Abigail’s moved on as Barney blows in

Cloudy with showers and a strong blustery SW wind, 14°.

A visit to Cholsey Marsh this afternoon but the weather was against getting any meaningful counts at the roost. A few Meadow Pipits came in early but no Corn Bunting by 16:00.

A few Fieldfare and Redwing about but no more than 50 of each. A Sparrowhawk, 2 Grey Heron, a Kingfisher and a couple of Bullfinch, 5 Siskin, 2 Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff noted.

Quiet times

Cloudy, 12°, light SSW.

Lollingdon was exceptionally quiet today probably because of some tree work happening on the hill…….very noisy.

Did not stay long but around 20 Redwing and 6 Song Thrush feeding on haws nearby and a flock of 50+ Starling in the fields.

Then a brief visit to Cholsey Marsh: A Shoveler flew downstream, a new one for the year in Cholsey and a scarce sighting of a Mute Swan on the river.

A handful of Redwing and Fieldfare around but not in any numbers!

A Chiffchaff still on the marsh, 3 Siskin in the riverside Alders and a couple of Bullfinch present also a Water Rail heard calling.

Winter is on its way

Sunny spells interspersed with blustery showers, 8°, fresh WSW.

A colder and blustery day out at Lollingdon, winter is on its way!

A small Tit flock passed by accompanied by at least 2 Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff.

100+ Fieldfare, c20 Redwing and 6 Song Thrush feeding on haws along one of the hedgerows.

A Sparrowhawk flew over the hill and a few Buzzard and Red Kite around.

In the garden yesterday, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Nuthatch, a Treecreeper, a Coal Tit, 2 Pied Wagtail and a Grey Wagtail.

Mammals: Roe Deer.

Butterflies: also a Red Admiral flew through the garden yesterday.

Sparrowhawk visit and the Marsh

Cloudy with rain showers, 13°, light SSW.

A visit to Cholsey marsh for the roost today and counted in 72 Corn Bunting with the largest single flock of 30 that came in from the south.

Other species noted on the marsh were 2 Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrest, 2 Redpoll, 8 Reed Bunting, 4 Bullfinch and 2 Sparrowhawk flew through.

2 Cormorant flew downstream and a Kingfisher present on the opposite bank, also 60+ Redwing and around the same number of Fieldfare.

A Sparrowhawk visited the garden this morning, scattering everything but just sat on top of the feeder station, had a good look around and then flew off.

Feldefare

Overcast with a few rain showers, 15°, breezy SW.

An unseasonably mild day and a fair bit of heavy rain and high winds over the last few days.

Still very little out on the hill variety wise, good numbers of winter thrushes with c400 Fieldfare, 50+ Redwing also 150+ Starling and 20+ Pied Wagtail.

Apart from a Sparrowhawk very little else of note.

A couple of Coal Tit in the garden.


The Barn Owl reported again today, appears to be flying better but not 100% (per BJW). (There is a suggestion that the owl has a type of corneal guttata which causes vision problems that could explain it's behaviour?)

The name Fieldfare probably derived from the Anglo-Saxon "Feldefare" (Field Traveller)!

Garden action

Rain, 15°, breezy SSW.

Not a day for going out today so took a few pics of the birds on the feeders in the garden.

2 Nuthatch regular through the day, a Grey Wagtail, 2 House Sparrow, 2 Moorhen, 5 Mallard, 2 Carrion Crow and a few other Finches and Tits.

One of the Nuthatch collected the odd peanut and wedged it in the bark of one of the garden trees to eat.

Another dull day

Overcast with light rain, 13°, light SSW.

Again very little around on the hill and another drab day weather wise, however a Chiffchaff still about to the north of the hill.

Also north of the hill, 75 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing and a Mistle Thrush, 2 Siskin, a Grey Wagtail, a Kingfisher, a Sparrowhawk and 3 Buzzard present.

Local Doldrums

Overcast, 13°, light ESE.

A very drab and dismal day with little change from yesterday weather wise and bird wise.

5 Redpoll seen briefly then flew off south, more Fieldfare around today with 250+ and a few more Redwing c20.

Around 20 Pied Wagtail and a single Meadow Pipit in with the sheep that have since moved fields.

A Sparrowhawk was the only other bird of note.

The Barn Owl seen again today (per BW) and having problems but appears to be surviving!

Fogged out

Foggy, 11°, light W.

A drab day with fog and variable visibility.

Pretty quiet out there today, a 16 strong flock of Long-tailed Tit and 2 Goldcrest on the hill and a Sparrowhawk flew north.

I heard more than saw today with Pied Wagtail, Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting also a couple of Golden Plover calls overhead.

120 Fieldfare, 5 Redwing and 80+ Starling to the north and the Linnet flock still present to the east.

Barn Owl

A foggy day with the sun breaking through around midday then foggy again later, 12°, little wind SSE.

A short walk this afternoon out to the Lees and back.

The Barn Owl seen around the church area today and a Sparrowhawk flew from the church yard with prey.

The Barn Owl appeared in good condition and was flying well and at one point was mobbed by 2 Rooks but evaded them easily.

The fog then came down again so had to rely mainly on sound. Several Siskin over and a few Redwing and Fieldfare.

All photos courtesy of Loren.

Another Wheatear

Sunny, 14°, light SE.

Another Wheatear on Lollingdon Hill today and more Fieldfare and Blackbird noted (per Tony W).

After the Rain

Cloudy after heavy overnight and morning rain, 14°, light SE.

Still rather quiet out on the hill, 2 Mistle Thrush, c50 Fieldfare and a handful of Redwing around and a Brambling flew across the hill with a small flock of 5 Chaffinch.

A flock of Long-tailed Tit passed through on the north side with 4+ Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff and another Chiffchaff in a hedgerow to the north of the hill.

The Linnet flock numbering around 200 has moved a few fields to the east.

Still quiet

Sunny with moderate cloud, 14°, light S.

Lollingdon and Cholsey Marsh today with both being fairly quiet, hope things liven up soon.

A Chiffchaff seen at both sites and winter thrushes still thin on the ground with a handful of both Fieldfare and Redwing at each.

2 Raven and 2 Sparrowhawk over the hill and the usual Buzzards present but quiet otherwise.

5 Siskin at the marsh and a Water Rail calling, 2 Cormorant flew downstream and a Kingfisher present.

40+ Corn Bunting in again at the roost along with several Meadow Pipit.

Gone quiet again

A cloudy, dull but milder day, 15°, light ESE.

The hill was very quiet today and only around 20 Pied Wagtail out in the sheep field and 3 Buzzard sparring with each other over the hill.

40+ Fieldfare, 5 Redwing, several Blackbird and Song Thrush but not the numbers in yet.

A Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest along one of the hedgerows with a small Tit flock and that was about it.

2 Coal Tit and a Goldcrest in the garden this morning with around a dozen Long-tailed Tit.

Barn Owl see hunting near Church road late afternoon (per TR).

Redwings heard flying over tonight in the rain.

Butterflies: a single Red Admiral.

The Hill & the Marsh

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

Lollingdon was rather quiet today with a couple of Goldcrest on the north side and very little to the south with approx. 150 Starling out with the sheep and a few Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail.

40+ Fieldfare and 5 Redwing also present.

A later visit to Cholsey Marsh had 42 Corn Bunting come in at the roost and 20+ Meadow Pipit roosting on the marsh also.

A Green Sandpiper was an unexpected addition for the year that flew downstream and a single Redpoll seen, 50 Redwing flew in to the trees on the marsh and a Kingfisher along the river.

Dragonflies: unidentified Hawker.

Butterflies: 4 Red Admiral.