Tuesday 31 July 2012

BioBlitz

Tuesday 31 July 2012
At long last I have finalised the list of species found during the 14 hour bioblitz at Ewelme Watercress Beds LNR. A grand total of 593 species were found and identified including 146 moths and 135 flowers. Hoping to put the full list on the Ewelme web site when I find time.

Sunday 29 July 2012

Battle Farm survey

Saturday 28 July 2012
230 birds of 32 species. Highlights included a roost of about 30 Swallows in a small clump of Hawthorns, a good count of 8 Whitethroats and these were not family groups as singles and pairs  widely separated. In fact one male was getting very upset with me so I assume I was close to an occupied nest. Other sightings of interest werea Long-tailed Tit fighting with an enormous caterpillar and the first sighting for a long time of a Roe deer "Kangarooing" through the wheat crop. Less attractively a verbal battle with a security man, whose first language was not English, who tried to stop me walking a public right of way.

Friday 27 July 2012

Gatekeeper at last

Friday 27 July 2012

About two weeks later than usual the first appearance of Gatekeepers today. Meadow Browns and Ringlets seem to have tapered off but a few Skippers to be seen.

Gatekeeper
Small Skipper

Thursday 26 July 2012

Dragons and Damsels

Thursday 26 July 2012

We don't get a lot of these at Ewelme - the water is too cold and fast moving. However today an Emperor and two Brown Hawkers plus a Blue Tailed and an Azure Damselfly.
At home a dragon was hawking over the hedge at the bottom of the garden and still at it when the dark sent me inside at past 9.30. Wonder what it was?

Monday 23 July 2012

Kingfisher at last!

Monday 23 July 2012
I really don't believe I have made it through the year to this date before seeing my first Kingfisher of 2012. Apart from that somewhat ordinary with just 711 birds of 16 species though good to see 3 Lapwing (suspect they bred and 2 Oystercatchers)
Not sure what the Blackbird was doing in the garden this morning as it seemed to be offering dead leaves to a youngster. Perhaps it was the lesson for today "this is a leaf - we don't eat these but they can be used for constructing your nest".