A bit quiet!

Mainly cloudy, 17°, light WNW.

2 Raven briefly on the hill before continuing westwards, the Common Redstart still present and a Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Mistle Thrush, Green Woodpecker and 2 Kestrel.

Another Willow Warbler heard in partial song near the village and a couple of Blackcap and Chiffchaff noted.

Several small flocks of Swallow and House Martin moving south.

Mammals: Brown Hare and Roe Deer.

Dragonflies: Common Darter.

Butterflies: Brimstone (1), Large White, Small White, Green-veined White (2), Small Blue (1), Painted Lady (3), Red Admiral (2), Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown.

Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria)

Painted Lady

Great White Egret:

A first for Cholsey: A Great White Egret flew south over Church road at dusk on the 8th Aug. Per Richard Broughton.

Sun, Wind & Rain

Sunny and blustery with several light rain showers, 22°, fresh SW.

3 (poss 1-2 others) Spotted Flycatcher around the paddocks (1 ad & 2 juv).

The Common Redstart still present on the hill, heard calling initially and appeared for approx. 10 mins.

5 Kestrel hunting on the hill and a single Chiffchaff in the Hawthorns.

A Willow Warbler, 3+ Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap and a Common Whitethroat nearby, 10 Mistle Thrush and a small flock of 24 Starling feeding in the cattle field.

A flock of 40-50 Swallow out at Lollingdon feeding in the lee of the hill and a small flock of House Martin flew through with 5 Swift. A few Swift seen by AD earlier over the hill.

Some of the Swallow were landing on the top of the hedge, presumably gleaning insects from the foliage (lack of airborne insects due to windy conditions) and some were landing on the track along with some Linnet and Goldfinch. Not sure of that reason? Maybe dust bath? Resting out of the wind? Feeding?

Mammals: Roe Deer.

Dragonflies: A Migrant Hawker seen yesterday by Alan near Bow Bridge and several Brown Hawker. Migrant Hawker, Southern Hawker and Common Darter, Cholsey Marsh today.Per Alan.

Butterflies: few seen: Large White, Small White, Painted Lady (3), Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown.

Crustaceans: a Signal Crayfish seen by Alan in the brook at Bow Bridge. This is an invasive species! Signal Crayfish info

Painted Lady

 Yellowhammer

 Redstart

 Swallows

Kingfisher near the 4 Arches (courtesy Alan Dawson)

Going South

Cloudy with some showers and sunshine, 20°, breezy WSW.

Fairly active out at Lollingdon today with birds on the move, the Common Redstart still present, also 2 Blackcap, a Common Whitethroat and 2 Chiffchaff in the same section of hedge on the hill.

Nearby a Willow Warbler, 2 more Blackcap, 3 Common Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Spotted Flycatcher and several Chiffchaff. Most birds quite actively feeding.

A few Hirundines moving through with a flock of approx. 40 House Martin, and several small Swallow flocks (numbering approx. 80 in total). 4 Swift also drifted south.

A couple of Jay heard and a Grey Heron seen.

Mammals: Short-tailed Vole, Weasel, Brown Hare and Roe Deer.

Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Southern Hawker and Common Darter.

Butterflies: few on the wing: Large White, Small White, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown.

Young Roe Deer

Redstart again!

Spot Fly & Redstart

Early rain then sunny spells, 22°, breezy WSW.

Fairly quiet today, the Common Redstart still present on the hill and 5+ Spotted Flycatcher on the north side of the hill and a Yellow Wagtail flew south.

A few flocks of Swallow moving through but no Swift seen. A single Swift seen over the village yesterday but none noted today, none seen in Wallingford or Didcot either.

Local breeding Swallows and House Martins still present.

The odd Common Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff encountered but no other summer visitors.

A recent build-up of Gulls in the pig fields recently has reached c100 birds, virtually all Lesser Blackback Gull with a few Black-headed Gull amongst them.

Dragonflies: Southern Hawker and Common Darter.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Red Admiral, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown.

 Spotted Flycatcher

Common Redstart

Nuthatch coming down for a drink

Red-eyed Damselfly

A Red-eyed Damselfly with what looks like the remains of a Banded Demoiselle!

Photo courtesy Alan Dawson.

Hornet Robber Fly

Cloudy with sunny spells, 23°, light NNE.

A later than usual drive up visit to the hill today and 1½ hours spent there.

The Common Redstart still present along with 4 Common Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 House Sparrow, 2 Robin, 1 Yellowhammer, 5 Linnet and 3 Blackbird all in the same section of hedge. The Robins were quite aggressive towards the Warblers and chasing them from any lookout spots.

Very few insects present on the hill but a Hornet Robber Fly seen. Arguably our largest fly, it is a voracious predator of other insects but harmless to humans.

Mammals: Brown Hare.

Dragonflies: unusually a male Banded Demoiselle flew in from the south and flew over the hill. At least 500m from the nearest water. And a Southern Hawker also noted.

Butterflies: Large White, Holly Blue, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown.

There has been another influx of Painted Lady butterflies with at least 19 in Alan’s garden today. Sounds like a record count for the village!

Insects: Hornet Robber Fly.

Jersey Tiger

Yet another new moth for Cholsey, caught last night by Tony Rayner.

A Jersey Tiger.

"One of the most attractive of the Tiger moths, this species was until recently restricted in distribution to the Channel Islands and parts of the south coast.

On the mainland it is commonest in south Devon, but colonies have recently appeared in Dorset and the Isle of Wight, and it has also been found in other southern counties.

