Sunshine and News

Sunshine, 22°, light SSW.

2 bits of good news: Polecat has bred locally with a pair and a kit photographed recently in a Cholsey garden.

And a pair of Barn Owl with 2 young in the village.

All settled along the Bunk line area today. Still a few songsters in full voice with Common Whitethroat and Blackcap topping the charts.

A Hobby and a Sand Martin seen and a second Hobby late afternoon over the village.

The River/Marsh, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler and Cetti’s Warbler etc.

Nuthatch in the garden.

Mammals: Roe Deer, and 2 Hedgehog in garden most evenings.

Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Azure Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, White-legged Damselfly, Hairy Dragonfly, Emperor, Four-spot Chaser & Black-tailed Skimmer.

Butterflies: Large Skipper, Large White, Small White, Small Blue, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Marbled White, Meadow Brown & Small Heath.

Paul & Alan.

Polecats 

Roe Buck

Small Heath

Common Whitethroat

Marbled White courtesy Alan

Black-tailed Skimmer courtesy Alan

Pyramid Orchid courtesy Alan

Large Skipper courtesy Alan

Linnet courtesy Alan

Milder

Cloudy, 11°, light SW.

Another relatively quiet walk out to Lollingdon today. A male Stonechat still around the hill and the female wintering near the cattle field has now been joined by a male.

A Little Egret seen distantly and good numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing roaming the fields.

A scattering of Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Linnet and Yellowhammer plus 3 Corn Bunting.

Bunk line with Alan: apart from a big flock of Chaffinch and Linnet, not much happening. Although 2 Little Owl made an appearance.

Mammals: Roe Deer and a dead Polecat found along Halfpenny Lane, Per MA.

Stonechat

Little Owl courtesy Alan

Polecat

Unfortunately a Polecat was hit by a car near Cholsey Hill. It was picked up by a car following but died soon after.

This is only the 2nd record of Polecat in Cholsey with 2 seen in 2010.

The Polecat is a native British Mammal and has expanded its range eastwards recently from its stronghold in Wales.

This one was a male approx. 40cm from snout to rump. A DNA sample was given to the Natural History Museum, London and we await results.

Information and photos courtesy Vicky Gilson.

Sweet Violet to lighten the mood.