"tail-less" Red Kite and other predators

Sunny spells, 11°, light SSE.

The local Starling murmuration’s are beginning to attract the attention of some predators.

This evening both Merlin and Sparrowhawk we noted attending and subsequently the Merlin left carrying a prey item. Per Geoff Wyatt.

As for the rest of the day, rather quiet elsewhere with the usual out at Lollingdon and the river.

The “tail-less” Red Kite seen again plus Treecreeper and Nuthatch.

Mammals: Brown Hare.

Red Kite courtesy Alan.

  Richard Broughton has identified this Kite as a 1st winter bird, so it is not the one we have seen over the last few years. This bird also has no pygostyle, which makes it a very interesting condition to find in 2 separate birds?

Sparrowhawk............again!

Overcast, 6°, light E.

The male Sparrowhawk spent several minutes atop the bird feeders in the pouring rain this afternoon and constantly looking around. As if he is working out his future attack strategies. What's the best direction to approach from, what speed and height etc. Fascinating to watch.

The garden has been busy over the last few days with Blue, Great, Long-tailed and Coal Tit, Nuthatch and Treecreeper and the odd Finch.

Everything saw him coming again so no luck today.

Sparrowhawks

Cloudy with a few sunny spells, 12°, light SSE.

Somewhat quiet out there today, both Alan and I out today along the Bunk line, the Church area and out to the Lees.

Alan noted several Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Bullfinch along Green lane and I had a few House Martin overhead.

2 Great-spotted Woodpecker near the Church and a couple of Chiffchaff and a Mistle Thrush.

A Sparrowhawk over Green lane yesterday and another hit in the garden today.

Butterflies: 1 Red Admiral.

 Sparrowhawk from yesterday (Alan)

The one in the garden today with another catch.

Quiet locally and a nearby Raven

Sunny’ ish, 8°, light NW.

Another fairly quiet day out at Lollingdon. A flock of 47 Corn Bunting, c50 Meadow Pipit, a mixed flock of 200+ Starling and Fieldfare, several Redwing and 6 Pied Wagtail.

A flock of around 100 Lapwing flew in and settled nearby.

A male Sparrowhawk ripped thru the garden mid-afternoon panicking everything present, including the Squirrels.

A Raven in Wallingford Yesterday. courtesy Alan Dawson.

First Redwing

Misty light cloud, 18°, very light SSW.

Our first Redwing of the autumn today along Cholsey brook by Church road. Per Richard Broughton.

Not a lot on the hill today, around 5 each of Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting and a single Corn Bunting in song. A Sparrowhawk dropped in for a few minutes and then soared off joining 2 Buzzard and 5 Red Kite thermalling over the hill.

3 Chiffchaff noted with one in song but little else.

Nuthatch and Grey Wagtail in the garden.

Butterflies: 1 Large White.

 Buzzard & Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk (above & below)

A better photo of the Clifden Nonpareil (courtesy Tony Rayner)

Kingfisher (courtesy Alan Dawson)

Stock Dove sunbathing in the garden

Raptors +

Sunny spells, 20º, light NW.

Lollingdon and the Lees.

A day of raptors today, 3 Kestrels and a Peregrine Falcon near Lollingdon Hill, then a field of recently cut oil seed rape had 21 Red Kites and 3 Buzzards in or over it, in addition Sparrowhawk and Hobby seen.
Yellowhammers still singing, had around 7, also a few Reed Buntings and 2 Corn Buntings.

Several (8) Whitethroats seen (a few carrying food) and 2 Chiffchaffs but other warblers not very conspicuous at the moment although a Blackcap singing in the meadow early this morning.
Several Sedge and 1 Reed Warbler seen along the course of an overgrown stream.

A Yellow Wagtail seen feeding fledged young.

Approximately 15 Stock Doves noted out near Lollingdon and a few Skylarks.

A single Black-headed Gull on the playing field with a few Wood Pigeon.

Both Green and Great-spotted Woodpeckers seen and heard.

Only dragonfly seen today was a Brown Hawker.

Butterflies, Large and Small White, Common Blue, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Brimstone, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown.

♂ Great-spotted Woodpecker in garden, that make 3 separate individuals visiting.

Although muddy underfoot some streams and ditches are low or dried up.

                            13 Red Kites, another 8 were on the deck

                                          Sedge Warbler

                                          Large White

                                          Common Blue

                                           Peacock

                                           Yellow Wagtail

                                          Dunnock