Dorchester and Ewelme

Tuesday 27 August 2013

Best bird of a somewhat ordinary count was a Hobby - I wouldn't even have noticed that if a Crow hadn't taken a punt at it.  Moths in the gents were quite entertaining:

 

Pleasant surprise at Ewelme in the afternoon was this Migrant Hawker - first for several years.

On the move

Sunday 25 August 2013

A somewhat wet and hard going survey of the farmland around Battle Barns, Preston Crowmarsh. Vegetation up to head height in many places making walking hard work. Some evidence of birds on the move with a few Lesser Blacked Gulls passing over, 2 Yellow Wagtails at the sewage works (in fact all three wagtails there), 2 Willow Warblers and 14 Chiff Chaffs. Also a good flock of 65 Goldfinches feeding on the oil seed rape - hope they hang around to tempt the Merlin though there wont be any seeds for them to feed on in a couple of months.

Early Bird!

Monday 12 August 2013

Having said there wasn't much happening had a very brief view of a Water Rail opposite the Watercress Centre this morning. Almost a month earlier than ever before and at the "wrong" end of the site! Failed breeder?

Insects and Mammals

Sunday 11 August 2013

Bit quiet on the reserve of late though the Kingfisher has made a welcome return, though I am yet to clap eyes on it.  Masses of White butterflies of three species about and some being terrorised by a Brown Hawker though I didn't see it catch one. Slightly more photogenic was a Common Darter:

and one of two Stoats chasing one another: