2 Stonechat, 1 Whinchat, 1 Wheatear and Meadow Pipit over.
Whinchat
Wheatear
Stonechat
Showing posts with label Meadow Pipit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Meadow Pipit. Show all posts
Thursday, 14 September 2023
Monday, 3 April 2023
One Swallow does not a summer make.
Mainly sunny, 12°, light E.
A few areas covered today but overall rather quiet.
A Wheatear and 2 Little Egret out at Lollingdon. Per MFJ.
2-4 Swallow, 2 Grey Wagtail, 4 Lapwing, several Fieldfare and Redwing, Meadow Pipit, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Yellowhammer, Herring Gull, Lesser Blackback Gull, Black-headed Gull.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
A few areas covered today but overall rather quiet.
A Wheatear and 2 Little Egret out at Lollingdon. Per MFJ.
2-4 Swallow, 2 Grey Wagtail, 4 Lapwing, several Fieldfare and Redwing, Meadow Pipit, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Yellowhammer, Herring Gull, Lesser Blackback Gull, Black-headed Gull.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Reptiles & Amphibians: Common Lizard found by Niall Hammond.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Comma & Peacock.
Insects: Dark-edged Bee-fly.
PC & AD.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Comma & Peacock.
Insects: Dark-edged Bee-fly.
PC & AD.
Thursday, 15 September 2022
Chiffs
Mainly cloudy, 17°, light NW.
1, poss 2 Common Redstart out at Lollingdon today. Also a single Spotted Flycatcher and the first Meadow Pipit (12) of the autumn.
c200 Hirundines over the hill in a period of 1.5 hours and a hint of a small movement of Skylark.
A good number of Chiffchaff, including a “flock” of 7 together and a couple of Yellow and Pied Wagtail.
A Little Egret seen briefly out near Little Lollingdon.
Alan along the Silly bridge area with a Wheatear and several more Meadow Pipit and Yellow Wagtail.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Dragonflies: a couple of Common Darter.
Butterflies: a few Small White, 1 Peacock and 1 Speckled Wood.
1, poss 2 Common Redstart out at Lollingdon today. Also a single Spotted Flycatcher and the first Meadow Pipit (12) of the autumn.
c200 Hirundines over the hill in a period of 1.5 hours and a hint of a small movement of Skylark.
A good number of Chiffchaff, including a “flock” of 7 together and a couple of Yellow and Pied Wagtail.
A Little Egret seen briefly out near Little Lollingdon.
Alan along the Silly bridge area with a Wheatear and several more Meadow Pipit and Yellow Wagtail.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Dragonflies: a couple of Common Darter.
Butterflies: a few Small White, 1 Peacock and 1 Speckled Wood.
Monday, 20 September 2021
Lollingdon, Bunk & Cholsey Meadows
Sunny spells, 19°, light NNW.
2 Wheatear and a few Meadow Pipit (first ones of the autumn) on Lollingdon hill this morning plus a few Chiffchaff (only sp of warbler noted) and a handful of Swallow overhead.
A Little Owl and a Kestrel nearby were the only birds of note.
Alan logged some more Meadow Pipit and 6+ Yellow Wagtail along the Bunk line and a Stonechat near the gravel pit. And checked out the Willow Emeralds again.
Several Egyptian Geese flew over Church road just after dark this evening.
Mammals: Short-tailed Vole, Stoat & Brown Hare.
Dragonflies: Willow Emerald, Migrant Hawker, Southern Hawker & Common Darter.
Butterflies: Large White, Common Blue, Red Admiral & Speckled Wood.
Someone operating a drone over the Bullshole this morning and flew off towards the Church!
2 Wheatear and a few Meadow Pipit (first ones of the autumn) on Lollingdon hill this morning plus a few Chiffchaff (only sp of warbler noted) and a handful of Swallow overhead.
A Little Owl and a Kestrel nearby were the only birds of note.
Alan logged some more Meadow Pipit and 6+ Yellow Wagtail along the Bunk line and a Stonechat near the gravel pit. And checked out the Willow Emeralds again.
Several Egyptian Geese flew over Church road just after dark this evening.
Mammals: Short-tailed Vole, Stoat & Brown Hare.
Dragonflies: Willow Emerald, Migrant Hawker, Southern Hawker & Common Darter.
Butterflies: Large White, Common Blue, Red Admiral & Speckled Wood.
Someone operating a drone over the Bullshole this morning and flew off towards the Church!
Willow Emeralds courtesy Alan ↕
Wheatear
Tuesday, 29 September 2020
Mipit Fest
Overcast with low cloud at first then clearing to sunny spells, warming up to 17°, light W.
Lollingdon Hill was quite lively with 100+ Meadow Pipit present and many more overhead, 250-300 in total. 3 Stonechat, 1 Wheatear, 2 Corn Bunting, 10 Yellowhammer, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Blackcap and several Chiffchaff today.
3 Raven on the north side of the hill and a Kestrel.
20+ Skylark and 5 Pied Wagtail overhead.
Another small flock of c12 Yellowhammer and 2+ Reed Bunting near Little Lollingdon.
Alan saw 2 more Stonechat along Westfield road and another 6 at a site nearby but out of the Parish. Also several Swallow and House Martin along the Bunk line.
Coal Tit in song, Whitehead Meadow.
Mammals: Brown Hare and Stoat.
Dragonflies: 2 Southern Hawker and several Common Darter.
Butterflies: several Whites and a Red Admiral.
Lollingdon Hill was quite lively with 100+ Meadow Pipit present and many more overhead, 250-300 in total. 3 Stonechat, 1 Wheatear, 2 Corn Bunting, 10 Yellowhammer, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Blackcap and several Chiffchaff today.
3 Raven on the north side of the hill and a Kestrel.
20+ Skylark and 5 Pied Wagtail overhead.
Another small flock of c12 Yellowhammer and 2+ Reed Bunting near Little Lollingdon.
Alan saw 2 more Stonechat along Westfield road and another 6 at a site nearby but out of the Parish. Also several Swallow and House Martin along the Bunk line.
Coal Tit in song, Whitehead Meadow.
Mammals: Brown Hare and Stoat.
Dragonflies: 2 Southern Hawker and several Common Darter.
Butterflies: several Whites and a Red Admiral.
Quite few Meadow Pipit pics today followed by a distant shot of the 3 Stonechat and the last 2 Stonechat from Alan.
Thursday, 10 September 2020
Early start
A sunny day, 18°, light N.
An earlier than usual start today to make for Lollingdon Hill.
2 Wheatear present in a ploughed field on the lower slopes of the hill, 2 Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Common Whitethroat and 2 Chiffchaff along one of the hedgerows. A single Yellow Wagtail overhead and up to 20 Meadow Pipit over and a few Skylark.
4-5 Kestrel hunting around the hill. And a lot of Lesser Blackback Gull loafing in various fields in the area.
3 Spotted Flycatcher in the cattle field along with another Blackcap.
6 Yellowhammer still out at Little Lollingdon and a single Swallow seen.
A Hobby flew south over the garden just after midday.
2 Wheatear at Silly Bridge along with several Meadow Pipit, Skylark and a few Yellow Wagtail and c20 House Martin along the Bunk Line. Per Alan.
Dragonflies: a single Southern Hawker and a lot of Common Darter.
Butterflies: as usual of late, a number of Large and Small White and 2 Red Admiral.
An earlier than usual start today to make for Lollingdon Hill.
2 Wheatear present in a ploughed field on the lower slopes of the hill, 2 Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Common Whitethroat and 2 Chiffchaff along one of the hedgerows. A single Yellow Wagtail overhead and up to 20 Meadow Pipit over and a few Skylark.
4-5 Kestrel hunting around the hill. And a lot of Lesser Blackback Gull loafing in various fields in the area.
3 Spotted Flycatcher in the cattle field along with another Blackcap.
6 Yellowhammer still out at Little Lollingdon and a single Swallow seen.
A Hobby flew south over the garden just after midday.
2 Wheatear at Silly Bridge along with several Meadow Pipit, Skylark and a few Yellow Wagtail and c20 House Martin along the Bunk Line. Per Alan.
Dragonflies: a single Southern Hawker and a lot of Common Darter.
Butterflies: as usual of late, a number of Large and Small White and 2 Red Admiral.
