into the window. I went down stairs and out to the garden to find the bird in a rather dazed and confused state.

I picked it up and determined that there were no obvious injuries and just held it for a while. It still looked a bit dazed so I put it down on a flower pot and went up to get a small box for it to recover in. by the time I got back down and approached it, it decided to fly off, appearing none the worse for its ordeal. Good result!

The Greenfinch

Grey Partridge

More litter - this came drifting over the hill and landed approx half mile away in the middle of a field of barley. 60th birthday pollution and a danger to wildlife!