January - Cholsey
marsh was the place this month with a
Great
Grey Shrike,
Bittern,
Cetti’s Warbler & 2
Barn Owls regular and a record count of
387
Corn Bunting at the roost. There
was also 2
Stonechat wintering on
the farm land to the west of the village and
Blackcaps were turning up in several gardens with 10+ birds in the
parish.
February - the Shrike and Bittern were still present and the news reached one of the rare
bird networks Smartphone apps and was showing some amusing results. The app
showing “X” marking the spot was located in the centre of the village and not
the marsh and subsequently we noted a couple of birders searching the local
recreation ground and adjacent brook for the above rarities. Quite a few Lapwing and Golden Plover around due to the flooding in fields between South
Stoke and Brightwell.
March - highlight
of the month was a
Mediterranean Gull
found by Roger Wyatt with the gull flock frequenting the pig fields near
Lollingdon hill.
Dunlin and
Ringed Plover also found in the parish
on flooded fields and the first
Wheatear
arrived towards the end of the month.
April – A rather
uneventful month with all the expected migrants putting in an appearance, a
good passage of Wheatear on
Lollingdon hill and a couple of Redstart
and a flyover Tree Pipit were of
note.
May – A
Whinchat on Lollingdon hill was of note
and 5 pairs of
Yellow Wagtail noted
in the parish, a fair number of butterfly species were noted.
June – Most
species settled down to breed although
Grasshopper
Warbler,
Willow Warbler and
Spotted Flycatcher did not breed in the
parish this year and it was doubtful if
Cuckoo
bred, a male was seen but no female noted, Cholsey marsh was still draining
from the winter flood.
Peregrine,
Hobby and
Raven seen frequently this month.
July – A fairly
uneventful month, only a Redstart of
note late in the month on Lollingdon hill.
August – A good
return passage of migrants noted with several
Redstarts and
Yellow
Wagtails and a
Whinchat on Lollingdon
hill.
September –
Autumn passage continued with addition of a couple Stonechats on the hill and a light passage of Wheatear and the only Little
Egret of the year seen on the Thames at Winterbrook.
October – A few
Wheatear and
Stonechat on passage and the first
Redwing and
Fieldfare and
other migrant thrushes arrive.
November – Merlin and Golden Plover of note this month and 2 Stonechat at 2 sites appeared to be settling in for the winter.
December – 2
Stonechat still present and a pair of
Raven gave us a brilliant aerobatic
display on Lollingdon hill for 20 minutes on one day and personally my favourite moment of 2013.
120 species of bird
recorded in the parish this year, a little down on previous years.
Although I have not got figures yet it appears it was not a
particularly good year for butterflies and dragonflies.
Regarding Cholsey marsh, BBOWT are currently
(still) negotiating with owners (Homes
and Communities Agency) and developers (Linden Homes) to take on the freehold
of the land
(what the heck is there to
negotiate about and why is it taking so long?).
