The Overton Biodiversity Society

Local sightings

1^st: a Red Kite and two of both Sparrowhawk and Buzzard were seen over farm / woodland north of the village. Both Greylag and Canada Geese flocks moved east over the village during the evening, as did ten+ House Martin.
2^nd: a Red Kite was low over gardens during the morning, both Swallow and House Martin also being seen on the move.
3^rd: a Humming-bird Hawk-moth caterpillar, under a thistle in Lordsfield Gardens, proved that there must have been at least two of the moth about the village earlier in the year! This is the first larvae of this species to be found in the Parish, as far as I know, and a particularly unusual, but perhaps to be expected more in the future, record. Mid-evening movement of Lesser Black-backed Gull totalled at least 561 birds, all moving to the north-east; five+ Swallow and ten+ House Martin moving about / through being just a little less obvious!
5^th: a Blackcap was visiting gardens in Station Hill while an Emperor Dragonfly was doing the same, but in Waltham Court.
6^th: some showers today.
7^th: a large Eel was in The Test east of Bridge Street, quite a change from the more usual Brown Trout there.
8^th: Chiffchaff were seen to be feeding "Like hummingbirds" at Station Hill where Small Teasel was a new plant for the Parish.

9^th: a Buzzard was seen early evening, a Comma earlier in the day.
10^th: Long-tailed and Blue Tit were still visiting gardens in small flocks, as were House Sparrow.
11^th: a Green Woodpecker visited the school field. Gadwall joined Mallard on the wing over the village, Comma preferring to fly rather lower.
12^th: Honey-bee and several species of bumble-bee were attracted to Michaelmas Daisies. Four Buzzard were seen over Lordsfield Gardens. A seemingly particularly hungry spider was caught in action in Southington.
Right: Tegenaria domestica & Bombus leucorum. (Picture: Joy MacGregor)
13^th: House Martin in small numbers were still evident early evening.
15^th: Canada Geese and Lesser Black-backed Gull continued to move over the village later in the day.
18^th: the Society's Dormouse Hunt proved very productive, two nibbled nuts, not bad, two nests, better, and an actual Dormouse being seen! The watching over the hedgerows north of the village also presented two Roe Deer, two Harlequin and 25 Seven-spot Ladybird in amongst the vegetation while a Red Kite sailed overhead and a Brown Hare was in fields between the Kingsclere Road and The Harrow Way. A Marsh Tit visited a Lordsfield Gardens garden where two Buzzard were seen overhead.

20^th: for the fourth day in a row a Red Admiral was seen sunning on Ivy in Station Hill. Two House Martin were still present during the afternoon / evening.
21^st: two Swallow moved low eastwards early evening. A female Red-tailed Bumble-bee was still managing to find sustenance in a Lordsfield Gardens garden.
22^nd: four Red Kite and two Buzzard were over a garden close to the school, a male Red-tailed Bumble-bee following in the wing-beats of another the previous day.
23^rd: a Tawny Owl was calling late evening while a Hedgehog was seen walking down Station Hill. The talk "Pick of the Parish" took place in the evening — sorry!
24^th: a Hedgehog was active in Woodlands early morning, a female Great Spotted Woodpecker in Lordsfield Gardens gardens later in the day.
26^th: 13 Lesser Black-backed Gull were moving low north-east early evening. A bumble-bee heavily laden with 'eggs' visited Woodlands gardens.
28^th: both House Martin and Lesser Black-backed Gull were on the move late afternoon.
29^th: the morning started with persistent light rain / drizzle.
30^th: a morning of heavy fog.

Contributors: Helen Harden, Alison Hutchins, Peter E. Hutchins, Veronique Kerguelen, Joy MacGregor, Margaret Rainford & Janet Wigney.