Cholsey, 28th Sep

Sunny spells, showers, 16°, fresh W.

The Wheatear still on the hill but ranging far, several Meadow Pipit present and three Goldcrest on the north side and a Chiffchaff.

A Kestrel and Buzzard in the vicinity and a few hundred Lesser Blackback Gulls in a field being worked, also twenty plus Black-headed Gulls and five Common Gulls.

Approximately ten Golden Plover seen flying along the bunk line towards Cholsey (Thanks to Brian Wyatt for the info).

Cholsey, 27th Sep

Sunny spells, 16º, light W.

No rain forecast so decided to take a walk to Lollingdon, skirting Aston Tirrold and back through the Lees.

Fourteen Chiffchaff noted including one in the garden but no other warblers, a Kingfisher by the brook near the Bullshole, around a dozen Yellowhammer and seven Reed Bunting seen.

The Wheatear still on the hill but little else, a flock of sixty plus Meadow Pipit near the Lees and around eighty noted altogether.

A Whinchat by the long ditch near the Lees but was flushed by a walker and flew off towards Aston, two Goldcrest also seen near the ditch.

Great-spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker seen (one of the former in the garden) and a Coal Tit in the Churchyard and a least two Common Gull flew towards Cholsey Hill.

Both Migrant Hawker and Common Darter seen with the latter very numerous and seen egg laying in a flooded field.

Approximately one hundred Red Admiral seen today, every piece of Ivy had at least several present, also a single Painted Lady, several Small White, four Speckled Wood, a Comma and a Small Tortoiseshell.

No visible hirundine passage noted today.

Also a couple of Common Frog seen.

 

 

Cholsey, 26th Sep

Few sunny spells, showers, 16º, zero wind.

A single Wheatear still on Lollingdon hill and five Buzzards present, a Mistle Thrush flew over and five Chiffchaff present in the hedgerows around the hill plus another two near the Manor house.

One of the nearby fields was being ploughed and had the usual followers of Lesser Blackback Gull (c 200) and three Common Gull flew through, stopped briefly and then continued.

A few Meadow Pipit present also and fewer Hirundines moving today, however a few Swallow and House Martin still present Church road and Manor farm area.

Yesterday Tony Williams was birding near the four arches and had a Blackcap, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler and a few Chiffchaff and Bullfinch, also commented on approximately fifty Blackbird present suggesting recent arrivals?

Coal Tit in the garden again today.

 

Cholsey, 25th Sep

Sunny spells, showers, 16º, fresh SSW.

Lollingdon hill was rather windswept today, however at least one Wheatear present on the slope and a few Meadow Pipit present and three Chiffchaff on the sheltered side.

Two Raven flew over heading towards the downs and there was a steady stream of Hirundines passing over, several hundred birds with almost equal numbers of Swallow and House Martin. Also a lighter but steady flow of Lesser Blackback Gull, Rook and Jackdaw.

Cholsey Marsh rather quiet, several Chiffchaff present and a few more along the river towards Bow Bridge, six or seven in all, several fair sized Tit flocks seen also.

A Peregrine flew south near Bow and several flocks of between ten and twenty, mainly House Martin and a few Swallow flying down river a Buzzard present and a Kingfisher also noted.

A pair of Grey Wagtail raised two young this summer near the Old Mill near Caps Lane, two birds present there today and Goldcrest heard.

Goldfinch have dominated the garden feeders this week with twelve present at one time on one of the feeding stations and a Coal Tit in the garden yesterday.

Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White and Speckled Wood butterflies also seen today.

 

 

Cholsey, 24th Sep

Rain, fresh to strong SW

Rather wet and windy today, called in to Lollingdon hill on my way home, four Wheatear on the hill and at least three Chiffchaff in sheltered areas and around a dozen Meadow Pipit. A Kestrel, Buzzard and a few Red Kite around and quite a few gulls passing over, Lesser Blackback and some Black-headed Gull. A small party of five Swallow flew south over the hill.

Illegal hunting in Malta

Illegal hunting of birds in Malta is still taking place, my words for these so called hunters are unprintable here, suffice to say that what cowards they are.

The authorities are not much better in allowing this practise to continue and take very little action in halting it.

One of Europes rarest raptors a Pallid Harrier was shot recently and survived and has been flown to Sicily to recuperate.

A few recent pics courtesy of visitors and Birdlife Malta volunteers

              Bee-eater, shot and blinded and a broken wing.

                          Grey Heron with damaged leg after being shot

                                Shot Kestrel being cared for

                               Marsh Harrier

Sites for Birdlife Malta, please show your support.

http://www.birdlifemalta.org/


https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/birdlife.malta/

Cholsey, 21st Sep

Cloudy, 17°, light NW.

Lollingdon hill held four Wheatear, two Redstart and two Chiffchaff today, but well spread out, one of the Redstart was making its way down the hedge to the south and moving away, last seen not far from the main road (A417) the other was on the north east side and difficult to see. The Wheatears were up by the high fence line on the top of the hill.

Several Meadow Pipit around, a couple of Buzzard over the hill and a few hundred gulls in a field nearby being ploughed and a few Swallow and House Martin passing through.

Two Wheatear on Cholsey hill.

A few hundred Lapwing in a field along the Hedred straight.

Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Small White on the wing.

Cholsey, 20th Sep

Sunny spells, 18º, light to fresh W.

Lollingdon hill had three Wheatears today, not on the grassy slope but in nearby ploughed fields (no sign of the Redstart), several Meadow Pipit around and a single Chiffchaff. Also five Mistle Thrush, a Great-spotted Woodpecker and twenty plus Chaffinch on the north side.

