A nice series of weekend shots from Alan Dawson.
Roe Deer
Stock Dove
Red Fox
Little Owl
Mint Moth
Small Tortoiseshell
Sunday, 15 August 2021
Friday, 13 August 2021
Cloudy Skies
Mainly cloudy with the odd sunny spell and light rain showers, 20°, light to breezy SW.
Still very quiet locally for August!
Yesterday there was an early flurry of Swift and House Martin overhead but soon died down and just a few House Martin and Swallow passing thru today.
A high flying Cormorant was the only bird of note today along the Bunk line.
The first Wheatear of the autumn found by Alan today on Cholsey Downs and a Peregrine yesterday between Lollingdon and the Lees.
Dragonflies: Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker & Common Darter.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper & Meadow Brown.
Still very quiet locally for August!
Yesterday there was an early flurry of Swift and House Martin overhead but soon died down and just a few House Martin and Swallow passing thru today.
A high flying Cormorant was the only bird of note today along the Bunk line.
The first Wheatear of the autumn found by Alan today on Cholsey Downs and a Peregrine yesterday between Lollingdon and the Lees.
Dragonflies: Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker & Common Darter.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper & Meadow Brown.
All photos courtesy Alan Dawson
Brown Hawker
Small Copper
Wheatear
Migrant Hawker
Peregrine Falcon
Southern Hawker
Tuesday, 10 August 2021
Still rather quiet
Sunny intervals and a light breeze, 20°, light WSW.
Fairly quiet over the past few days. Alan and I have been out and covered Lollingdon, The River, Bunk Line, and The Lees etc.
The weekend had a good passage of Swallow, House Martin and Swift but this seems to have petered out over the last few days to just a trickle.
Good numbers of Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat and Blackcap still around in most locations but Sedge and Reed Warbler appear to have mostly gone.
Little Owl heard and seen out at Lollingdon and a Collared Dove (pretty scarce for some reason out there).
Mammals: Brown Hare & Roe Deer.
Dragonflies: Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker (found by Alan), Emperor & Common Darter.
Butterflies: fewer in number. Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Small Copper, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper & Meadow Brown.
Fairly quiet over the past few days. Alan and I have been out and covered Lollingdon, The River, Bunk Line, and The Lees etc.
The weekend had a good passage of Swallow, House Martin and Swift but this seems to have petered out over the last few days to just a trickle.
Good numbers of Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat and Blackcap still around in most locations but Sedge and Reed Warbler appear to have mostly gone.
Little Owl heard and seen out at Lollingdon and a Collared Dove (pretty scarce for some reason out there).
Mammals: Brown Hare & Roe Deer.
Dragonflies: Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker (found by Alan), Emperor & Common Darter.
Butterflies: fewer in number. Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Small Copper, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper & Meadow Brown.
Painted Lady & Meadow Brown
Southern Hawker
Brown Hare courtesy Alan
Friday, 6 August 2021
All quiet 'cept the Weather
Sunny spells and rain showers, 20°, breezy SW.
A quiet time all round today given the weather.
A Peregrine Falcon flew south over Lollingdon Hill and 2 Kestrel hunting on the hill along with 6 Red Kite and 2 Buzzard overhead.
Several Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat and Blackcap around but keeping well in cover.
A handful of Lesser Blackback Gull, Black-headed Gull, Swallow and House Martin passing over.
Alan had no surprises along the river, all the usual present.
Dragonflies: Southern Hawker & Common Darter.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper & Meadow Brown.
A quiet time all round today given the weather.
A Peregrine Falcon flew south over Lollingdon Hill and 2 Kestrel hunting on the hill along with 6 Red Kite and 2 Buzzard overhead.
Several Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat and Blackcap around but keeping well in cover.
A handful of Lesser Blackback Gull, Black-headed Gull, Swallow and House Martin passing over.
Alan had no surprises along the river, all the usual present.
Dragonflies: Southern Hawker & Common Darter.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper & Meadow Brown.
Peregrine Falcon
Lesser Blackback Gull
Large White
Peacock
Thursday, 5 August 2021
Moths etc
Cloud building then rain, 19°, light SSE.
A call from Tony Rayner this morning to say he had caught a rare moth. As I was along Green lane at the time I made my way to Tony’s.
The moth in question was a Light Crimson Underwing, a moth of Oak woodland and is very rare outside of the New Forest.
There have been a few records today in both Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire and one could surmise that these moths have been dispersed by the south westerly wind over the last 24 hours.
This is a first for Cholsey.
Another moth that has been appearing frequently in Tony’s trap recently is a Tree Lichen Beauty. This is a southern European species that has recently begun to colonise the UK.
With only a handful of records prior to 1991 it is arriving in some numbers now to successfully breed in the UK.
By the way, all moths are released after identification.
Birdwise, still fairly quiet although a good passage of Swallow, House Martin and Swift with around 50 of each overhead.