Blue Tit & Spotted Flycatcher ↕
One of the Wheatears from today (courtesy Alan)
Peregrine Falcon (from yesterday, courtesy Alan)
Spotted Flycatcher (from yesterday, courtesy Alan)
Lesser Blackback Gulls
Tuesday, 8 September 2020
One of those days 👍
Cloudy, 21°, light WSW.
A walk out to the Lees area today and turned out to be one of those good days!
Firstly a subdued song coming from the corner of a maize field turned out to be a Reed Warbler. I began to suspect a Reed Warbler but it was not until about 30 minutes later the bird appeared on the edge of the field briefly before disappearing again.
Secondly, happened to notice a butterfly on Dandelions near some farm buildings that turned out to be a Painted Lady. My first for the year!
Thirdly, walking back towards Manor farm I heard an alarm call of a falcon. Then next a small falcon shot by being pursued by a corvid. I managed to get onto the falcon and it was a juvenile Merlin. The birds had come from the direction of Cholsey hill, they shot by me and disappeared over the main railway line towards Lollingdon.
It was only then as the corvid broke off the pursuit I realised it was a Raven that had been chasing the Merlin. The Raven then flew back overhead and moved off towards Cholsey hill and was joined by another.
Then walking thru by the Church I saw a Sparrowhawk take a Greenfinch out of the sky. No matter what the finch did the hawk tracked it with precision and caught it.
Other birds seen were Chiffchaff (5), a Blackcap, Reed Bunting (3), Yellow Wagtail (4), 2 Raven, and a Kestrel.
A light movement of Swallow and House Martin (c100), fizzled out by midday.
Alan was out on Lollingdon Hill today: 1 Lesser Whitethroat, several Meadow Pipit (first of the autumn) and an amazing number of up to 15 Kestrel around the hill!
Dragonflies: several Southern Hawker, a Four-spot Chaser (egg laying) and several Common Darter.
Butterflies: several Large White and Small White, 2 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady and 1 Speckled Wood.
Painted Lady
A pale Buzzard that frequents the Lollingdon area. (courtesy Alan). ↕
A walk out to the Lees area today and turned out to be one of those good days!
Firstly a subdued song coming from the corner of a maize field turned out to be a Reed Warbler. I began to suspect a Reed Warbler but it was not until about 30 minutes later the bird appeared on the edge of the field briefly before disappearing again.
Secondly, happened to notice a butterfly on Dandelions near some farm buildings that turned out to be a Painted Lady. My first for the year!
Thirdly, walking back towards Manor farm I heard an alarm call of a falcon. Then next a small falcon shot by being pursued by a corvid. I managed to get onto the falcon and it was a juvenile Merlin. The birds had come from the direction of Cholsey hill, they shot by me and disappeared over the main railway line towards Lollingdon.
It was only then as the corvid broke off the pursuit I realised it was a Raven that had been chasing the Merlin. The Raven then flew back overhead and moved off towards Cholsey hill and was joined by another.
Then walking thru by the Church I saw a Sparrowhawk take a Greenfinch out of the sky. No matter what the finch did the hawk tracked it with precision and caught it.
Other birds seen were Chiffchaff (5), a Blackcap, Reed Bunting (3), Yellow Wagtail (4), 2 Raven, and a Kestrel.
A light movement of Swallow and House Martin (c100), fizzled out by midday.
Alan was out on Lollingdon Hill today: 1 Lesser Whitethroat, several Meadow Pipit (first of the autumn) and an amazing number of up to 15 Kestrel around the hill!
Dragonflies: several Southern Hawker, a Four-spot Chaser (egg laying) and several Common Darter.
Butterflies: several Large White and Small White, 2 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady and 1 Speckled Wood.
Tuesday, 10 September 2019
Whinchat, Wheatears, Redstart etc
A misty start then sunshine and cloud, 17°, light WNW.
A Common Redstart (m), 3 Wheatear, 2 Kestrel and several Chiffchaff on the hill today.
4 Spotted Flycatcher nearby and 2 Blackcap.
A reasonable passage of Hirundines over the hill with just short of 200 birds. Almost equal numbers of Swallow and House Martin. A handful of Meadow Pipit flyovers (first ones of the autumn).
A Whinchat along the Bunk line this morning (per Alan Dawson).
Mammals: Short-tailed Vole & Brown Hare.