It now seems to be expanding its range quite quickly. There is also a thriving population in parts of London, but whether this is due to range expansion or the result of accidental introduction is still unclear.

It flies both in the daytime, when it can be found feeding on various flowers, as well as at night, when it is attracted to light.

The main flight period is July to September. The hairy larvae feed on a range of herbaceous plants including nettle (Urtica)."

Thanks to UKMoths.org.uk for the information.

Quiet end to July

Mainly cloudy with a few sunny spells, 21°, breezy SW.

A little breezy on the hill today. The Common Redstart still present on the hill and appears to be going through a post juvenile moult. Probably the reason it’s still around.

A male & a female Redstart reported on the hill by John Taylor @ 17:43. So possibly 3 now present.

3 Kestrel also present still hunting the hill.

Little else noted today, a few Warblers around and the Mistle Thrush flock still around the Lollingdon area.

Mammals: Short-tailed Vole, Brown Hare and Roe Deer.

Dragonflies: Common Darter.

Butterflies: Large White, Small White, Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown.

Another new Moth

Tony Rayner caught another new Moth for Cholsey recently. The 4th new Moth for Cholsey this year.

The Moth in question is a Tree Lichen Beauty.

A mostly migrant species with only a handful of records prior to 1991, since when it has become quite frequent in the southern and south-eastern counties. More recently it has arrived in sufficient numbers to breed and possibly establish small resident populations in certain localities.

The species occurs in southern Europe, where the larvae feed on lichens growing on trees, and the adult moths fly between July and September. Most British records are during July and August.

Some movement!

Sunny, 24°, light SSW.

The hill was reasonable today, the Common Redstart still present and 3 Kestrel and a Paraglider!

A Spotted Flycatcher on the north side of the hill along with a couple of Blackcap.

It seems like a few birds are on the move with small flocks of Swallow, House Martin and Swift passing through.

The hedgerows by the paddocks and cow field had 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler, several Chiffchaff and Blackcap and 5 Common Whitethroat nearby.

5 Mistle Thrush, a Grey Heron and Little Owl also seen.

Several Yellow Wagtail seen by Alan Yesterday in fields beyond the Lees, maybe a couple of family groups!

Mammals: Short-tailed Vole.

Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Southern Hawker and Common Darter.

Butterflies: Not that many around today: Small Skipper (1), Brimstone (2), Large White, Small White, Common Blue (1), Red Admiral (increase), Small Tortoiseshell (2), Peacock, Comma (2), Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown.

Other Insects: Roesel’s Bush Cricket. Per Alan Dawson.

Roesel's Bush Cricket (courtesy Alan Dawson)

Yellow Wagtail (courtesy Alan Dawson)

Grey Wagtail (courtesy Alan Dawson)

 Common Redstart

 Dusky Sallow

 Banded Demoiselle (above & below)

Black & Green

A sunny day with light cloud, 29°, light SW.

A quietish day out there today, I think most were seeking shade and not being too active.

2 Raven on the hill today before flying off east and 7 Kestrel hunting on and around the hill. (No sign of the Redstart).

A few Warblers on the wooded north of the hill with several Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat and Blackcap.

2 Green Woodpecker and 3 Great-spotted Woodpecker in the garden today and a Hobby over yesterday.

Mammals: Brown Hare and Roe Deer.

Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Azure Damselfly, Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker, Emperor and Common Darter.

Butterflies: (fewer than of late), Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Painted Lady (1), Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown.

Green Woodpecker

Arrives in the garden for some water.

 Gets a shower from a bathing Blackbird.

 Has a bath.

Dries off on a tree.

Red-tail

Cloudy with sunny spells, 25°, light SW.

2 Raven on the hill briefly this morning before flying off towards Moulsford. The Common Redstart still present and a few Chiffchaff and Blackcap around the hill.

A light passage of Swallow moving south and the occasional Swift passing through.

The Mistle Thrush flock still present nearby.

Sparrowhawks causing panic in the garden over the last week but they appear to be just flying through to hunt elsewhere. However given the chance they would catch something but the local Swallows always raise the alarm.

Mammals: Short-tailed Vole.

Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Azure Damselfly, Emperor and Common Darter.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, and Ringlet. And a Painted Lady flew through the garden.

Ravens take the day

Cloudy with a few sunny periods, 24°, light SW.

Arrived on the hill this morning to something resembling and aerial dogfight.

6 Raven, 5 Kestrel, 4 Red Kite and a single Buzzard and Carrion Crow all wheeling around, sometimes mobbing, sometimes playing, all very graceful and entertaining.

Quite a sight!

The Raven stayed for around 40 minutes, eventually picking up a thermal and gaining height and drifting off north.

The rest just stayed around enjoying the thermals and the Kestrels hunting for Grasshoppers.

At least 1 Common Redstart still on the hill and a Blackcap and Chiffchaff along the same hedge.

Also the House Sparrow flock still present.

3 Lesser Blackback Gull flew over moving south west and approx 100 Swallow passing through.

Nearby 2+ Little Owl and 12 Mistle Thrush.

Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting appear to be the only species consistently in song at the moment.

3 Great-spotted Woodpecker in the garden this afternoon.

Reps: Common Lizard.

Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Southern Hawker and Emperor Dragonfly.

Butterflies: Small Skipper, Large White, Small White, Small Copper, Brown Argus, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet.

 Ravens enjoying the hill

 A Kestrel taking a break

 Redstart

Blackcap