Iceland Gull

Cloudy with showers and a bit of hazy sunshine, 6º, light NE.

A walk out to Lollingdon and felt a little warmer today as the wind had moderated.

4 singing Chiffchaff on the way out, a Mistle Thrush in the Rec and a Sparrowhawk over the meadow.

Approximately 10 Stock Dove present in the area and the usual Grey Heron.

The hill held 6 Wheatear still around and with 5 Fieldfare and a Starling present feeding on the south face and a couple of Buzzard and Red Kite around.

I met TW & GW on the hill whilst watching the Wheatear and TW picked up an Iceland Gull as we were walking around the hill.

It was with a flock of Lesser Blackback Gulls and a single Black-headed Gull and they had settled on the flood area nearby so we decided to walk down to try and get some closer views. We got closer but the birds were still a fair distance away as we tried not to flush them off the flood, a few gulls, including, the Iceland took to the air but soon settled down again.

As we were leaving the hill a Raven flew over and 2 Corn Bunting (1 singing) were seen on the wires.

The ♀ Blackcap again in the garden feeding on apples and a Chiffchaff singing in the garden.

5 Pied Wagtail on the roof of the day centre at Marymead and a Grey Wagtail flew up the brook.

 Iceland Gull

 Fieldfares

 Stock Dove

                                                             Blackcap

What's happened to spring?

Cloudy, showers, 6º, light NE.

Arrived on the hill this afternoon in a “frozen rain” shower, what some crap weather we are having at the moment! Cold and dismal not spring like at all.

The first pass along the south face of the hill was completely negative, not a bird! I continued around the hill but that was not much better but at least there was a Chiffchaff and a single Long-tailed Tit present in the hedgerow.

About 15 minutes later the sun came out for a short while so I walked back around and found 7 Wheatear (4♂, 3♀) present. Maybe they had been sheltering in some of the Rabbit holes that permeate the hill?

A Pied Wagtail flew over and 2 Buzzard around.

A Chiffchaff in the garden this morning and presumably the same one singing in the meadow later.

White Wings and White Arses.

Light to heavy rain, 8º, light NNE, the first significant rain for a few weeks.

Managed to catch up with the Iceland Gull today albeit briefly. Driving back from Didcot to Lollingdon hill and noticed around 30 gulls on the flood area with a few wheeling around and one happened to be the Iceland Gull. I managed to slow sufficiently but could not stop as vehicles were coming from behind so had to move on. When we got on the hill, unfortunately most of the gulls had gone from the flood and we did not see it again.

As it was still raining we did not walk around the hill today but just had a brief check on the south face. Still 6+ Wheatear present and a couple of Meadow Pipit.

5 Mallard visiting the garden at the moment, a ♂ and ♀ and 3 unattached ♂,s and 2 Grey Herons flew over the garden this evening. A pair of Blackbird collecting food over the last few days in the garden.

Cameras did not come out today so pic taken on phone!

 

                                                    A wet hill!

Out with the old and in with the new.

Sunny spells, 8º, light to moderate SE, still chilly in the wind.

Our winter visitors are on the way out now and our summer visitors are arriving.

A brief visit to the hill today found at least 8 Wheatear, also a single Fieldfare still present along with 3 Meadow Pipit.

A few gulls present today on the dwindling flood area, c 20 Lesser Blackback Gull, at least 1 Herring Gull and 5 Black-headed Gull.

The “winter thrush” flock appears to have gone now as none seen in the fields to the north of the hill, only a very active Chiffchaff that was calling frequently and singing occasionally.

A Grey Heron noted again today and a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly.

Sorry..........more Wheatears

 The original "Easter Bunny"................A Brown Hare

Hail & Sunshine

Sunny spells and light to heavy showers of rain and hail, 9º, light to fresh NW, chilly in the wind.

Arrived on the hill just as a hail storm hit so stayed in the car for around 20 minutes until it passed.

Our first sighting was a high flying Red Kite and a Sparrowhawk in an aerial sparring contest overhead, whirling around and diving at each other as if in play, also a few more Red Kite and Buzzards in the air as the sun appeared.

At least 8 Wheatears found on the hill but may have been more as the sheep were quite mobile and the Wheatears were getting quite agitated (alarm calls heard) . Subsequently moving out of the way to fly up in to the hawthorn bushes so it made them difficult to count, also a single Fieldfare on the hill feeding. Sorry Michael could not find the Stonechat but may still be in the area in a more sheltered spot.

A Corn Bunting and a Yellowhammer seen on the northern side and around 30 Fieldfare and Redwing in the fields below but could not see all of the field so may have been more and a Mistle Thrush heard, also 2 Chiffchaff singing.

2 Grey Heron seen and a Kestrel around the horse paddocks and a ♂ Peregrine flew over the hill on our way back to the car.

 Grey Heron

 Another Wheatear pic

 And now for something completely different (& waiting for a good caption!)