Redstart

Mainly sunny, 21°, light WNW.

Unfortunately the field I mentioned earlier in the week that hosted loads of butterflies has been cut. There appears to be no plants higher than 10cm left and subsequently no butterflies other than a few Whites traversing the area. Why cut it?

3 Lapwing dropped in on the field at the far side briefly.

Lollingdon Hill was pretty busy today with the first autumn Redstart, 30+ Mistle Thrush, a Tit flock comprising 20+ Long-tailed Tit, 11 Blue Tit and 3 Chiffchaff. 2 Raven, 5 Common Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap and 7 House Sparrow.

A couple of Lapwing nearby.

A Reed Warbler singing (sub-song) in the small woodland next to the school early afternoon.

Mammals: Brown Hare.

Dragonflies: Beautiful Demoiselle, Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker and Common Darter.

Butterflies: Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Small Heath. Far fewer than earlier in the week.

Some rather blurred and heavily cropped Redstart pics 

Today & Yesterday

Mainly cloudy with a few rain showers, 13°, light SW.

A rather soggy walk out along the Bunk line yesterday and passed Alan on his way back.

Not a lot seen though!

3 Swans seen distantly flying north-west but too far away for a specific i.d.

A Chiffchaff noted by Alan and a couple of Grey Wagtail and several Pied Wagtail present along the Green lane area.

And a flock of several hundred Fieldfare, Redwing and Starling feeding in the fields and a Treecreeper noted.

Alan out again today and found a nice Little Owl near to Cholsey Hill.

Generally quiet along the river and just the usuals seen.  

Had to be content with the garden today and a little group of House Sparrow visiting along with the other regulars.

Redstart again

Cloudy with sunny intervals, 20°, light NNE.

2 Common Redstart (juvs) on the hill today, 1 in the usual hedge and another in the Hawthorns along the hill. Not always viewable but vocal and a couple of young Chiffchaff around.

20+ House Sparrow also present, they usually turn up on the hill this time of year but not as many as this.

5 Kestrel hunting the hill. Loads of Swift around with 100+ over a period of a couple of hours.

3 Little Owl noted and the flock of around 12 Mistle Thrush still present.

Reps: 2 Common Lizard.

Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle and Emperor Dragonfly.

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

Busy Garden

Cloudy then rain, 8°, fresh SSE.

A windy and wet day and not particularly fond of birding in those conditions, so a watch kept on the garden and a busy garden it was!

A lot more Finches today, the usual Tit flocks with associated species including Coal Tit, Treecreeper, Great-spotted Woodpecker (2), Green Woodpecker and a few House Sparrow.

Not much.

Not much to report on as I have been rather busy in the month coming up to Xmas.

The garden is becoming a lot more active now winter seems to have set in.

For the first time since I have been here I am getting House Sparrows visiting on a regular basis, a maximum of 6 together so far but they have been here most days recently. They have a tendency to feed on the ground around the feeding station with the Chaffinches. I guess they will eventually start using the feeders in time.

Other visitors include a pair of Coal Tits and possibly 2 separate groups of Long-tailed Tits that have become more frequent lately.

Other species visiting the garden on a regular basis are: Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Collared Dove, Wood Pigeon, Tawny Owl, Treecreeper, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Carrion Crow, Moorhen, Mallard, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Goldfinch, and Greenfinch.

Hopefully will get some scarcer species once cold weather sets in.

I have also seen the Treecreeper again (the one with the dodgy leg (s)), managed to get some better views and it appears to have both legs but is crippled in some way. It uses its tail to stabilise itself due to some weakness in one or both legs and the tail is always out at an extreme angle to compensate.

Went out the other day to Farmoor where a Great Northern Diver was present and also a Goosander and then to Sutton Courtney and amongst many other waterfowl there were 2 Red-crested Pochard and a few Pintail.