The Lees

Mainly cloudy, 22°, breezy SW.

Bullshole-Lees-Long Ditch etc.

Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail (Church Road), Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Grey Heron, a single Black-headed Gull over and 3 Kestrel and several Swallow near Manor Farm.

A small flock of Swift feeding along the edge of the Lees.

Grasshopper Warbler reeling on Cholsey Marsh yesterday evening. Per James Beaumont.

Mammals: Roe Deer.

Dragonflies: Beautiful Demoiselle.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock, Comma, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Small Heath. 

Burnet Companion?

Just a few bits

Sunny spells, 22°, light W.

Emperor Dragonfly, Painted Lady and 2 Scarlet Tiger on allotment.

Little Ringed Plover Bunk line area. Per BJW & AD.

Brown Hawker and Southern Hawker (yesterday) and a Ringlet (Weds). Per AD

Southern Hawker courtesy Alan

A Good day for Butterflies

Sunny, 20°, light NNE.

A good day for butterflies with the first Ringlet of the year and dozens of Meadow Brown flitting around and good numbers of Small Skipper.  

Bunk line was rather quiet today with bird song becoming less frequent as most birds have probably established breeding territories by now. Only the odd Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Common Whitethroat singing.

First young of Swallow seen on the wing with a flock of c16, the majority being young birds.

Several House Martin and Swift feeding overhead and 2 Sand Martin noted.

Alan covered the River/Marsh area: With Common Tern, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat Etc.

Dragonflies: Red eyed Damselfly, Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, White-legged Damselfly, Four Spotted Chaser & Emperor.

Butterflies: Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Large White, Small White, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Speckled Wood, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Small Heath.

Paul & Alan.

Small Skippers courtesy Alan

Comma in the Sun

Hornet Mimic Hoverfly

Common Whitethroat

Red-eyed Damsel courtesy Alan

Small Skipper courtesy Alan

Ringlet

A Grey Day

Cloudy, 16°, light to breezy NNE.

Rather quiet out at Lollingdon today, a pair of Common Whitethroat have fledged at least 3 young and a few Swift feeding overhead and that was all of note. All the regulars present, plus a Little Owl seen.

No dragonflies or butterflies this morning as probably a bit too cool.

Alan out this afternoon along the river and having a bit more luck as it got warmer. (Bunk line yesterday).

Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer and Goldcrest.

Mammals: Brown Hare & a Red Fox yesterday.

Reptiles: Grass Snake yesterday.

Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Azure Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, White-legged Damselfly, Emperor, Black-tailed Skimmer.

Butterflies: Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Comma, Marbled White, Meadow Brown & Ringlet.

Photos courtesy Alan

Ringlet

Red Fox

Black Rabbit

Some insects from the week end.

Some insects from the week end. Stag Beetle & Southern Hawker courtesy Andrew McBirnie and the White-legged Damsel, Blue-tailed Damsel, Comma and Ringlet courtesy Alan Dawson.

Sunshine & Butterflies

Sunny, 32°, light SE.

Warmest day of the year so far and a walk along the Bunk line to Winterbrook to see what butterflies were about.

(hottest July day on record with 36.7° recorded at Heathrow).

Meadow Brown were out in abundance along with good numbers of Marbled White and Ringlet.

Other species noted were: Large Skipper, Small Skipper, 1 Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Common Blue, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, 1 Red Admiral and 1 Small Heath.

Dragonflies: Common Blue Damselfly, Banded Demoiselle.

Moth: 6-spot Burnet plus a few other day flying moths that were not identified.

Common Whitethroat and Yellowhammer frequent also Chiffchaff and Blackcap.

Swift, Swallow and House Martin regular overhead.

Young of Swallow, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Linnet and Goldfinch seen.

 Marbled White & Meadow Brown

 Large Skipper

 Common Blue Damselfly

Ringlet