Monday, March 22, 2010
Sunday March 21st 2010 - Lea Park Thame Oxfordshire
Second butterfly of the year - 1 Peacock (Inachis io)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) - March 15th 2010 c.11:30 GMT
Spring has arrived! First butterfly of the 2010 spotted flying the hedge line along the B489 in Buckinghamshire beyond Gallows Hill (near Ivinghoe Beacon at c. SP 972 174) - ♂ Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni).
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Rushbeds Wood & Lapland Farm - 14:30 to 15:45
An afternoon walk in light rain. Very wet under foot with ditches and stream full.
Not a great deal to be seen, just relatively common birds. Blackbirds much in evidence with a few Wood Pigeon, Wren, Carrion Crow, Jay and Jackdaw. Various Tit species heard; though, did enjoy watching a party of Long-tailed Tits around the woodland edge of Lapland Farm. Best bird of the walk was a Nuthatch. The bird was fairly low down at the edge of the ride from the car park to the centre of the wood.
I may have seen another more interesting species; though, the view of both specimens too fleeting to be sure - Woodcock! Brown jobs bursting from the wood floor with a fast twisting flight heading deeper into the wood. However, no views that would allow me to be sure of the identification but I have seen at least one in this area before during winter.
In addition to the above, 2+ Muntjac and a Grey Squirrel.
Not a great deal to be seen, just relatively common birds. Blackbirds much in evidence with a few Wood Pigeon, Wren, Carrion Crow, Jay and Jackdaw. Various Tit species heard; though, did enjoy watching a party of Long-tailed Tits around the woodland edge of Lapland Farm. Best bird of the walk was a Nuthatch. The bird was fairly low down at the edge of the ride from the car park to the centre of the wood.
I may have seen another more interesting species; though, the view of both specimens too fleeting to be sure - Woodcock! Brown jobs bursting from the wood floor with a fast twisting flight heading deeper into the wood. However, no views that would allow me to be sure of the identification but I have seen at least one in this area before during winter.
In addition to the above, 2+ Muntjac and a Grey Squirrel.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Thame (Oxfordshire) - at home
Bird watching from home and in bed! 8 Red Kite soaring over the house. We have now put the remains of the Xmas Turkey on the garage roof!
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Thame (Oxfordshire) - at home
A first in our garden! Around 09:00 we spotted a female Sparrowhawk on the back grass just below the feeders. She was plucking a victim and making it ready for her breakfast.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Avebury (Wiltshire) - October 12th 2009
Possibly my last butterfly of the year. One Red Admiral around Ivy flowers. What a warm and sunny autumn day!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Emmington (Oxfordshire - SP742026) - September 12th 2009
A glorious warm autumn afternoon walking the farmland around the small village of Emmington.
Very few butterflies on the wing. Identified Small and Large White, and two fresh Comma's seen in the village. A couple of small dark butterflies also seen, but not able to identify as they were flying low and strong across open fields.
Other insect interest centred on a male Calopteryx splendens (damselfly) in courtship flight near the small village pond. I thought they were more associated with running water and there is little close to Emmington other than at least one artificial garden feature.
The birds grabbed most of my interest with 2+ Common Buzzard and 5+ Red Kite soaring over the fields and coverts. Also, got some close views of a covey of Red-legged Partridge. Pity they were not Greys, but the Reds were fun to watch with much scurrying around and characteristic hoarse calls.
Unidentified Phylloscopus warblers calling ('huitt' calls) in Down Covert and a Chiffchaff calling and viewed nearer the village. Well, I believe it to be a Chiffchaff because of its dark legs! A few House Martins hawking for insects, 1 Greenfinch, numbers of Goldfinch and calling Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers also in evidence.
The highlight of today's walk were 2 Spotted Flycatchers doing what flycatchers do on the edge of Down Covert at SP740038.
Nothing outstanding but just a wonderful early autumn day walking local farmland (arable, sheep and dairy, plus some coverts managed for game birds).
Very few butterflies on the wing. Identified Small and Large White, and two fresh Comma's seen in the village. A couple of small dark butterflies also seen, but not able to identify as they were flying low and strong across open fields.
Other insect interest centred on a male Calopteryx splendens (damselfly) in courtship flight near the small village pond. I thought they were more associated with running water and there is little close to Emmington other than at least one artificial garden feature.
The birds grabbed most of my interest with 2+ Common Buzzard and 5+ Red Kite soaring over the fields and coverts. Also, got some close views of a covey of Red-legged Partridge. Pity they were not Greys, but the Reds were fun to watch with much scurrying around and characteristic hoarse calls.
Unidentified Phylloscopus warblers calling ('huitt' calls) in Down Covert and a Chiffchaff calling and viewed nearer the village. Well, I believe it to be a Chiffchaff because of its dark legs! A few House Martins hawking for insects, 1 Greenfinch, numbers of Goldfinch and calling Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers also in evidence.
The highlight of today's walk were 2 Spotted Flycatchers doing what flycatchers do on the edge of Down Covert at SP740038.
Nothing outstanding but just a wonderful early autumn day walking local farmland (arable, sheep and dairy, plus some coverts managed for game birds).
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