Arrival of Meadow Pipits

Tuesday 20 September 2014

Somewhat surprised that today was my first sighting of Meadow Pipits on the Watercress Beds for 2014. 5 of them flying around but refusing to settle. This rather tame Pheasant seemed reluctant to test its wings and just wandered away from me glancing over its shoulder as it went.

Flies and Bat

Monday 29 September 2014

This Brown Long-eared Bat was in a sorry state when picked up at Berrick. Handed over to David Endacott of the Oxfordshire Bat group to see if anything could be done but not hopeful.

September Riverfly monitoring on Ewelme Brook today. No apparent effect of the big brook cleanup on Saturday though, unusually, no Caddis larvae at the Brook Street site.

September Farm survey

Sunday 28 September 2014

Very quiet with just 228 birds of 28 species. Highlights 6 Buzzard, 14 Robins, 2 Chiff chaffs and 5 Yellowhammers. No Blackcaps or Swallows and only 2 Blackbirds.

Still quiet birdwise

Friday 26 September 2014

At Ewelme Watercress Beds somewhat surprised to catch a glimpse of a Whitethroat as I hadn't seen one for a couple of weeks. Chiff chaffs still around but no sign of Blackcap. Mating Common Darters on the dipping platform of the small pond and, elsewhere a Small Copper catching a few rays. Pity about the bite out of the wing!

Cricket lovely cricket

Wednesday 24 September 2014

Daughter discovered this sitting on her sandwich box this evening. Pictured in a glass tumbler.

Oak Bush Cricket

Warblers

Monday 22 September 2014

Still plenty (well 2 or 3) Blackcaps and Chiff Chaffs around and others of note were Kingfisher which seems to be more regular now and noisy Green Woodpecker. Bush full of House Sparrows - I wonder what a Tree Sparrow looks like?

Who needs Christmas decorations when you have Spindle bushes?

Butterflies still going well

Thursday 18 September 2014

Amazing temperatures for mid September and still getting some nice butterflies at Ewelme. 8 species and a total of 44 individuals. Highlights a Painted Lady and Small Copper. Unfortunately the Lady was beyond my photographic capabilities.

Trout

Wednesday 17 September 2014

Good to see several trout (brown) whilst clearing the bypass channel at the work session this morning. One of them nearly big enough to eat - not that I would of course!

Amazing Chrysalis

Monday 15 September 2014

Small Tortoiseshell

Large White

Heads and Tails

Sunday 14 September 2014

Nice lesser Whitethroat at Ewelme cress Beds this morning which has probably been around for a week or so. Fleeting glimpses before but not enough to be positive. Even today not easy to photograph.

Last fuel before winter?

Saturday 13 September 2014

Amazing plant - Ivy! Cover for nests and insects through the summer, pollen and nectar in the autumn and finally berries in late winter. The bees were gathering pollen as fast as they could at Ewelme today and there were also some Red Admirals in attendance.

Probably Honey Bee

 

 

I still  have trouble between Common and Ruddy Darter. Think this is a Ruddy.

Fish please - hold the chips

Wednesday 10 September 2014

This heron was waiting outside the Watercress Centre for me to turn up with my camera.

Dorchester WeBS count

Monday 8 September 2014

Best bird seen was this Whinchat.

Not a great deal else of note though, generally, numbers are building up. 56 Mute Swans, 30 Wigeon, 18 Gadwall, 113 Tufted Duck, 37 Cormorant and 464 Coot and 8 Little Grebe.

Everything comes to those who wait

Wednesday 3 September 2014

The whole world and his dog seems to have been seeing Painted Ladies this year and my turn came today! 22nd butterfly species for the watercress beds this year.

At last

Tuesday 2 September 2014

Bit like buses - you wait all day for one then 8 come along together. In this case they were Yellow Wagtails at the Ewelme Cress Beds and species number 59 for the year. I had almost given up hope but they often seem to appear in early September. Also livening up the hard work accompanied by the Wallingford Green Gym was a mixed flock of about 100 Swallows and House Martins. I wonder if I hadn't been working and had my bins whether I would have caught up with a Sand Martin amongst them? Also a couple of young Green Woodpeckers laughing at us.