Several Blackcap and Chiffchaff also noted and a Blackcap in the garden.
A few insects around during a few brief early spells of sunshine.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle & Southern Hawker.
Butterflies: Large White, Small White, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Peacock, Gatekeeper & Meadow Brown.
Moths: Silver-Y & Six Spot Burnet.
A Yellow Fieldcap found along Green lane.
A call from Tony Rayner this morning to say he had caught a rare moth. As I was along Green lane at the time I made my way to Tony’s.
The moth in question was a Light Crimson Underwing, a moth of Oak woodland and is very rare outside of the New Forest.
There have been a few records today in both Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire and one could surmise that these moths have been dispersed by the south westerly wind over the last 24 hours.
This is a first for Cholsey.
Another moth that has been appearing frequently in Tony’s trap recently is a Tree Lichen Beauty. This is a southern European species that has recently begun to colonise the UK.
With only a handful of records prior to 1991 it is arriving in some numbers now to successfully breed in the UK.
By the way, all moths are released after identification.
Birdwise, still fairly quiet although a good passage of Swallow, House Martin and Swift with around 50 of each overhead.
Several Blackcap and Chiffchaff also noted and a Blackcap in the garden.
A few insects around during a few brief early spells of sunshine.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle & Southern Hawker.
Butterflies: Large White, Small White, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Peacock, Gatekeeper & Meadow Brown.
Moths: Silver-Y & Six Spot Burnet.
A Yellow Fieldcap found along Green lane.
Light Crimson Underwing
Some of the Swallow
Yellow Fieldcap
Six spot Burnet courtesy Alan
Wednesday, 4 August 2021
Spot Flys & Insects
Mainly sunny, 21°, light SE.
Not about the birds today although Alan did find at least 2 Spotted Flycatcher along the Bunk line. The first of the autumn!
Lollingdon, the Bunk line and the river were relatively quiet birdwise today.
Lollingdon hill had a few Common Whitethroat and Chiffchaff but that was about it.
Alan had the usual along the river.
Sparrowhawk and Nuthatch still regular daily visitors to the garden.
The sunny weather had certainly brought out the butterflies with 5 Painted Lady between Church road and Lollingdon hill.
Dragonflies: Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker & Common Darter.
Butterflies: Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Clouded Yellow (first of the year yesterday per Alan), Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, & Meadow Brown.
Insects: Alan found Lesser Hornet Hoverfly yesterday. A new species for Cholsey or has it been found before?
Not about the birds today although Alan did find at least 2 Spotted Flycatcher along the Bunk line. The first of the autumn!
Lollingdon, the Bunk line and the river were relatively quiet birdwise today.
Lollingdon hill had a few Common Whitethroat and Chiffchaff but that was about it.
Alan had the usual along the river.
Sparrowhawk and Nuthatch still regular daily visitors to the garden.
The sunny weather had certainly brought out the butterflies with 5 Painted Lady between Church road and Lollingdon hill.
Dragonflies: Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker & Common Darter.
Butterflies: Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Clouded Yellow (first of the year yesterday per Alan), Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, & Meadow Brown.
Insects: Alan found Lesser Hornet Hoverfly yesterday. A new species for Cholsey or has it been found before?
A plethora of photos today.
Brimstone (not sure whether it is just arriving or leaving).
Spotted Flycatcher courtesy Alan
Lesser Hornet Hoverfly courtesy Alan
Painted Lady
Large Skipper
Common Darter (f)
Brimstone
Painted Lady (underwing)
Peacock
Red Admiral
Comma
Painted Lady courtesy Alan
Holly Blue courtesy Alan
Sedge Warbler courtesy Alan
Spotted Flycatcher courtesy Alan
Monday, 2 August 2021
Pretty quiet for August
Mainly cloudy (rain later), 18°, light SE.
Pretty quiet out there today both at Lollingdon and the Bunk line Per Alan.
2 Raven around Lollingdon Hill and a Kestrel hunting. A couple of Chiffchaff and Common Whitethroat but little else of note.
Mammals: Roe Deer.
Dragonflies: Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker and Common Darter.
Butterflies: fewer numbers, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown & Small Heath.
Pretty quiet out there today both at Lollingdon and the Bunk line Per Alan.
2 Raven around Lollingdon Hill and a Kestrel hunting. A couple of Chiffchaff and Common Whitethroat but little else of note.
Mammals: Roe Deer.
Dragonflies: Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker and Common Darter.
Butterflies: fewer numbers, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown & Small Heath.
Skylark
Raven ↕
Kestrel
Common Darter courtesy Alan
Reed Warbler courtesy Alan
Hornet Mimic Hoverfly courtesy Angie Regan
Sunday, 1 August 2021
Weekend Insects
Weekend photos courtesy Alan Dawson.
Alan also found a rather tatty White-letter Hairstreak in Cholsey churchyard today.
Brown Argus
Common Blue
Brown Hawker
Red Admiral
Gatekeeper
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