A blustery walk out to Lollingdon today. The lone Lapwing still present on the flood along with a single Common Snipe. Nearby 2 Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap, a Little Egret and a single Redwing.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Butterflies: Brimstone.
Monday, 10 April 2023
Wet 'n' windy
Wet and windy, 13°, fresh WSW.
A blustery walk out to Lollingdon today. The lone Lapwing still present on the flood along with a single Common Snipe. Nearby 2 Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap, a Little Egret and a single Redwing.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Butterflies: Brimstone.
A blustery walk out to Lollingdon today. The lone Lapwing still present on the flood along with a single Common Snipe. Nearby 2 Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap, a Little Egret and a single Redwing.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Butterflies: Brimstone.
Sunday, 9 April 2023
Oystercatchers
Sunny at first then cloudy, 11°, light SSE.
3 Oystercatcher on the floods at Lollingdon. Per Alan.
3 Oystercatcher on the floods at Lollingdon. Per Alan.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Holly Blue & Peacock.
Oystercatchers courtesy Alan
Saturday, 8 April 2023
Goosanders
Sunny, 14°, light E.
2 Goosander on the river today but disturbed by paddle boarders! Plus Blackcap and several Chiffchaff.
Lollingdon: Lapwing still present plus a Wheatear.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock & Speckled Wood.
2 Goosander on the river today but disturbed by paddle boarders! Plus Blackcap and several Chiffchaff.
Lollingdon: Lapwing still present plus a Wheatear.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock & Speckled Wood.
Goosanders courtesy Alan
Speckled Wood courtesy Alan
Lapwing courtesy Alan
Friday, 7 April 2023
Bits & Pieces
Mainly sunny, 14°, light NNE.
Lollingdon, Bunk and River covered today. 2 Willow Warbler, 4-5 Blackcap, Reed Bunting, 3 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare, a Sparrowhawk, c 100 Lesser Blackback Gull, 5 Black-headed Gull and 2 Herring Gull.
Butterflies: several Brimstone and Peacock and a single Small Tortoiseshell.
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Lollingdon, Bunk and River covered today. 2 Willow Warbler, 4-5 Blackcap, Reed Bunting, 3 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare, a Sparrowhawk, c 100 Lesser Blackback Gull, 5 Black-headed Gull and 2 Herring Gull.
Butterflies: several Brimstone and Peacock and a single Small Tortoiseshell.
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Thursday, 6 April 2023
April showers
April showers & a bit of thunder, 12°, breezy WNW.
Today's showers were conducive to concentrate Hirundines over flooded and sheltered areas with c300 birds in total. Predominantly Swallow with several House Martin and Sand Martin.
The majority seen by Alan along the Bunk line. As soon as the showers passed by so did the Hirundines.
Also along Bunk line, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Meadow Pipit and Lapwing.
Today's showers were conducive to concentrate Hirundines over flooded and sheltered areas with c300 birds in total. Predominantly Swallow with several House Martin and Sand Martin.
The majority seen by Alan along the Bunk line. As soon as the showers passed by so did the Hirundines.
Also along Bunk line, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Meadow Pipit and Lapwing.
(several Swallow and House Martin also seen yesterday. Per AD & RB).
Water Rail on the marsh but otherwise fairly quiet.
Lollingdon was fairly quiet with just a couple of Blackcap in song plus the now established Chiffchaff, 2 Greylag Geese flew south east, Sparrowhawk and a Lapwing on the floods.
Mammals: Brown Hare and Stoat.
Butterflies: a single Peacock.
Water Rail on the marsh but otherwise fairly quiet.
Lollingdon was fairly quiet with just a couple of Blackcap in song plus the now established Chiffchaff, 2 Greylag Geese flew south east, Sparrowhawk and a Lapwing on the floods.
Mammals: Brown Hare and Stoat.
Butterflies: a single Peacock.
Blackcap
Pied Wagtail courtesy Alan
Tuesday, 4 April 2023
Sunshiny day
Sunny, 11°, light ESE.
2 (m) Wheatear out at Lollingdon today along with 4 Lapwing, a Blackcap (m), Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, 1-2 Raven and 2 Grey Wagtail.
Not a lot elsewhere!
Mammals: Stoat and Brown Hare.
Butterflies: Brimstone and Peacock.
Insects: Dark-edged Bee-fly.
2 (m) Wheatear out at Lollingdon today along with 4 Lapwing, a Blackcap (m), Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, 1-2 Raven and 2 Grey Wagtail.
Not a lot elsewhere!
Mammals: Stoat and Brown Hare.
Butterflies: Brimstone and Peacock.
Insects: Dark-edged Bee-fly.
Brimstone on Daffodil
Peacock
Brown Hare
Grey Wagtail doing its best to avoid a pic
Grey Wagtail courtesy Alan
Wheatear courtesy Alan
Monday, 3 April 2023
One Swallow does not a summer make.
