Hazy (polluted) Day

Very hazy, 16º, light NE.

South East England is currently suffering from air pollution and this is rated at 7 and is composed of local and continental pollution and also Saharan dust. It should all clear by tomorrow, 4th April.

Lollingdon hill was rather quiet, a few Meadow Pipit, 3 Corn Bunting singing, a couple of Red Kite and Buzzard.

2 Lapwing still in the area, 11 Fieldfare and 2 Redwing also still present, 3 Chiffchaff in song and 4 Yellowhammer.

3 Lesser Blackback Gulls overhead, the flood on the north side of the A417 has dried up, the flood to the south had 6 Lesser Blackback Gulls and 2 Mallards on.
 

There was a Little Egret on the flood opposite brook house on Wallingford road this evening with a Grey Heron and 2 Canada Geese (per MP).

Peacock & Small Tortoiseshell butterflies noted, along with Oil Beetles burrowing, many Bees and a couple of Bee Flies.

First Hedgehog of the year in the garden tonight and the Tawny Owls vocal again.

 Yellowhammer

 Chiffchaff singing high in the canopy

 Stock Dove nest prospecting in the garden

 Oil Beetle (courtesy Loren)

 Bee Fly (courtesy Loren) 

Little Egret (courtesy Michael Pocock)

Birds, Bugs & Amphibians

Cloudy, few sunny spells, 13º, quite a fresh westerly.

Visited the hill for the last 2 days but little going on, the only thing worth noting yesterday was a flock of 14 Meadow Pipit that flew over.

Today saw quite a brisk westerly blowing across the south face and subsequently nothing present other than a Raven that flew over heading for the Downs and 4 Linnet flying low in to the wind.

The north side fared not much better however around 10 Fieldfare and 6 Redwing present.

At least 10 Common Toads in the hole noted today, the light was such that you could see down inside and Loren managed to get a few pics, if they are trapped we are not sure if we can get them out.

A couple of Beetles seen, one species was Meloe proscarabeus an Oil Beetle and the other I’m not sure of, it had a distinctive triangle shape on its back (Bloody-nosed Beetle?)  .

  Raven

 Oil Beetle (Loren)

 ID required for this one. (Loren)

 Blackthorn Blossom

Some of the Toads in the hole (Loren)

 Part of the Rookery by the garden (Loren)