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

Cholsey 24th April, 92 and counting.

Sunny, 13º, light NW, rain held off until later.

Three new species in Cholsey for the year today so stuff is getting through despite some bad weather in North Africa! 92 species so far this year in the parish.

Cholsey Marsh had a singing Whitethroat (first this year) present today along with approximately 6 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 6 Sedge Warbler and a Reed Warbler also 6 to 8 Reed Bunting. 2 Swallows flew upriver.

Lollingdon Hill hosted 7 Wheatear, 2 Pied Wagtail, several Linnet and the usual Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting nearby, a Great-spotted Woodpecker flew over shortly followed by my first Yellow Wagtail of the year.

Of all the Wheatears that have passed through Lollingdon hill this spring, only 4 have been females so far.

Just came off Lollingdon Hill and Bob Wyatt drove by, 5 minutes later he phoned to say he had just found a Shelduck resting near a small flood in a meadow adjacent to the Wallingford rd, did not take long for me to get there!

A couple of Canada Geese and Red-legged Partridge in same field.

Orange Tip and Speckled Wood were the only butterflies seen today.

                                   Shelduck

                                  Coot collecting nest material

                                  Goldfinch

                                  Pied Wagtail

                                  and ........... of course a Wheatear