Rooks

The Rooks are very entertaining this time of year around the garden.

In 2018 the trees next to Church road were topped, therefore the Rooks have moved back along the meadow to nest in trees that are more suitable and putting them in direct line of sight to the garden bird feeders.

Also the fact that the pair of Crows that were resident nearby have disappeared (they used to deter the Rooks from the garden and meadow), the Rooks now have free range feeding in Whitehead Meadow and the garden whilst present at the nest site.

Certain times of day several will descend on the garden feeders and attempt to extract seed from the feeders. However they only succeed in spilling seed to the ground for which the Stock Doves, Wood Pigeons and Ducks are very grateful for.

Yesterday a fight broke out between two Rooks in the garden and all hell broke loose. Around 30 Rooks were perched above the fight squawking whilst others were flying around above. It was akin to a playground fight scene with all the kids gathering around and shouting “fight”, “fight”.

After a couple of minutes the fight stopped, both combatants shook themselves off and the Rookery went back to normal.

Another incident happened last Tuesday around mid-afternoon. A Buzzard flew low overhead from the north east of Church road and chaos ensued.

As the Buzzard drifted over 2 Herring Gull were in pursuit calling loudly this in turn caused all the Rooks in the Rookery to take to the air and a mob of Jackdaw also joined in and then 4 Red Kite appeared to add to the melee.

The noise caused by all these birds would have caused anyone to look up to see what was going on with almost 100 birds involved.

It was all over in around a minute as the Buzzard continued on its flight path and was not bothered by all the attention it had caused.

WTE G3-93

A bright start, clouding over with a light shower, 11°, light SW.

The satellite tagged juvenile White-tailed Eagle G3-93 roosted in Cholsey last night before heading north over Mackney (near Cholsey Hill) thermalling to a height of 350 metres.

This is the second time it has been to Cholsey, the first being September 2019.

A Raven flew south and a Yellowhammer in song noted whilst present.

3-400 Golden Plover Cholsey Hill this evening.

Eagle photos and info courtesy of Steve Egerton-Read (Forestry England Project Officer) and Golden Plover photos courtesy Alan Dawson.

Anticipating

Sunny spells, 11°, light WSW. 

The days becoming more spring like now and a Swallow in at Portland, Dorset and a few Sand Martin and Wheatear arriving along the south coast!

Back in Cholsey a light movement of Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail today with 30+ and 20+ respectively over Lollingdon Hill, 2 Yellowhammer and a Reed Bunting on the hill but little else.

A couple of Little Owl calling and a Sparrowhawk through nearby and a small roaming flock of c50 Fieldfare and a single Redwing seen.

A single Raven flew north on the walk back and 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker drumming and a couple of vocal Green Woodpecker.

A Goldcrest, 2 Mistle Thrush and a Kestrel near the Church.

Fewer Gulls around now with the pig field flock halving to less than 1000 and no Gulls seen on the Church road flood this week.

Tony Rayner recorded the first Holly Blue butterfly of the year in his garden along with several more Brimstone. 

Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting and Bullfinch amongst others at Cholsey Marsh today. Per Alan Dawson.

Mammals: Brown Hare.

 Holly Blue (courtesy Tony Rayner)

Chiffchaff (courtesy Alan Dawson)

 Bullfinch (courtesy Alan Dawson)

Reed Bunting (courtesy Alan Dawson)

Spring? Maybe.

A sunny day, 12°, light to breezy SW.

A spring like day reflected in several butterflies seen on the wing.

The Bunk line/Green lane area pretty quiet today. A few small flocks of Fieldfare and Starling and a Kestrel present. Also a few Meadow Pipit.

2 Mistle Thrush collecting food near the Church, probably have young nearby.

Alan had more luck on Cholsey Marsh with a Cetti’s Warbler and Chiffchaff, several Reed Bunting, a Kingfisher and Water Rail, also Brimstone and Comma butterflies.

Tony Rayner recorded 4 Grass Snake, 13 Slow-Worm and a Field Vole and 3 Brimstone butterflies in his garden today.

Another Brimstone in the garden mid-afternoon.

Comma and Brimstone courtesy Alan Dawson.

Thrushes

Bright at first then clouding over, 9°, breezy SW.

Still a little quiet out there.

A flock of 200+ Thrushes out at Lollingdon. As usual the majority were Fieldfare with around 10-15% Redwing, also 100+ Starling feeding along with them.

A Herring Gull flew south west over the hill and joined the large number of Gulls present around the pig fields.

A singing Chiffchaff by the brook along Church road yesterday. Per Richard Broughton.

And another Chiffchaff in song and a Brimstone butterfly in TR’s garden yesterday.

Mammals: Brown Hare & Roe Deer.

Little Owl and Stonechat

A couple of photos from Alan today along Hithercroft.

Little Owl and 2 male Stonechat.

Quiet overall

Sunny, 8°, light WNW.

Fairly quiet time out at Lollingdon today. A small flock of Fieldfare and Starling on the hill until they were flushed by a marauding female Sparrowhawk. A single Redwing seen.

A singing Goldcrest near the Millennium Wood and both Treecreeper and Coal Tit song heard nearby.

Looks like the Rooks near Church road are already with eggs as some birds are sitting for long periods.

Alan saw 2 Nuthatch and a singing Chiffchaff at Bow Bridge and a pair of Reed Bunting.

Tony Rayner recorded the first Comma butterfly of the year and a live Grass Snake.

