WonderfulWildlifeUK

Tackling the M42 and M5 on a morning is never a pleasant experience, but the 2 hr commute to Yew View is always worth it, especially when you are met with a view like this…   With rising temperatures rising, blue skies and sunshine, Spring is definitely springing! The chiffchaff was heralding the official start of Spring and the site is looking just wonderful! I always start my day with a wander around, stretching my legs after a few hours on the motorway and checking out what has been happening over the last week… where did these appear from… hardly visible last week?! I can’t believe a year has passed since these beautiful snakeshead fritillaries were out. So beautiful and lots of bumble bees enjoying the nectar and pollen feast. Lots of other beautiful blooms as well…. The willow has just come into leaf and flower an, in the sunshine, it was positively glowing; the most stunning green. When standing underneath it, the sound of the insects  on the emergent flow...

From that first peep through the entrance into my Sitting Room nest box, I have been keeping my fingers crossed that the blue tits would choose this box to raise a family. After all the planning and building, the camera positioning and focus is looking good, but that is where my control ends and I just have to wait and pray that they go the birds to go in. The blue tits did lots of looking initially and they really seemed to be deeply thinking about whether this was a suitable place to raise a family… was the wallpaper to their liking? Was that bookshelf their style? This box has been purpose-built for this project. It is larger than a ‘normal’ nest box to accommodate the camera and the contents. I carefully chose and positioned the items in the nesting space so they would not offer any hazards to a growing family. They are all securely glued down and most are made of paper, cardboard and wood. In fact, many natural nesting spaces would be considerably smaller and offer more hazards ...

A couple of photos from Alan over the weekend A pair of Tufted Duck, Cholsey Meadows. Orange Tip from Cholsey Wildlife https://cholseywildlife.blogspot.com/2019/03/tufted-duck-orange-tip.html

Sunny, 17°, light W. Some gardening to do today and our little helper appeared. Photos courtesy Loren A Holly Blue and several Brimstone in the garden. A Green-veined White in TR’s garden today.  At least 6 Blackcap singing on Cholsey Marsh today plus a Cetti’s Warbler present. Per Alan Dawson. from Cholsey Wildlife https://cholseywildlife.blogspot.com/2019/03/garden-helper-and-blackcaps-arrive.html

Sunny, 15°, light S. a beautiful sunny day and expecting more but not quite there yet.  A single Wheatear on the hill today and a singing Corn Bunting . The Little Owl still loafing around out at Lollingdon but not easy to find. An increase in the number of singing Chiffchaff with 12 noted between the village and Lollingdon Hill. Not really that much else of note. Mammals: Roe Deer . Reptiles: first Common Lizard of the year with 2 seen. Butterflies: Brimstone , Orange Tip , Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock . Insects: 2 Black Oil Beetle and Dark-edged Bee-fly . Dark-edged Bee-fly Wheatear Coal Tit from Cholsey Wildlife https://cholseywildlife.blogspot.com/2019/03/spring-has-nearly-sprung.html

A nice photo of a Skylark by Alan Dawson. Their distinctive flight song can be heard frequently at the moment. from Cholsey Wildlife https://cholseywildlife.blogspot.com/2019/03/skylark.html

Sunny intervals, 12°, light NNW. A visit by a male Blackcap to the garden this morning. I am assuming it is one of the overwintering birds that is still around rather than a newly arrived migrant. Several species singing in the garden today: Coal Tit , Treecreeper , Goldcrest , Song Thrush , Chiffchaff , Robin and Great Tit . from Cholsey Wildlife https://cholseywildlife.blogspot.com/2019/03/blackcap.html

A sunny day with variable cloud, 13°, light SW. Not a lot to shout about today. A single male Wheatear on the hill today and a flurry of Meadow Pipit flying over, approx. 30 birds in total. A Corn Bunting in song and a few Yellowhammer around. The Little Owl nearby and a Grey Heron . And of course the usual Chiffchaffs in song. Most of the Gulls have left the farm land now, just a small flock of Black-headed Gull and a single Lesser Blackback Gull noted. 2 Song Thrush feeding in the garden at dusk. Mammals: Roe Deer , a (Common)   Pipistrelle flying at dusk again. Butterflies: Brimstone , Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock . Wheatear Chiffchaff (courtesy Alan Dawson) Little Owl  Grey Heron Roe Deer from Cholsey Wildlife https://cholseywildlife.blogspot.com/2019/03/wheatear-again.html

Over the last 10 years I have been observing a pair of Carrion Crow that held a territory in Whitehead Meadow and the surrounding area (including the garden). Any other Corvid (Rook, Jackdaw, Magpie etc.) that ventured to feed in their territory were quickly chased off. It has not always been the same birds present over the years as at one point the male disappeared and was replaced by another male and I assume that this could have happened more than once and also maybe the female. Most years only one young was raised with at least 2 years with no young. Back in mid-December last year another pair of Crows appeared and there was a violent confrontation. Since that time Crows have been markedly absent from the meadow and garden area with only minimal sightings and no aggression to other Corvids. Subsequently other Corvids are now seen feeding regularly in the meadow and garden. The Church road Rookery is close to the garden and there is a small colony of Jackdaw nesting at ...

Sunny, 12°, light WNW. 3 Wheatear still present on Lollingdon Hill along with 6 Fieldfare and 2 Meadow Pipit . A Raven heard calling nearby and the Little Owl seen. At least 7 Chiffchaff heard/seen in song and 2 Blackcap seen out at Lollingdon. Several Yellowhammer singing in various places and a couple of Treecreeper in song. Butterflies: Brimstone , Green-veined White , Orange Tip (TR), Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock . Moths: Mottled Grey (another new sp for Cholsey, perTR). Insects: Black Oil Beetle and Dotted Bee-fly . a (Common) Pipistrelle flying around the meadow at dusk. Peacock Brimstone (courtesy Alan Dawson) Yellowhammer (courtesy Alan Dawson) Dotted Bee-fly (courtesy Alan Dawson) Wheatear from Cholsey Wildlife https://cholseywildlife.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-butterfly-day-wheatears.html