Tuesday 5 July 2011

Damsels, Dragons and Butterflies.

Sunny, 24º, light SW, giving way to light rain later and temp dropping to 16º.

Not too much bird activity today, Grasshopper Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat at Cholsey Marsh. 3 Kestrels around and a flyby Black-headed Gull and Cormorant.
A Kingfisher near Bow Bridge and 2 at Cholsey Marsh.

Dragons.
Around 5 Brown Hawkers, 2 Blue (southern) Hawkers, and quite a lot (c20) Common (Blue Damsel) Bluetails and around 12 Banded Demoiselles.

Butterflies.
2 Silver-washed Fritillaries again, plus Meadow Brown, Green-veined, Large and Small Whites, Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Ringlet, Marbled White, Large Skipper, Gatekeeper, Comma and first Painted Lady of the year.

A colony of Pyramid Orchids found, around 30 plants present at this site.

The second House Martins nest at Marymead has fledged with at least 2 young flying.

Long-tailed Tit and Goldcrest in the garden today along with the usual visitors and a Blackcap singing, Song Thrush and Great-spotted Woodpecker regularly visiting and a Moorhen briefly, 2 Mistle Thrush in the meadow.
A Red Kite came down in the garden this afternoon briefly, certainly put the Squirrels to flight.
A Kestrel settled on the bird feeding station this evening flushing everything.
                                   Common Bluetail

                                           


A view of the meadow from the garden, Cholsey Brook runs along the right hand side.

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