Shelduck

Sunny intervals, 5°, light N.

“Walked yesterday along the footpath of the Lees to the Astons, usual flocks of gulls and farmland birds but and on the last of the pools closest to the Astons were two Shelduck. First time I have seen this species here so a lovely new species for list! Coltsfoot in flower along the main ditch bank too.

In the Astons this week I also had a Rugged Oil Beetle on the lawn, second year I have seen this red listed invertebrates here. They are nocturnal so went out with a head torch to look and found one in tussock grass nibbling leaf blades. I made a solitary bee box last year and will be encouraging wild flowers in the lawn this year again in the hope I can encourage more of this nationally scarce invert. I haven't yet seen triungulins (larvae) so will be looking on flower heads for these in spring. Something to watch out for.” Per Vicky Gilson.

The 2 Shelduck were still present today until a rampaging, out of control dog chased everything off the floods. Per Alan.

Shelduck are annual transient visitors on spring floods in the local area with just a few records per year.

Shelduck & Lesser Blackback Gull courtesy Vicky Gilson

Coltsfoot courtesy Vicky Gilson

Rugged Oil Beetle ↕ courtesy VG

Yellowhammer courtesy Alan

Shelduck courtesy Alan

April so far.

Migrants have been arriving or passing through most of the month so far.

Reed and Sedge Warbler have arrived in good numbers along with Blackcap and Common Whitethroat and a single Garden Warbler noted.

A few Willow Warbler have been seen along with several male and female Wheatear and a couple of Yellow Wagtail flying over.

A single female Ring Ouzel seen on the 17th and a couple of singing Lesser Whitethroat.

Swallow have been moving through in good numbers but not sure if local ones are present yet and several small flocks of House Martin noted.

One lucky person saw a Stoat in their garden last week.

Butterflies have been plentiful during the sunny weather with Brimstone and Orange Tip frequent, also Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Comma, Peacock, Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and Speckled Wood. And a surprise of a Painted Lady found by TR in his garden on the 10th.

Tony has also trapped and ID’d a few Moths, Early Thorn, Brindled Beauty and Streamer amongst others and AD has photographed some Spindle Ermine Moths (totally harmless).

Tony has also recorded at least 10 Grass Snake and 60+ Slow-worm in his meadow.

VG has managed to find several specimens of Rugged Oil Beetle in Aston Tirrold but have not had any reports yet of other Oil Beetle species in the Cholsey area.

Thank you to Alan Dawson, Tony Williams, Tony Rayner, Vicky Gilson, Paul Rainsden and others for the information and photos.

Wheatear (AD)

Necklace Ground Beetle (VG)

Rugged Oil Beetle (VG)

 Ashy Mining Bee? (AD)

Brindled Beauty (TR)

 Painted Lady (TR)

The Streamer (TR)

  Ermine Moth Caterpillars (AD)

As a footnote: Loren and I have been ill over the last few weeks and are now making a slow but steady recovery. Subsequently have not been out for almost a month so there are no observations from me here.