Ravens take the day

Cloudy with a few sunny periods, 24°, light SW.

Arrived on the hill this morning to something resembling and aerial dogfight.

6 Raven, 5 Kestrel, 4 Red Kite and a single Buzzard and Carrion Crow all wheeling around, sometimes mobbing, sometimes playing, all very graceful and entertaining.

Quite a sight!

The Raven stayed for around 40 minutes, eventually picking up a thermal and gaining height and drifting off north.

The rest just stayed around enjoying the thermals and the Kestrels hunting for Grasshoppers.

At least 1 Common Redstart still on the hill and a Blackcap and Chiffchaff along the same hedge.

Also the House Sparrow flock still present.

3 Lesser Blackback Gull flew over moving south west and approx 100 Swallow passing through.

Nearby 2+ Little Owl and 12 Mistle Thrush.

Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting appear to be the only species consistently in song at the moment.

3 Great-spotted Woodpecker in the garden this afternoon.

Reps: Common Lizard.

Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Southern Hawker and Emperor Dragonfly.

Butterflies: Small Skipper, Large White, Small White, Small Copper, Brown Argus, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet.

 Ravens enjoying the hill







 A Kestrel taking a break
 Redstart

Blackcap




from Cholsey Wildlife https://cholseywildlife.blogspot.com/2019/07/ravens-take-day.html

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