Overton Biodiversity Society

February 2018

1^st

the bi-coloured Brown Trout was again off Kingsclere Road. A Buzzard moved east over Woodlands early afternoon whilst Red Kite were seen over the Greyhound Lane, Lion Close and Highfields areas.

2^nd

late afternoon about Court Drove had 15 Brown Hare, a 'singing' Grey Partridge, mobile flock of 86+ Fieldfare and five Roe Deer in the flanking fields, a Hawfinch in The Peak, six Red Kite, three Buzzard and a Meadow Pipit on the wing and flowering White Dead-nettle and snowdrop under hedgerows. Grey Wagtail were seen about The Test off Kingsclere Road and Flashetts. Further Red Kite, two, were seen over the Great North Field.

Right: Grey Partridge, Perdix perdix. These remain far rarer locally than the introduced Red-legged Partridge, the latter often still referred to as "French Partridge" due to their perceived origins

3^rd

half-a-dozen ventured out on to the Micheldever Spoil Heaps to help with scrub clearance. A Brown Rat was seen visiting one garden! Song Thrush were again evident, birds being noted off Overton Hill, Straight Lane and Two Gate Meadow; hopefully a positive sign for the future of this species, even if only locally. Goldfinch remained obvious, including a gathering about the path running from the school to Kingsclere Road. Garden visitants included flocks of Long-tailed Tit, yet to split in to their pairings for the spring.
Also of interest, this article on fish in our chalk streams on the BBC NEWS website today.

Right: One of our committee members hard at it at Chalkies! Well done Nick!

4^th

five Red Kite and two Buzzard were seen over the fields flanking the northern edge of the village, two other kite being over the 'dog field'. The bi-coloured Brown Trout was still in The Test off Kingsclere Road. A Red Kite lingered over the Woodlands area late morning. Mistle Thrush continued to 'protect' ornamental sorbus, albeit the latter now having few berries to sustain the thrushes.

5^th

three Red Kite were seen over Highfields with another mid-morning over the Quidhampton fields.

6^th

a Barn Owl was in a roadside tree at Nutley Bottom early evening. A pair of Mute Swan narrowly missed one Parishioner, flying low past as they passed over a hedgerow. Garden birds included "Loved-up pigeons" and Long-tailed Tit, a hen Chaffinch more unexpected in one. Two Red Kite were again over the 'dog field'.

Right: Woodpigeon, Columba palumbus — Picture: Deb Heath

7^th

Red Kite were seen in the Nutley Bottom Copse, two, the woodland about Frost Hill Farm and over Waltham Road / The Green. Brighter still were the Bullfinch seen at the top of Straight Lane. A Great Spotted Woodpecker about the Town Meadow trees was not seen, only heard drumming.

8^th

a Barn Owl was again seen in a roadside tree at Nutley Bottom early evening. A Little Egret and four Red Kite were about The Source of The Test. A Red Kite was over Highfields where Robin continued to be ever-present. A Sparrowhawk had replaced the Bullfinch at the top of Straight Lane. Buzzard were seen about the cressbeds at Polhampton and atop Hyde Hill Plantation. Further woodland birds noted included Great Spotted Woodpecker and Song Thrush, both in the woodlands below 'Charters Hill'.

9^th

the Barn Owl was replaced by a roosting Buzzard at Nutley Bottom. Primrose, Daisy and daffodil were seen to be blooming.

10^th

a Stoat was seen attempting to cross the B3400 in Southington — hopefully it accomplished this successfully.

11^th

both Brown Hare and Brown Rat (!) were to be seen in the fields north of the railway line / Hill Meadow. Mistle Thrush were heard below 'Charters Hill'; these an increasingly rare visitor locally. Two Red Kite were seen over Highfields, another over the village early morning, further birds then being seen over the High Street and Town Meadow early afternoon. A pair of Robin was seen investigating Honeysuckle for a presumed nest site. Greenfinch were heard at Overton Hill, another species seen ever less frequently, particularly as garden visitors.

12^th

frost at both ends of the day, once again. A pair of Mistle Thrush was foraging on the football field on Overton Hill. More anticipated was the gathering of c.25 Canada Geese at The Source of The Test.

13^th

a Long-eared Owl near Ashe Warren late evening continued the annual reports of this species in the Borough — the counties rarest breeding species. A 'pair' of Red Kite was acrobatically engaged over Hyde Hill Plantation late morning, in the unremitting drizzle. A Green Woodpecker at Highfields was the first reported locally for some time. A pair of Bullfinch, Song Thrush, large flocks of both Long-tailed Tit and Goldfinch were seen as one Parishioner walked in to the village centre from Two Gate Meadow.

