Overton Biodiversity Society

December 2008

1^st

a covey of nine Red-legged Partridge was in the field south of Southington Close.

2^nd

an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull in the 'Partridge field' at Southington was the first to be seen settled this close to the village. Sub-zero temperatures greeted those out early morning. A Tawny Owl was 'singing' north of the school mid-evening.

3^rd

a Little Grebe was on The Test in the grounds of Southington Mill whilst a Grey Heron was further east, hunting by Bridge Street. Another day with sub-zero temperatures.

6^th

an adult Little Egret moved off west from The Lynch late afternoon, a Redwing also being heard there. A Brown Hare remained in fields south of Southington Close.

7^th

a Little Egret moved off from The Test at The Lynch mid-afternoon. A much heavier frost today with signs of this lasting through to nightfall.

Right: Little Egret, Egretta garzetta,The Lynch, Southington. Taken from a running car, out of the window, with a mini digital camera, pushed up against binoculars — on a real winter day it would seem, going by the 'shivering'! Better than nothing — perhaps!

8^th

a / the Little Egret was again in The Test at Southington early afternoon. A Kestrel was perched south of Southington Close, also early afternoon.

9^th

a pair of Gadwall was on the main pool off Southington Lane with a pair of Mute Swan on the 'garden pond' of Southington Mill; the former appearing in very poor numbers locally so far this winter.

11^th

two Little Egret, an immature Grey Heron and seven Moorhen were at The Lynch mid-afternoon. A Tawny Owl was hunting at Willesley Warren mid-evening, a seemingly bewildered Brown Hare almost becoming another road casualty a little further south. The temperature had dropped to -4½°C by midnight!

13^th

a dead Eel was found in Court Drove, north of the school, this less lively than the 20+ Roe Deer and Buzzard in the vicinity.

14^th

two Red Kite were showing well as they moved low over the village early afternoon, one, at least, lingering for over an hour. Highlights of the Flashetts / filtration pools area later in the day included three Little Egret, a Green Sandpiper, a Chiffchaff, ten Shoveler, 11 Teal and a Grey Wagtail. A very foggy start to the day.

15^th

several Redwing were heard moving over the village during a murky evening, their calls somewhat of a contrast to that of the choristers in St. Mary's Hall.

16^th

a Little Egret was in the garden of Southington Mill and an immature Grey Heron in the garden of Southington House mid-afternoon. A very misty day with the low 'cloud' hardly lifting at all, cool and wet. Both Tawny Owl and Brown Hare appeared out of the gloom mid-evening at Turrill Hill.

17^th

a Little Egret was in The Test off the Southington Lane bridge late afternoon.

20^th

a Little Egret was seen at several sites about the village.

21^st

a Little Egret was again at several sites about the village.

24^th

some migration was noted over the village late evening!

25^th

a Little Egret moved high west over the village late morning, 17+ Lapwing having headed south over Turrill Hill a little earlier.

26^th

a Little Egret was in Flashetts late afternoon, a pair of Mute Swan on the adjacent pools and a total of 28 Lesser Black-backed Gull moved low north-east from 15:30. An over-wintering Chiffchaff called off Station Road. A Brown Rat was a belated Christmas present for a local terrier and a Brown Trout was amongst the 38 'Mallard' off Bridge Street.

27^th

a Kestrel was hunting over the southern end of Straight Lane mid-afternoon. The Source of The Test held a flock of Canada Geese.

28^th

a possible Peregrine moved north over farmland north of Turrill Hill mid-afternoon, where 40+ Redwing, a pre-roost gathering of Yellowhammer and the usual movement of Lesser Black-backed Gull were also noted. Canada Geese remained in the Lower Ashe area.

30^th

a Little Egret and Grey Heron were in Flashetts. Two Green and a Great Spotted Woodpecker and two+ Jay were in Jackson's Copse..

31^st

a Red Kite and Buzzard were over Willesley Warren mid-afternoon. This area, as many about the village, being covered by a heavy frosting throughout the day — real wintry!

Contributors: Alison Hutchins, Bryher Hutchins, Jay Hutchins, Peter E. Hutchins, Veronique Kerguelen, Jane MacKenzie & Janet Wigney.