Time I wrote something

Sunday 1 June 2014

With all the birds busy breeding there is little to report and it has been too wet/cold for much butterfly activity. Two new birds recorded for the the year being Swift and House Martin. Lots of Ladybirds around mainly Harlequin and 2 spot - the first flush of 7 spots apparently over. A large flush of Nettle Tap moths on the wing yesterday:

As well as a few Silver-ground carpets:

but the highlight was my first dragon/damsel of the year - an Azure Damselfly:

Not the beds

Saturday 3rd May 2014

Or even Oxfordshire! I have foresaken the Watercress beds for South Devon and this Great Northern Diver was just offshore. Other birds of note included Little Egret and Sandwich Tern and it is always good to see a Wall Brown butterfly - once common in Oxon.

Half century

Thursday 1 May 2014

51 Bryony ladybirds down allotment today.

And still they come

Wednesday 30 April 2014

Latest count of Bryony ladybirds down the allotment - 44! Two new birds for the Ewelme 2014 list - Skylark and Whitethroat. My first grass snake of the year - a small one swimming in the beds just below the road bridge.

My second damselfly of the year - the second Large Red which visited my conservatory before being potted and safely released in the garden.

Farm bird count

Saturday 26 April 2014

this was the 109th consecutive monthly count of birds round the Preston Crowmarsh farm. 266 individuals of 28 species. Unfortunately the strength of wind probably affected numbers with hardly any singing which is required when the leaves begin to provide cover. Best birds: 3 Buzzard, 6 grey Partridge, 4 Stock Dove, 6 Swallow, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 3 Linnet and 3 Yellowhammer.

Bugs

Thursday 24 April 2014

Not much happening at Ewelme but my patch of fruit bushes held 17 Bryony ladybirds, 2 Seven spots, a Hawthorn Shield Bug and 9 Squash bugs. Better keep it quiet or someone will want to make it into an SSSI!

Dorchester WeBS Count

Tuesday 22 April 2014

Good set of new birds though little to do with "Wetland". Swallow, House and Sand Martins and an early Swift. Lots of Tufted ducks still around but most of the rest have gone to their breeding quarters. A pair of Egyptian Geese with 5 goslings. No Common Terns as yet but a single Oystercatcher seen.