Reps: 1 Common Lizard.
Dragonflies: Southern Hawker & Common Darter.
Butterflies: Large White, Red Admiral (2), Comma (2) and Speckled Wood.
A Common Redstart (m), 3 Wheatear, 2 Kestrel and several Chiffchaff on the hill today.
4 Spotted Flycatcher nearby and 2 Blackcap.
A reasonable passage of Hirundines over the hill with just short of 200 birds. Almost equal numbers of Swallow and House Martin. A handful of Meadow Pipit flyovers (first ones of the autumn).
A Whinchat along the Bunk line this morning (per Alan Dawson).
Mammals: Short-tailed Vole & Brown Hare.
Reps: 1 Common Lizard.
Dragonflies: Southern Hawker & Common Darter.
Butterflies: Large White, Red Admiral (2), Comma (2) and Speckled Wood.
Whinchat (courtesy Alan)
Spotted Flycatcher ↕
Common Redstart
Chiffchaff ↕
Tuesday, 18 December 2018
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 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.
Monday, 17 September 2018
Raven & Red Kite
Cloudy at first then brighter, 21°, breezy SSW.
Fairly quiet on the hill today with 123 House Martin over in a 1 hour period, 3 Meadow Pipit and a Skylark.
A Raven being mobbed by a Red Kite but it did not seem to deter the Raven that spent a good couple of minutes over the hill before flying off to the south east.
Elsewhere, 1 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 3 Reed Bunting and approx. 12 Yellowhammer.
Dragonflies: 1 Southern Hawker and 5 Common Darter.
Butterflies: a handful of Large White and Small White, 1 Green-veined White and 3 Speckled Wood.
Fairly quiet on the hill today with 123 House Martin over in a 1 hour period, 3 Meadow Pipit and a Skylark.
A Raven being mobbed by a Red Kite but it did not seem to deter the Raven that spent a good couple of minutes over the hill before flying off to the south east.
Elsewhere, 1 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 3 Reed Bunting and approx. 12 Yellowhammer.
Dragonflies: 1 Southern Hawker and 5 Common Darter.
Butterflies: a handful of Large White and Small White, 1 Green-veined White and 3 Speckled Wood.
Raven & Red Kite
Speckled Wood
Thursday, 6 September 2018
A few migrants still
Sunny at first then clouding over, 18°, light to breezy W.
2 Whinchat and a Garden Warbler on the hill today. The Whinchats were well down towards the farm and the warbler was in the hedge. A small trickle of Meadow Pipit overhead, about a dozen birds in all.
The central hedge in the cow field was lively again with 5 Spotted Flycatcher, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler and 10+ Chiffchaff and a brief glimpse of a Common Redstart but unable to relocate it.
2 Kestrel and 5+ Jay seen and a Coal Tit heard.
Another Whinchat on the hill this afternoon. Per AD
Forgot to mention a Barn Owl seen out in Lollingdon yesterday. Per TW.
A few Swallow and House Martin still around the Church road area and may still be feeding young.
Reptiles: 3 Common Lizard.
Dragonflies: Southern Hawker and Common Darter.
Butterflies: a single Clouded Yellow flew through, Large White, Small White, 5 Common Blue, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood.
2 Whinchat and a Garden Warbler on the hill today. The Whinchats were well down towards the farm and the warbler was in the hedge. A small trickle of Meadow Pipit overhead, about a dozen birds in all.
The central hedge in the cow field was lively again with 5 Spotted Flycatcher, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler and 10+ Chiffchaff and a brief glimpse of a Common Redstart but unable to relocate it.
2 Kestrel and 5+ Jay seen and a Coal Tit heard.
Another Whinchat on the hill this afternoon. Per AD
Forgot to mention a Barn Owl seen out in Lollingdon yesterday. Per TW.
A few Swallow and House Martin still around the Church road area and may still be feeding young.
Reptiles: 3 Common Lizard.
Dragonflies: Southern Hawker and Common Darter.
Butterflies: a single Clouded Yellow flew through, Large White, Small White, 5 Common Blue, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood.
Migrant Hawker (courtesy Alan Dawson)
Spotted Flycatcher
Well worn Brown Argus (courtesy Alan Dawson)
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