Cholsey Marsh had at least two Chiffchaff present, a Pied Wagtail overflew and a Willow Warbler near the Four Arches, at least one Siskin flew over and several flocks of Hirundines flew down river, mainly Swallow and House Martin but two Sand Martin noted also.

1066, very quiet, several Teal, a Little Grebe and Chiffchaff.

A family of Common Lizard seen basking in the sunshine around midday and several butterflies on the wing, Red Admiral, Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White, Speckled Wood and Comma and three dragonfly species, Common Darter, Migrant Hawker and Banded Demoiselle.

A Moorhen back feeding in the garden today and Hedgehogs after dark.

Also see http://stuffthatricharddid.blogspot.co.uk/

Common Lizards, at least six seen and one has lost its tail.

Distant views of Wheatear including one in an Elderberry bush.

Bits

Sunny, 18º, light to fresh SW.

A brief visit to Lollingdon hill today, Redstart still present but not easy to see, a Sparrowhawk flew over heading towards the downs and a few Meadow Pipit in the area.

A flock of around two hundred Lapwing and fifty plus Starling lifted off from a field near West Hendred suggesting a hunting raptor but not seen.

Approximately eighty Meadow Pipit flew over Wantage around midday.

Lollingdon hill, 18th Sep

Sunny spells, 18º, blustery W.

The two Wheatear were still present near the hill and a Redstart seen in the hedgerow to the west, not easy to see in the windy conditions. Also at least a couple of Goldcrest with a tit flock on the north side and a Mistle Thrush nearby.

A Wheatear also seen on Cholsey Hill.

Small White, Speckled Wood and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies noted.

Cholsey, 17th Sep

Overcast, 16º, fresh W.

A brief visit to Lollingdon hill today located two Wheatear and a Willow Warbler the only migrants, a couple of Jay on the north side and a few hundred Lesser Blackback Gull and Corvids loafing in recently ploughed fields.

Cholsey 13th Sep

Sunny, 18º, (a lot cooler earlier), light WSW.

Two Wheatear and a Whinchat Lollingdon Hill, the Wheatear were in a field to the west of the hill and the Whinchat was further down around ½K from the hill. A Hobby having an ariel dogfight with a Kestrel kept me entertained for around five minutes until they both flew off in different directions, also a Blackcap and Great-spotted Woodpecker on the north side. Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting also present and a couple of Willow Warbler in a hedgerow with a Tit flock. Two Chiffchaff noted near the Manor house.

Cholsey Marsh was quiet, eight Chiffchaff and five Reed Bunting on the marsh and a Kingfisher flew upstream and a Cormorant on the river. Another Cormorant near Bow Bridge. Two Tit flocks on the marsh and a couple of Goldcrest with one flock.

A few Swallow and House Martin on the move at both sites.

Blue Emperor, Migrant Hawker, Brown Hawker, Common Darter and Banded Demoiselle noted on the Dragonfly front and Red Admiral, Comma, Peacock, Large White, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell for the Butterflies.

A pair of Barn Owl bred in Cholsey this year but unfortunately, two young were found dead in the nest probably down to the wet spring we had!

A pair of House Martin at Marymead managed to fledge at least two young successfully this year, they have now left for their long journey south.

Two Cetti’s Warbler were present on Cholsey Marsh this summer and may have bred, last seen/heard in early Aug but no young seen so cannot confirm breeding.

This week has seen an increase in Finches in the garden, today twelve Goldfinch, eight Chaffinch and six Greenfinch.

                                   Hobby

                                  Wheatear

                                   Yellowhammer

                                   Corn Bunting

                                   Migrant Hawker

Cholsey 11th Sep

Some great pics by Roger Wyatt.

http://oxonbirding.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/cholsey-11th-september.html

Portland 9th Sep: last day

Left Portland early as it was quiet and could not resist dropping in on the Short-billed Dowitcher for a brief visit before the drive home.

Check out Badger's video of the Dowitcher @ http://thelistlesstwitcher.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/short-billed-dowitcher-5th-sept-2012.html

Early morning at Portland had just a few Tree Pipits, Grey Wagtails and Yellow Wagtails moving, a few Willow Warblers in the garden and Hirundines moving through.

An uneventful drive home, a Hobby seen near Salisbury was the only noteworthy observation. Back home the Tawny Owls were were active in the garden last night.

Thanks to Martin Cade (the Obs warden) and various local and visiting birders and of course the birds etc for making it another interesting and enjoyable week, 97 species of bird this week.

Portland 8th Sep

Sunny, 22º, light E.

A rather uneventful day birdwise as visible migration appeared to have virtually dried up; even Hirundines were very thin on the ground today figuratively speaking.

As many birders had come to Lodmoor for the Dowitcher the Obs was very popular with visitors today; as a couple of Moths appeared on the “pagers” and the (third for the week); Convolvulus Hawk Moth was photographed frequently throughout the day until it decided to disappear around mid afternoon.

The “Natural History bookshop” at the Obs also did some good business; I was also tempted to buy a couple of books.

The Monarch butterfly was still present in Easton and attracted many visitors.

As for the birds, little seen!  First light saw just a few Yellow Wagtails, two Tree Pipits, and a single Grey Wagtail overhead, as for the rest, two Chiffchaff, nine Willow Warbler, two Whinchat, a family group of four Stonechat, a single Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap and Reed Warbler, two Whitethroat, eight Wheatear and a slight increase in Meadow Pipits. A single Ringed Plover flyover and two Balearic Shearwater feeding off the bill.

A very educational and entertaining evening with some members of the Gwent birdwatching society staying at the Obs, identifying various species of Bush Crickets, Spiders etc and picking up Common Pipistrelles on a bat detector hunting over the moth traps.

Stonechat