Mainly sunny, 12°, light E.
A few areas covered today but overall rather quiet.
A Wheatear and 2 Little Egret out at Lollingdon. Per MFJ.
2-4 Swallow, 2 Grey Wagtail, 4 Lapwing, several Fieldfare and Redwing, Meadow Pipit, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Yellowhammer, Herring Gull, Lesser Blackback Gull, Black-headed Gull.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
A few areas covered today but overall rather quiet.
A Wheatear and 2 Little Egret out at Lollingdon. Per MFJ.
2-4 Swallow, 2 Grey Wagtail, 4 Lapwing, several Fieldfare and Redwing, Meadow Pipit, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Yellowhammer, Herring Gull, Lesser Blackback Gull, Black-headed Gull.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Reptiles & Amphibians: Common Lizard found by Niall Hammond.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Comma & Peacock.
Insects: Dark-edged Bee-fly.
PC & AD.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Comma & Peacock.
Insects: Dark-edged Bee-fly.
PC & AD.
Friday, 31 March 2023
A wet one
Light to heavy prolonged rain showers, 11°, fresh WSW.
Bunk line proved quite fruitful today with several migrants moving through. I was out a.m. and Alan p.m.
A single House Martin, 5+ Sand Martin, 2+ Swallow and singles of Greenshank and Shelduck all moving generally north in between the rain showers.
A single Willow Warbler and Blackcap, several Chiffchaff, Treecreeper, a single Black-headed Gull, 5 Lesser Blackback Gull, 2 Raven and Sparrowhawk also noted.
A few Yellowhammer back in their summer quarters and several Skylark in song .
From Alan yesterday: Grey Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Nuthatch, Kingfisher, 2 Little Egret and 2 Raven.
Plus a Peacock and Brimstone butterfly and Dark-edged Bee-fly all yesterday.
Bunk line proved quite fruitful today with several migrants moving through. I was out a.m. and Alan p.m.
A single House Martin, 5+ Sand Martin, 2+ Swallow and singles of Greenshank and Shelduck all moving generally north in between the rain showers.
A single Willow Warbler and Blackcap, several Chiffchaff, Treecreeper, a single Black-headed Gull, 5 Lesser Blackback Gull, 2 Raven and Sparrowhawk also noted.
A few Yellowhammer back in their summer quarters and several Skylark in song .
From Alan yesterday: Grey Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Nuthatch, Kingfisher, 2 Little Egret and 2 Raven.
Plus a Peacock and Brimstone butterfly and Dark-edged Bee-fly all yesterday.
Raven courtesy Alan
Willow Warbler
Dark-edged Bee-fly courtesy Alan
Little Egret courtesy Alan
Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Spring is in the air but so is rain.
Rain showers, 13°, light to breezy SSW.
A light sprinkling of migrants today with 2 Swallow and 4 Sand Martin seen, Bunk line and Lollingdon respectively.
Sparrowhawk, 60+ Linnet, 2 Little Egret, a Grey Heron, a handful of Redwing and Fieldfare, and good numbers of Chiffchaff in song.
One of the young Rooks was taken from a nest site by a Red Kite near Church road but then dropped from a height.
The Rook was badly injured and did not make it.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
A light sprinkling of migrants today with 2 Swallow and 4 Sand Martin seen, Bunk line and Lollingdon respectively.
Sparrowhawk, 60+ Linnet, 2 Little Egret, a Grey Heron, a handful of Redwing and Fieldfare, and good numbers of Chiffchaff in song.
One of the young Rooks was taken from a nest site by a Red Kite near Church road but then dropped from a height.
The Rook was badly injured and did not make it.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Little Egrets
Monday, 27 March 2023
Sunshine for a change
Sunny, 10°, light S.
A fairly quiet couple of days. Alan found a Wheatear up near Silly Bridge yesterday but little else evident.
Today, Bunk line, Lollingdon and the River covered but again very little happening.
Most of the wintering Gulls have dispersed now and only a couple of Common Gull, a handful of Lesser Blackback Gull and Black-headed Gull and a couple of Herring Gull noted today.
2 Lapwing still in the area and hoping that they may stay and breed as one seen in display flight over the weekend.
A concern is that we have not recorded Bullfinch in the parish this year. Usually 4 sites where we find them but nothing noted yet.
Other species noted: many Chiffchaff, a Raven, Treecreeper and Nuthatch.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Butterflies: Brimstone and Peacock.
A fairly quiet couple of days. Alan found a Wheatear up near Silly Bridge yesterday but little else evident.
Today, Bunk line, Lollingdon and the River covered but again very little happening.
Most of the wintering Gulls have dispersed now and only a couple of Common Gull, a handful of Lesser Blackback Gull and Black-headed Gull and a couple of Herring Gull noted today.
