Overton Biodiversity Society

October 2003

A quieter month for news as several of the keener locals were away from the area for extended periods, back to normal next month?

1^st

white butterflies were still in flight.

2^nd

a mixed party of 400+ hirundines, Swallows and House martins, at Court Drove mid-morning were preparing to leave southwards, they were seen over the village later in the day and then disappeared towards warmer climes. A Chiffchaff was also in song there. A gathering of Jackdaw in Battens Avenue was intent on watching something in a garden, whatever it may have been!

3^rd

the temperature dropped dramatically today.

4^th

a hawk moth caught in Overton Primary School late September was identified as a Striped, possibly only the c.12th ever for Hampshire; this species being another migrant / vagrant from the south, like the Humming-bird and Convolvulus hawks of previous months.

5^th

a riverside walk had Kingfisher, Grey heron, Buzzard and 2 Roe deer seen. Another Grey heron was harassed by a Carrion crow at the bottom of Silk Mill Lane. A Small tortoiseshell was seen mid-afternoon. 4 Sea trout, or Brown if you like! were off the bridge in Bridge Street. An immature Goldfinch was in a hedge off Station Hill.

6^th

7 Collared dove were noted on a bird table.

7^th

a Barn owl was heard from Station Hill and 2 Green lacewings were found on a kitchen window, also during the hours of darkness.

8^th

no news received for today.

9^th

2 Kestrels were hunting over the fields east of Station Road. A Common frog was found whilst cleaning out a fishpond.

10^th

no news received for today.

11^th

a Comma, 4 Small tortoiseshells and 5 white butterflies were in a garden in The Green whilst a Red admiral was in Bridge Street and another, Small tortoiseshell and Small white were in the allotments off Woodlands. Rooks were seen to harass a Sparrowhawk as it passed over Dellands. A further 12 Red admiral were seen to be feeding on over ripe plums at North Oakley, also there a Violet ground beetle was found. A Common frog was disturbed by gardening activity.

12^th

3 Common frogs and a Smooth newt were found under black plastic sheeting in the Woodlands allotments.

13^th

no news received for today.

14^th

a Grey heron moved over Glebe Meadow.

15^th

no news received for today.

16^th

a Grey heron was found on rooftops in Glebe Meadow! Once again 7 Collared dove were noted on a Station Road bird table.

17^th

no news received for today.

18^th

no news received for today.

19^th

a Dunnock was seen to be searching amongst garden Dahlias and a Robin was making the most of other gardening activities to collect insects.

20^th

2 Buzzard were circling over Lambs Close early afternoon. 2 Redwing heading north over the garden were the first noted for the late year period.

21^st

the pre-roost movement of Starling over the village late afternoon had increased to over 100 birds.

22^nd

a pair of Mute swan was seen about The Test near Bridge Street. The Starling flock had again increased, this time being seen over Lordsfield late afternoon.

23^rd

an apparently injured cygnet was found in Two Gate Lane, shortly after 4 Mute swan had been seen heading east. HART checked out the young bird before releasing it on the Station Road pools in fine fettle. A Grey heron was again seen flying low over the village.

24^th

no news received for today.

25^th

the 'gardening' Robin continued to inspect the digging efforts in Bridge Street. A late dragonfly sp. was over gardens in Station Hill and nearby, Comma and Red admiral were seen on a track north of the mill. A wintering flock of Lapwing, mixed in with Jackdaws, off the same track had only built up to c.15 birds.

26^th

Coal tits were seen to join Blue tits in hedgerows at Station Hill. 2 Kestrels were again hovering over Station Road fields. A bumble-bee was found feeding on heather flowers after a heavy frost.

27^th

the pre-roost movements of Canada geese were becoming more prevalent, the birds often seen to be passing low over the village late afternoon.

28^th

no news received for today.

29^th

no news received for today.

30^th

no news received for today.

31^st

a Lesser black-backed gull was heading towards the London area reservoirs, over Berrydown, late afternoon.

Thanks are due to the following for their input to this report: Brian & Margaret Elkins, Jay Hutchins, Margaret Rainford , Terry Robinson, Michael Scoggins, Valda Stevens.