Overton Biodiversity Society

April 2010

As I, and the rest of the Hutchins family, was 'stranded' abroad for most of this month, please find here just a few images captured both locally and just that little bit further afield; the amount of news filtering through to me, unfortunately, being far less than usual.

1^st

Long-tailed Tit was just one of the species to be seen in Flashetts by, almost resident, photographer Alan Willis.

6^th

A cock Pheasant added a dramatic splash of colour to Flashetts woodland.

7^th

Continued cruising about the Indian Ocean was providing some photographic opportunities, but sometimes just one bird was being seen a day!

8^th

The Kingfisher family, yes family, remained very confiding, well, to those 'lucky' enough to be in a hide near to their nesting site!

10^th

Butterflies in Bridge Street included two Peacock and an Orange-tip, the same gardens playing host to three Red-legged Partridge. A pair of Long-tailed Tit was active about The Lynch. Moving to another area of water produced yet further seabirds, something that we're a bit thin on the ground of here in the Parish.

Right: Red-footed Booby, The Red Sea (Picture: Jay Hutchins)

11^th

A day of stowaways today! I've included these for all of you that have spoken to me recently about your Woodpigeons!

12^th

Two Red-legged Partridge were, again, unexpected visitors to a Bridge Street garden.

13^th

Woodland edges were becoming ever more bedecked with flowers.

15^th

Though there were plenty of invertebrates available some of the Flashetts residents appeared to prefer the 'take-away' being provided.

17^th

Skylark were singing in the north of the Parish. Orange-tip and Brimstone butterflies were visiting Station Hill gardens.

18^st

Many bees and wasps in gardens off Station Hill included several queen wasps, Holly Blue and Orange-tip also making the most of the flowers there.

19^st

More 'creepy-crawlies' from The Seychelles!

20^st

Just two Starling in a Station Hill garden emphasised how they disappear from the village in large numbers as the breeding season progresses.

21^st

Cuckoo Flower, Wood Anemone and Bluebell were all brightening the hedgerows along Waltham Road. A Peacock, butterfly, was seen at Little Meadow, Orange-tip in Station Hill.

24^th

The Starling pair in Station Hill were joined by a pair of Blue Tit also investigating nest sites today. A Holly Blue was again seen in gardens in this area.

25^th

Local woodlands continued to provide spectacular sights as plants grew, budded and finally burst into flower.

26^th

The previously mentioned blooms colours were added to by visiting of butterflies.

Right: Orange-tip butterfly (Picture: Doug Kelson)

28^th

Activity both in and below local hedgerows was becoming ever-more evident, though perhaps one of the residents below might be more welcomed by some!

29^th

A female Tawny Owl was calling at 02:37! A Sparrowhawk, also female, moved through gardens early evening while Canada Geese were heard moving through late morning. More settled, thankfully, were family Kingfisher at Polhampton.

30^th

Two Swift over Foxdown early evening were the first seen locally this year. A Grey Squirrel visited Bridge Street gardens. As well as greater numbers of both wasps and bees being noted about gardens, the bee-fly Bombylius major was also noted occasionally.

Right: Bombylius major (Picture: Doug Kelson)

Contributors: Alison Hutchins, Bryher Hutchins, Jay Hutchins, Peter E. Hutchins, Doug Kelson, Margaret Rainford, Valda Stevens & Alan Willis.

All photographs in this Monthly Wildlife Summary are courtesy of Alan Willis, unless otherwise noted