2 Lapwing still in the area and hoping that they may stay and breed as one seen in display flight over the weekend.
A concern is that we have not recorded Bullfinch in the parish this year. Usually 4 sites where we find them but nothing noted yet.
Other species noted: many Chiffchaff, a Raven, Treecreeper and Nuthatch.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Butterflies: Brimstone and Peacock.
Raven & Peacock courtesy Alan
Friday, 24 March 2023
Showers
Rain, hail and sunshine, 12°, breezy SW.
A quieter day than of late. Lollingdon hill was deserted which was not surprising considering the wind was blasting the southern face. Just 6 Red Kite and 2 Buzzard taking advantage of the sunny spells and gusting wind.
Nearby a flock of 100+ Fieldfare, Redwing and Starling, 3-4 Yellowhammer, several Chiffchaff and a flock of 30-40 Goldfinch.
After all the rain recently some of the fields are beginning to flood again and approx. 12 Pied Wagtail taking advantage.
A Sparrowhawk in the garden again.
Bunk line and river still fairly quiet. A few Yellowhammer and Chiffchaff.
One I forgot was Alan saw a Barn Owl hunting up near Westfield road earlier in the week.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
A quieter day than of late. Lollingdon hill was deserted which was not surprising considering the wind was blasting the southern face. Just 6 Red Kite and 2 Buzzard taking advantage of the sunny spells and gusting wind.
Nearby a flock of 100+ Fieldfare, Redwing and Starling, 3-4 Yellowhammer, several Chiffchaff and a flock of 30-40 Goldfinch.
After all the rain recently some of the fields are beginning to flood again and approx. 12 Pied Wagtail taking advantage.
A Sparrowhawk in the garden again.
Bunk line and river still fairly quiet. A few Yellowhammer and Chiffchaff.
One I forgot was Alan saw a Barn Owl hunting up near Westfield road earlier in the week.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Sparrowhawk
Frogs in Alan's pond
Wednesday, 22 March 2023
March Hares & Butterflies
Bright at first then clouding over, 13°, fresh SW.
Much the same as yesterday covered.
4 Wheatear still present out at Lollingdon and Chiffchaff everywhere, obviously a big influx over the last few days.
2 Lapwing, Kingfisher, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Yellowhammer, several Redwing and Fieldfare plus the regulars.
Much the same as yesterday covered.
4 Wheatear still present out at Lollingdon and Chiffchaff everywhere, obviously a big influx over the last few days.
2 Lapwing, Kingfisher, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Yellowhammer, several Redwing and Fieldfare plus the regulars.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Butterflies: several Brimstone, first ones of the year as far as we know.
Butterflies: several Brimstone, first ones of the year as far as we know.
Mad March Hares ↕
Brimstone courtesy Alan
Starling
Yellowhammer
Wheatear (f) courtesy Alan
Linnets ↕
Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Wheatears again
Sunshine and showers, 14°, breezy SSW.
I covered Lollingdon today whilst Alan covered the Bunk, River and Lollingdon Hill.
4 Wheatear (3m & 1f) still present at Lollingdon. Whether these are the same birds as in previous days?
Nearby I only saw 1 Fieldfare whereas Alan had a flock of several hundred Fieldfare, Redwing and Starling along the Bunk.
Good numbers of Chiffchaff also present with 6 singing birds on the walk out to Lollingdon and Alan had 10+ along the Bunk.
Other birds noted: 1 Goldcrest, 3 Mistle Thrush, 3 Great-spotted Woodpecker, Little Owl and 1 Sand Martin.
River area, very quiet.
I covered Lollingdon today whilst Alan covered the Bunk, River and Lollingdon Hill.
4 Wheatear (3m & 1f) still present at Lollingdon. Whether these are the same birds as in previous days?
Nearby I only saw 1 Fieldfare whereas Alan had a flock of several hundred Fieldfare, Redwing and Starling along the Bunk.
Good numbers of Chiffchaff also present with 6 singing birds on the walk out to Lollingdon and Alan had 10+ along the Bunk.
Other birds noted: 1 Goldcrest, 3 Mistle Thrush, 3 Great-spotted Woodpecker, Little Owl and 1 Sand Martin.
River area, very quiet.
Mammals: Muntjac in the garden.
Pics 4, 5 & 6 courtesy Alan
Wheatears
Muntjac
Monday, 20 March 2023
Wheatears
Overcast with rain, 13°, light SSW.
Up to 6 Wheatear on Lollingdon hill. Per Alan Dawson & Michael Pocock.
Up to 6 Wheatear on Lollingdon hill. Per Alan Dawson & Michael Pocock.
courtesy Alan ↕
Sunday, 19 March 2023
North of the Wall
Mainly cold and wet.
Have spent the last week up in Huddersfield visiting Loren's family.
Managed to get out a few times along the river Colne and Huddersfield Canal area.
not a lot going on but managed to find a pair of Dipper and a good number of Grey Wagtail.
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