Lollingdon 23rd Apr

Sunny, 15°, light ESE.

A quietish day on the hill, a single Wheatear feeding down a track just below the hill, 8 Swallow and a Yellow Wagtail over.

2 Sparrowhawk drifted high overhead towards the downs, 14 Red Kite, and 2 Buzzard riding a thermal for about 10 minutes late afternoon.

A couple of Buzzard seen displaying with some neat 360° rolls noted.

Nearby 4 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff, 5 Yellowhammer, 2 Jay and a rather vocal Green Woodpecker.

4 Kestrel together over one of the meadows appeared to be a territorial dispute between 2 pairs.

A couple of Swallow over the garden, a Chiffchaff passed through feeding, a Mistle Thrush singing from the treetops and a Song Thrush in the meadow and briefly in the garden.

Mammals: a Brown Hare seen last week near the hill and a Roe Deer nearby today.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Orange Tip, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell.

Lollingdon 22nd Apr

A sunny but cooler, breezy day, 14°, fresh ENE.

The Grasshopper Warbler still on the hill, not seen but heard reeling on several occasions.

A single Wheatear present, a couple of Pied Wagtail and 10+ Linnet.

20+ Swallow over and at least 1 House Martin.

The meadows to the north, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Yellowhammer.

Dragonflies: Large Red Damselfly (first of the year).

Butterflies: Brimstone, Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Speckled Wood.

They are still arriving

Sunny, 16°, breezy NE.

A surprise on the hill today with and unusual record of a Grasshopper Warbler, heard reeling from growth by the path then seen in flight briefly and disappear again in to thick growth. I assume it was a very recent arrival.

3 Wheatear on the hill today and a Green Woodpecker in the Hawthorns along the top, 2 Corn Bunting in song, 22 Swallow in total overhead.

Several Blackcap now seemingly resident, a single Willow Warbler, 2 Yellow Wagtail and 3 Yellowhammer present nearby and a Starling collecting food, presumably breeding closeby.

6 Buzzard in the air at one point and the usual posse of Red Kite present, also a Kestrel seen.

A Chiffchaff and a Treecreeper in the garden today of note.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Peacock, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood.