Sunday 28th June to Saturday 4th July
Another week goes by and we're now into July. One or two return waders are starting to be seen within the country and Port Meadow even managed one of these in the form of an OYSTERCATCHER which was reported on Tuesday (OOS PB) and which was still present on Friday morning at the north end of the mud (former flood) area. I suspect that it may be spending some of its time along the shore of the river.
The oystercatcher on the mud © Adam Hartley
There was also a LITTLE EGRET reported last week up at Wolvercote Common (OXB Adrian Gray) and seen this week (OOS MBG). Friday also found a COMMON TERN hunting along the river and a RED KITE flying over in the distance. A SPARROWHAWK was also reported up at Wolvercote by Adrian Gray.
The Little Egret © Norman Gregory
I'm pleased to be able to report that the three lapwing chicks are all still about and growing well. Lapwing numbers have been increasing and on Friday there were 28 adults together with the three youngsters. The two parent birds are still zealously chasing off any corvid that gets too close.
On the butterfly front in Burgess Field the ringlets, marbled whites and meadow browns are all still about and there are two new species to report: gatekeepers and either essex or small skippers are now flying. These last two are very hard to tell apart differing only in the essex having black underside to the tips of its antenna. I'll see if I can work out which they are next time I'm up there.
The oystercatcher on the mud © Adam HartleyThere was also a LITTLE EGRET reported last week up at Wolvercote Common (OXB Adrian Gray) and seen this week (OOS MBG). Friday also found a COMMON TERN hunting along the river and a RED KITE flying over in the distance. A SPARROWHAWK was also reported up at Wolvercote by Adrian Gray.
The Little Egret © Norman GregoryI'm pleased to be able to report that the three lapwing chicks are all still about and growing well. Lapwing numbers have been increasing and on Friday there were 28 adults together with the three youngsters. The two parent birds are still zealously chasing off any corvid that gets too close.
On the butterfly front in Burgess Field the ringlets, marbled whites and meadow browns are all still about and there are two new species to report: gatekeepers and either essex or small skippers are now flying. These last two are very hard to tell apart differing only in the essex having black underside to the tips of its antenna. I'll see if I can work out which they are next time I'm up there.