Rain and new year birds at Ewelme

Monday 30 April 2012
With yesterday's 4.6mm of rain in the garden the month's total has reached 118.3mm and I seem to have been out in most of it! This is the highest monthly total I have recorded since November 2009 and still a day to go though, so far, it has been dry in Benson.
A walk round the cress beds at Ewelme this morning revealed a couple of Grey Partridges - always good to see, and 3 House Martins checking out the eaves of a house near the centre.

Farmoor

Sunday 29 April 2012

Closest I get to twitching nowadays with a visit to Farmoor to see what the weather might bring in. Best of a wet hour were these Black-necked Grebes performing for the cameras but almost as impressive were hundreds of all three hirundines and Swifts hunting within a few feet along the causeway. 

Battle Barns Survey

Saturday 28 April 2012
And still the cold, wet weather continues. Managed just 28 species and 259 individuals counted. Highlights were good numbers of Hirundines hawking over the sewage beds.  Mostly Swallows but a few House martins and lone Sand Martin amongst them.  A small party of Linnets and one carrying nest material.

Visit to Chimney meadow

Friday 27 April 2012
We don't seem to be very lucky with our BEST visits to BBOWT reserves.  Wet, cold and windy didn't help but still sightings of Wheatear and Stonechat and the Cowslips pretended to be sunshine.

Quiet weekend mostly down allotment

Sunday 22 April 2012
Best I could find this weekend was a female Orange Tip feeding on the nectar on Honesty plant in the garden.

Swift

Thursday 19 April 2012
Dunno what's going on but a brief pass through Dorchester added 4 species to the meagre list for that site , this year but the odd thing were a couple of  Swifts passing over.  I know I haven't been out much but Swift before all three hirundines??? Though saw a Sand Martin within a few seconds.

Larus fuscus R.I.P.

Tuesday 17 April 2012
I have now heard back the details of the Lesser Black-backed Gull found at Ewelme Watercress Beds that died after a couple of days wandering around looking sickly. It was ringed as a female chick  in Orfordness, Suffolk on July 8 1995.  It was caught and released on 8 May 2011 at Europort, Holland.  It was, therefore, just under 17 years old when it died. The report also adds that her mate is back on the colony paired with and unringed female. It doesn't actually say but I assume the colony is in Holland.

Ouzels

Monday 16 April 2012
Away day to Linky Down where, for a change, Ring Ouzels were performing well.  At least 6 individuals present.  Also a Wheatear in the top of a tree (don't get a lot of those!) and rather nice close view of a perched Red Kite.

No news on the LBB Gull yet which died in the night Sat/Sun.  Full ring details so should get info sometime! 

Ringed Gull

Friday 13 April 2012

Bet that had you going but just a Lesser Black-backed Gull with plastic and metal ring.  Bird didn't look too well though no obvious sign of injury. Ring appears to read 1+ but could be other numerals or letters round back.  Will check tomorrow if it hasn't died and been dragged off by a fox or similar.

Dorchester WeBS count

Wednesday 11 April 2012
A little dissapointing with no hirundines, wheatear or willow warbler on a warm and sunny morning. About the only birds of note were a couple of Shelduck on the Allen Pit.  And we are into April and I'm still to catch up with Kingfisher for 2012!  Must get out more!

Some birds at last

Friday 6 April 2012

Nothing very special but 3 new species for the year at Ewelme being a pair of Bullfinches, Canada Goose and a Yellowhammer bathing in a puddle. Also Blackcap in full song, presumably a summer visitor rather than the overwintering bird seen in January. A rather poor photo of a Blue Tit collecting alpaca hair from the "multi-storey bug hotel".

New Butterfly

Sunday 1 April 2012

Number 5 of the year on the Ewelme Watercress Beds LNR, a Red Admiral today and I still haven't seen a Peacock there this year.