3rd Jul 2016

Another fairly quiet week overall but with a few highlights towards the end. John thought he had a Scarlet Tiger moth fly past him on Monday, but it was too quick to confirm. Following the dead one found last year it would be good if we could confirm presence of live ones.

On Thursday evening John and I had a walk around and although there was very few birds around we had a Marbled White and a few Ringlets, the first we have noted here this year. By Sunday there were several Marbled Whites around.

On Saturday I had a walk up the valley with the main intention of seeing Hobby, but didn't find one. I did finally mange to confirm three Sparrowhawk chicks in the nest though, which was very nice to see. Up at the Borrow Pit pool there was two Emperor Dragonflies, one of which was egg laying, and numerous Common Blue damselflies.

Sunday morning John and I were out early for the last of the breeding bird surveys in the Upper Cherwell Valley. Walking up past the reservoir there was a Common Sandpiper, our first wader returning on autumn migration. Later in the morning there were four Common Terns. Generally there has been two Common Terns around on and off, so I wonder if these extra birds are also on return migration already.

The breeding bird survey was fairly standard but it was good to see so many juveniles, especially Whitethroats. We also had Reed and Sedge Warbler and Reed Bunting juveniles. Possibly the best finds of the morning were not birds though. John found a single Pyramidal Orchid and 18 Bee Orchids and I saw a Common Lizard.