Overton Biodiversity Society

June 2012

1^st

an immature Grey Wagtail was on the wall overlooking The Test at Town Mill, a further bird being heard nearby.

3^rd

a Buzzard was briefly over Overton Hill early afternoon.

4^th

a Grey Heron up to three Red Kite were seen over the village by mid-afternoon.

5^th

the Peacock sustained their vocalisations, to put it politely! Somewhat quieter was a pair of Blue Tit, still brooding in a local best box.

7^th

late evening saw two Swift battling in to a strong south-westerly.

8^th

a pair of Blue Tit was seen feeding young.

9^th

Female Glow-worm started displaying at nightfall in St Mary's churchyard and in the parish cemetery.

Right: female Glow-worm , Lampyris noctiluca glowing, in the dark (left) and with flash (right). Picture: Adam Trickett

10^th

a Mute Swan moved west over the village early afternoon and female Glow-worm were seen glowing in the evening at St Mary's.

12^th

a Green Woodpecker was on Woodlands grass early morning.

14^th

a Fox was at Berrydown early morning, a doe Roe Deer then being seen near Ashe Arch. Volunteer & Farmer alliance surveying found a Red Kite, two Swift, four Swallow, two House Martin, a Lapwing and further doe Roe Deer about Ashe Warren Farm. A Red Kite was at Frost Hill late afternoon, a Buzzard nearby, heading south in to the Parish.

15^th

a family party of Blue Tit continued to visit garden feeders.

16^th

a Humming-bird Hawk-moth visiting a garden was one of very few reported about the Parish as yet this year. Far more expected was the Red Kite over fields just north of the village mid-afternoon. Nightfall brought more Glow-worm displays at St Mary's.

17^th

a Red Kite was seen to move south-west early afternoon.

18^st

both Red Kite and Lesser Black-backed Gull were on the wing over the village late afternoon, unlike a Udea olivalis, this moth being found in a bathroom. At St Mary's, the Glow-worm evening show was on again.

19^th

up to eight Swift were over the village late in to the evening.

20^th

at least one Peacock was still obvious, if only by call, pre-dawn. Night brought the first ever recorded sighting of a male Glow-worm in the St Mary's colony, finally!

Right: Glow-worm, Lampyris noctiluca - Male (smaller) and female mating. Picture: Adam Trickett

21^st

four Swift were seen in the evening, together over the village centre.

22^nd

a female Green Woodpecker was on the grass by the mini-roundabout at Woodlands early morning. A Linnet was heard over the village early evening.

25^th

a buck Roe Deer crossed the Kingsclere road early morning.

27^th

both Whitethroat and Yellowhammer were in song just north of the village, where an adult Badger was the latest road casualty. Hoverflies were visiting flowers in a Greyhound Lane garden.

Contributors: Alison Hutchins, Peter E. Hutchins, Veronique Kerguelen & Adam Trickett.