Bunk & River

Sunny spells, 15°, light WNW.

Bunk and River: A cooler day with a reasonable selection of birds, very few butterflies on the wing and a relatively poor showing of other insects.

Singles of Black-headed Gull and Lesser Blackback Gull, Kingfisher, Little Owl, Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer.

Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Beautiful Demoiselle, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser.

Butterflies: did not see any myself but Alan found Brown Argus and Meadow Brown.

AD & PC.

Spotted Flycatcher courtesy Alan

WTF has someone done to Green lane? Very recent as foliage still green and dumped in ditch. Hedge cut and foliage gone. So very irresponsible!!!!!!!!!

adult Jackdaw above and youngster below.

After the Rain

Mainly cloudy with a few sunny spells, 14°, mod W.

First day for a time without rain and a walk out along the Bunk line and Green lane though fairly quiet.

A Lesser Whitethroat still present and singing well and a Sedge Warbler still but not in song and a Kingfisher.

Also Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting.

A Yellow Wagtail overhead plus 20+ Swift and c6 Swallow and an adult Herring Gull.

Alan out yesterday dodging the showers and also out today along the river.

All the usual present.

Mammals: Red Fox.

Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Azure Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly. Per Alan.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Marsh Fritillary, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Small Heath and Meadow Brown.

Red Fox

Little Owl courtesy Alan

Silver Y Moth courtesy Alan

Female and Male Reed Bunting carrying food courtesy Alan

BeauDem

Sunny, 24°, light NE.

Still sunny and warm and apparently the sunniest May ever!

Another Beautiful Demoiselle found by Alan in Cholsey. Previously this species was very rare in Cholsey with only a couple of records to date relating to wandering individuals.

This year up to 5 individuals have been found and have also been seen at sites upriver close to the Thames.

Presumably their range is expanding and it would be interesting to know why!

A walk along the Bunk line today and things seem to be settling down for the summer. A single Blackcap, a couple of Common Whitethroat and Yellowhammer still singing and a single Kestrel hunting.

Both Green and Great-spotted Woodpecker noted and a Mistle Thrush near the Church.

Several Swift, Swallow and House Martin over the Church road area.

A Whinchat seen along the track to the Lees this evening and an adult Black-headed Gull foraging over the Rec and Millennium field. Per RB.

Butterflies: Still few around, Common Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Small Heath.

 Beautiful Demoiselle (courtesy Alan) ↕

 Meadow Brown

Small Heath