Overton Biodiversity Society

November 2005

1^st

a Red Admiral braved the early winter weather in Glebe Meadow.

Right: Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta

2^nd

early morning had Lesser Black-backed Gulls moving south-west over the village whilst late afternoon had them returning, 190+, north-east.

3^rd

Redwings were to be heard moving over on occasion during the night.

4^th

the trees at the edge of Town Meadow were now only adorned by Starlings in their pre-roost gathering.

5^th

a Dunnock reappeared in a Station Road garden, not having been seen for the previous ten days.

6^th

a Grey Heron moved over fields at Court Drove.

7^th

the fields at Smith's Field were brightened by the presence of a Green Woodpecker.

8^th

an eclipse drake Tufted Duck was on Southington Pools.

9^th

both Red-legged Partridges and Pheasants were becoming more obvious in fields in areas such as Willesley Warren.

10^th

late afternoon had a huge gathering of Jackdaws in the trees by the Railway Station whilst, a little earlier, dozens of Lesser Black-backed Gulls had moved north-east over the village to their reservoir roosts.

11^th

both Brown Hare and Roe Deer were regularly being noted to the north of the village, the Court Drove area being a favoured site.

12^th

Blackbird seemed to be the most frequent visitor to gardens in Station Road.

13^th

Kestrels were to be seen hovering over the fields between Hill Meadow and Willesley Warren.

14^th

a Barn Owl over gardens in Glebe Meadow, at dusk, was the first within the village since at least the previous winter.

Right: Barn owl, Tyto alba

15^th

the morning and evening flights of Canada Geese continued to build.

16^th

an occasional Ladybird sp. was still to be found, not yet hidden away for the winter.

17^th

of the many plants still in flower, Ivy-leaved Toadflax, on some of the older and less disturbed walls, was one of the most prominent.

18^th

a Little Egret was in Flashetts and the 'Mallard' had produced yet another brood on the pools off Southington Lane.

19^th

Tawny Owls continued to be vocal about much of the village, both on the outskirts and within the housing - have you filled in your BTO Survey forms?

20^th

Yellowhammers were being regularly encountered in small numbers on the village outskirts, the further afield, the higher the chance of seeing them.

21^st

a Kingfisher was in Flashetts. The same / another Kingfisher was heard off Southington Lane late afternoon, when at least two Grey Herons and a Tufted Duck were about the pools.

Right: Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis

22^nd

a Reed Bunting visited a Station Road garden for the first time this winter.

23^rd

a Little Egret was reported in Flashetts, "earlier in the week".

24^th

the ornamental Rowans, white berried; in Woodlands were already attracting territorial Mistle Thrushes and over-feeding Wood Pigeons.

25^th

a flock of c.20 Fieldfare, in fields behind Sapley Lane Playing Field, may have been driven in by the sharp drop in temperature, particularly noticeable overnight.

26^th

a female Blackcap was in Tree Mallows in Woodlands. A Buzzard was over woodland at Turrill's Hill.

27^th

hedgerow groupings of birds were sometimes found to include softly 'hooting' Bullfinches.

28^th

a Lesser Black-backed Gull moved south over Overton Hill late morning, a less usual direction for this species to be seen flying locally.

29^th

mixed parties of Tits were now becoming more obvious at feeding stations, the colder weather perhaps already taking a toll.

30^th

of the House Sparrow roost sites those at the northern end of Woodlands and eastern end of Lordsfield Gardens could well have been the most vocal!

Contributors: Brian Chivers; Brian Elkins; Margaret Elkins; Alison Hutchins; Bryher Hutchins; Jay Hutchins; Peter E. Hutchins; Veronique Kerguelen; Adrian Lewis; John Smith; Rosemary Smith & Adam Trickett.