A walk out along the Bunkie railway path (Agatha Christie Trail), to Winterbrook, then along the Thames path to Cholsey Marsh, back to Bow Bridge, along Caps Lane, back through the village out to the Bullshole to Lollingdon Hill, skirting Aston Tirrold, back through the Lees to Manor Farm, through the Church yard and back! 6 hours!
The AC Trail was rather quiet; around 20 Pied Wagtails by the Sewage Works and a single Grey Wagtail nearby, the rest of the walk produced a flock of 40+ Starling, a few Linnets, Yellowhammer and a Reed Bunting.
Fairly quiet along the Thames (still a bit of boat traffic around), 2 Mute Swan, a Grey Heron, a couple of Tufted Duck, a Kingfisher, 5 Great-crested Grebe and 2 Jay.
As I approached Cholsey Marsh, started to hear Siskin going over (c20) also at least 2 Redpoll.
2 Swallows flew downstream, 1 adult and 1 juvenile and a few more Siskin in the Alders. Green and Great-spotted Woodpeckers more in evident today with 6 and 8 of each.
Meadow Pipits and Skylark mobile with around 20 of each along the Thames path.
2 Chiffchaffs with a Tit flock on Cholsey Marsh and a family party (5) Bullfinch, in addition a Pied Wagtail on the opposite bank of the river and a Grey Wagtail flew over.
Back to the other side of the village, there were 3 Wheatear on Lollingdon Hill, also on the hill were 10 Goldfinch feeding on thistle heads. Also several flocks of Yellowhammer nearby, 20 to 30 birds in all and a single Corn Bunting.
Another Grey heron in a field of cattle in Lollingdon.
Again, Meadow Pipit and Skylark appeared on the move and numbers have increased in the area.
Another Wheatear in a horse paddock near Aston Tirrold. And 10+ Stock Doves in the vicinity.
Quite a few Gulls in the fields near the Lees, again mainly Lesser Blackback Gulls with around 20 Black-headed Gulls and 3 Herring Gulls, also 6 Red Kites loafing in the field with them. 2 Lapwing also in same field.
Chaffinch numbers appear to have increased recently?
8 Kestrels seen in total today.
Back to Marymead and 2 Coal Tit and 3+ Goldcrest in the conifers nearby.
No winter thrushes seen yet, both Fieldfare and Redwing have been seen in the north of Oxfordshire but not around Cholsey yet!
58 species seen in total.
2 Roe Deer, a Stoat and lots of Grey Squirrel seen.
Red Admirals the commonest butterfly today, also a few Small and Large Whites, a Comma, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, a single of Painted Lady and Small Copper.
2 Blue Emperor dragonflies, several Migrant Hawkers and quite a few Common Darters.
Nice photos..
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