Right: Long-eared, Owl Asio otus. This one appropriately looking more than a little surprised, as was presumably the local bird on its nocturnal wanderings

14^th

garden birds noted included Long-tailed Tit, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Coal and Blue Tit, Robin and, of course, Woodpigeon.

15^th

Red Kite were seen over Highfields, two, Woodlands, Kerchers Field, Waltham Road, Winchester Street and the school, Buzzard over Highfields, Woodlands and Kerchers Field.

16^th

Great Spotted Woodpecker were heard drumming about Southington.

17^th

the fields about / north of David's Wood provided a Woodcock, Brown Hare, Roe Deer, many Fieldfare and Scarlet Elf Cup. A Grey Heron was Test-side off Bridge Street. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was once again heard drumming, this time in the Flashetts trees. Long-tailed Tit were seen visiting a number of gardens, some of the latter habitats being seen to be very busy, finches being particularly evident.

18^th

Red Kite and Buzzard were over village gardens where Robin continued the winter theme, as did the weather. Other garden visitants included Coal, Great and Blue Tit, Green, Gold and Chaffinch, Starling and both Dunnock and Blackbird, the latter 'tidying-up' under the feeders other birds were taking advantage of.

19^th

a pair of Magpie was regularly visiting at least one garden. A Red Kite was over another garden, where Gold and Chaffinch, Long-tailed Tit and Robin were seen.

20^th

Skylark were in and over the fields off Straight Lane, a Kestrel also there, Fieldfare being nearby on the football field and Song Thrush in the flanking hedgerows.

Right: Skylark, Alauda arvensis — Picture: Deb Heath. One of the 'locals' that's always appreciated by those that come across them

21^st

a cock Pheasant was an unexpected garden visitant! A Grey Heron was seen on the wing over the southern parts of the village. Green and Chaffinch visited feeders, Wren and Dunnock being seen below them.

Right: Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus. The species name 'colchicus' is Latin for 'of Colchicus', a country on the Black Sea where this bird first became known to Europeans

22^nd

a Barn Owl was again about Nutley Bottom early evening, a Red Kite being seen over Highfields earlier with another, on a Brown Hare, near David's Wood; the latter area also holding singing Skylark. Two livelier hare were seen near Ashe, as were five Roe Deer, a Muntjac being about the Berrydown Garage area.

23^rd

a Tawny Owl was vocal early morning. Later a Red Kite was over the fields north of David's Wood and Green and Goldfinch and Long-tailed Tit were still coming to garden feeders / gardens.

24^rd

the Tawny Owl about the eastern outskirts of the village remained vocal, prior to dawn. A Muntjac and three Brown Hare were present late in the day near David's Wood, 11 Red Kite circling there the largest noted gathering recently. To add to the Parish kite count four were seen over the fields between Ashe and Polhampton. The cock Pheasant again visited a Highfields garden.

25^rd

a gathering of 1000+ gulls in fields off Court Drove, enticed by easy pickings from ploughing, provided two new species for the Parish — Mediterranean and Yellow-legged Gull! The latter's becoming a more regular visitor to the Borough, perhaps a handful already noted this year, whereas the more exotically named gull may have been only the 2^nd multi-observer record for the Borough — this bird a stunning adult in breeding plumage. The watching of the gulls also saw perhaps 31 Golden Plover, 130+ Lapwing, five+ Red Kite and six+ Buzzard about the fields early / mid-afternoon. A further two Red Kite were seen towards the southern end of the village, as were garden-frequenting Long-tailed Tit. Further Lapwing were seen over the fields north of David's Wood, as were Brown Hare.

Right: Mediterranean Gull, Ichthyaetus melanocephalus, Harrow Way, Overton © Barry Stalker. "Ringed bird in large flock comprising of six species of gull off Harrow Way". All six species are to be seen in this single image!

26^th

snow! The weather, as might be anticipated, didn't stop the local Red kite in their activities, birds being seen about many parts of the Parish, including the residential areas. 'lbj's' recently seen in mobile flocks over fields north of David's Wood were presumed to be Linnet but this remains to be confirmed!

27^th

three Red Kite were over roadside fields at Tidgrove Warren early morning, two over fields north of the mill and another over Highfields, later. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen, rather than just heard, today, visiting garden feeders.

28^th

Red Kite again were over gardens off and about Winchester Street, Long-tailed Tit continuing to visit several gardens about the village.

Contributors: David Cluett, Brian Elkins, Margaret Elkins, Deb Heath, Alison Hutchins, Peter E. Hutchins, Jane MacKenzie, Ken MacKenzie & Barry Stalker.

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