Migrants arriving

Sunny spells, 16º, fresh SW.

Cholsey marsh proved a worthwhile visit today with a fair few migrants arriving, Twenty plus Chiffchaff, eight Willow Warbler, five Sedge Warbler, a single Reed Warbler, two Blackcap, two Whitethroat, a ♂ Redstart, a Grasshopper Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler, Common Sandpiper, five Sand Martin and around a dozen Swallow.

Other species were a singing Goldcrest, two Grey Wagtail, two Jay, a Grey Heron, Kingfisher, five Siskin, two Bullfinch, Meadow Pipit, Song Thrush, Water Rail, Reed Bunting, Starling and Green and Great-spotted Woodpecker, Great Crested Grebe, 58 species in total.

Lollingdon hill was very quiet as the wind was buffeting the south face and even the sheep were laying down backs to the wind. Several Stock Dove and Song Thrush in the fields below to the north and three plus Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer around and a couple of Swallow.

A ♀ Great-spotted Woodpecker in the garden and a ♂ Blackcap visiting and also in song in the hedgerow in the meadow and a Chiffchaff singing.

Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies seen.

Whitethroat

Great Crested Grebe

Lollingdon, 21st August

Sunny spells, 22º, light W.

A couple of visits to Lollingdon today overlapping with visits from two other birders. TW arrived first and had a Lesser Whitethroat, a couple of Whitethroats and a Spotted Flycatcher on the south side of the hill.

The flycatcher family still present and quite mobile and one of the Redstart of yesterday still present nearby, another Spotted Flycatcher at the other end of the field giving a total of eight in the area.

Several Blackcap, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff in the area, two Hobby, a Sparrowhawk, five Kestrel, a Song Thrush, nine Mistle Thrush, three Great-spotted Woodpecker, a Treecreeper, one Grey Partridge, and two Grey Heron flew over and one settled on the spring.