Sunday 14th June to Saturday 20th June
With summer nearly officially upon us it's been another week of June doldrums on the birding front. The flood waters had had a reprieve with some heavy rain topping them up but they've evaporated again to leave just a large area of mud.
On Monday evening there was a forlorn grey heron on the "floods" and a party of four herons was seen flying north presumably to roost somewhere. There are a few skylarks in the fields to the north of the flood area.
Tuesday lunch-time: a painted lady butterfly was seen in Burgess Field NR and there was a flock of about 20 sand martins hunting over the river near the Perch.
Thursday evening there were about 10 lapwings to the north of the floods, the largest number I've seen there for some time. There was also a distant view of a large number of birds coming in to roost over at the west end of Wolvercote. I couldn't make out what they were but I expect that they were either rooks or wood pigeons.
Saturday afternoon provided some good news when MBG found three lapwing chicks on the north channel area on the mud. I had assumed that all lapwing breeding attempts had failed so it's excellent news to hear of them being around though with the numbers of crows, magpies and dogs around it's not going to be easy for them. Saturday evening found a few sand martins about and a couple of lapwings down by the river. On the moth and butterfly front there are still plenty of the five spot burnets around, the common heath's are still present as are the large skippers. I also managed to identify a snout moth.
Addendum (Roly Pitts):
[I] can report that I also saw Lapwing chicks on 15th June at 8:20 in morning. I was walking on other side of the river, coming from direction of Trout and approaching the gate where one sees the sign to the Perch. From a distance I spotted adults flying and then could see chicks close to the path. I took my eyes off them while I momentarily studied something else. As I approached closer the parents became agitated but I could not see any sign of the chicks. Eventually I spotted 2 completely flattened against the grass. I thought that from a distance I had seen 3 but maybe I was mistaken. It occurred to me that they were in a vulnerable position, close to the path where many people walk and jog, often accompanied by dogs.
One of the three lapwing chicks © Mary Gregory
A painted lady that has decided to stay © Adam Hartley
A common heath moth © Adam Hartley
A rather poor photo of a snout moth © Adam Hartley
On Monday evening there was a forlorn grey heron on the "floods" and a party of four herons was seen flying north presumably to roost somewhere. There are a few skylarks in the fields to the north of the flood area.
Tuesday lunch-time: a painted lady butterfly was seen in Burgess Field NR and there was a flock of about 20 sand martins hunting over the river near the Perch.
Thursday evening there were about 10 lapwings to the north of the floods, the largest number I've seen there for some time. There was also a distant view of a large number of birds coming in to roost over at the west end of Wolvercote. I couldn't make out what they were but I expect that they were either rooks or wood pigeons.
Saturday afternoon provided some good news when MBG found three lapwing chicks on the north channel area on the mud. I had assumed that all lapwing breeding attempts had failed so it's excellent news to hear of them being around though with the numbers of crows, magpies and dogs around it's not going to be easy for them. Saturday evening found a few sand martins about and a couple of lapwings down by the river. On the moth and butterfly front there are still plenty of the five spot burnets around, the common heath's are still present as are the large skippers. I also managed to identify a snout moth.
Addendum (Roly Pitts):
[I] can report that I also saw Lapwing chicks on 15th June at 8:20 in morning. I was walking on other side of the river, coming from direction of Trout and approaching the gate where one sees the sign to the Perch. From a distance I spotted adults flying and then could see chicks close to the path. I took my eyes off them while I momentarily studied something else. As I approached closer the parents became agitated but I could not see any sign of the chicks. Eventually I spotted 2 completely flattened against the grass. I thought that from a distance I had seen 3 but maybe I was mistaken. It occurred to me that they were in a vulnerable position, close to the path where many people walk and jog, often accompanied by dogs.
One of the three lapwing chicks © Mary GregoryA painted lady that has decided to stay © Adam HartleyA common heath moth © Adam HartleyA rather poor photo of a snout moth © Adam Hartley