Photos & Video courtesy Alan Dawson

 Reed Buntings

Nuthatch ↕

A wet one

Constant rain, 6°, breezy NNE.

A brief couple of hours out along the Bunk line today and not anticipating much, such is the weather.

The Gull flock quite mobile today with c200 Black-headed Gull and a couple of Herring Gull present.

The Herring Gulls were mobbing a passing Buzzard.

A singing Chiffchaff at CSW and 3 Grey Wagtail, 2 Bullfinch and a Goldcrest Green lane.

Winter Thrushes conspicuous in their absence and negative for any Stonechat. Although 2 male and 1 female Stonechat present on Tuesday. Per Alan.

A male Blackcap in the garden yesterday and the Sparrowhawk paid another visit and caught something. Not sure what it was though!

Grey Wagtail

Stonechats still moving thru.

Sunny intervals, 8°, breezy WNW.

The Stonechat passage has ramped up today with 23 seen in Cholsey. 3 near the railway station, 4 at Silly Bridge, 1 (pos 2) Cholsey Meadows and 1 Caps Lane. Per Alan.

I had 4 Lollingdon Hill, 3 (2m & 1f) on the south side and 1 (m) on the north side, 5 out at the Lees (2m & 3f) and 5 along the Bunk line (3m & 2f).

Minimal numbers of Thrushes today with just a handful on Fieldfare and Redwing and 5 Mistle Thrush noted. 

2 Little Owl out at Lollingdon close to their last years nest site.

A Goldcrest singing at the Bullshole and several Skylark in song around the Lollingdon area and a few Meadow Pipit noted.

A couple of Buzzard in courtship display over Lollingdon Hill.

a Barn Owl hunting Cholsey Hill this evening and another seen by Alan at Cholsey Marsh. 

Approx. 2000 Gulls seen distantly around the pig fields, too distant for ID though.

Mammals: Brown Hare, Muntjac Deer & Roe Deer.

 Stonechat ↕

Goldcrests (courtesy Alan)

Nuthatch

Mad March Hares

Sunshine, 6°, breezy SW.

Male and female Stonechat seen along Westfield road and 2 Little Owl out at Lollingdon. 1 seen and 1 heard. Per Alan Dawson.

A dog Fox seen near Wallingford road and a Sparrowhawk in TR’s meadow.

Photos courtesy Alan Dawson

Mini Winter ?

Sunny, 6°, breezy WNW.

A colder day than of late with a brief snow flurry early morning but fortunately did not settle.

4 Stonechat (3m & 1f) along the Bunk line, a few Meadow Pipit around in the fields and 2 Bullfinch and a Grey Heron along Green lane.

2 Mistle Thrush, a Kestrel and a distant Green Woodpecker calling.

2 Stonechat (1m & 1f) still present Cholsey Meadows. Per Alan.

Gulls were few and far between today with only a few Lesser Blackback and Black-headed Gull overhead, although Alan saw 2 Herring Gull and several Black-headed Gull on one of the floods.

A few small flocks of Fieldfare, Redwing and Starling, and a few Buzzard and Red Kite enjoying the windy conditions.

2 Song Thrush singing near the garden at dusk.

Stonechat (f)

 Stonechat (m)

3 Stonechat

Goldcrest (courtesy Alan)

Long-tailed Tit 

 Fieldfare, Redwing & Starling

 Herring Gull (courtesy Alan)

Bullfinch (f) (courtesy Alan)

The Moon & Venus at dusk

Polecat

Unfortunately a Polecat was hit by a car near Cholsey Hill. It was picked up by a car following but died soon after.

This is only the 2nd record of Polecat in Cholsey with 2 seen in 2010.

The Polecat is a native British Mammal and has expanded its range eastwards recently from its stronghold in Wales.

This one was a male approx. 40cm from snout to rump. A DNA sample was given to the Natural History Museum, London and we await results.

Information and photos courtesy Vicky Gilson.

Sweet Violet to lighten the mood.

Peregrines

Sunshine & Showers, 8°, light SW.

2 Peregrines found by Tony Williams today and photographed by Alan Dawson.

Stonechats

Constant light to moderate rain, 11°. Fresh SW.

A wet ‘n windy day with more rain to add to the already waterlogged ground.

6 (4m, 2f) Stonechat feeding very actively along the Bunk line this morning, (also seen by Alan in the afternoon) another 2, (m & f) at Cholsey Meadows this morning, per Alan.

A good few Gulls around taking advantage of the flooded areas. c150 Black-headed Gull, 3 Herring Gull, 9 Lesser Blackback Gull and 2 Great Blackback Gull.

A small flock of Fieldfare and Redwing, 3 Canada Geese, 5 Common Snipe, a small flock of 8 Meadow Pipit and a Sparrowhawk.

A Mistle Thrush singing from the top of a tree in the adverse weather. No wonder they used to call them Stormcock. And surprisingly 2 Skylark also in song.

Stonechat

 Stonechat (courtesy Alan) ↕

Stonechats

The Sparrowhawk taking shelter from the rain in the garden this afternoon, stayed there for a good hour.

And a Jay turned up late afternoon.

video of Stonechat (courtesy Alan)

A few bits from the weekend.

Wet 'n Windy.

A Little Owl out at Lollingdon and 5 Yellowhammer seen near Little Lollingdon. Per Alan Dawson.

A Barn Owl seen hunting along the Bunk line area and a female Stonechat out near the Lees.

Also a Pipistrelle sp seen flying around the Churchyard. Per Richard Broughton

Little Owl (courtesy Alan Dawson)