Birds

30/01/19 Seen during a quick walk around Area 5 were a Buzzard roosting in the trees near Dragonfly Bridge, a Grey Wagtail on the Emm near Woosehill Rounabout subway,a Song Thrush singing from the treetops to the rear of Morrisons and 2 Robin were by the pond and seemed to be pairing up. In Area 10 a Green Woodpecker was seen in the Car Park field by John Morgan.

27/01/19 I undertook the Big Garden Birdwatch in my Area 5 garden this morning the results were: Robin x2, Blackbird x3, Dunnock x1, Goldfinch x3, Blue Tit x1, Great Tit x1, Magpie x1, Wood Pigeon x2, Collared Dove x1, and Starling x1.Reported by Jo Rodgers 3 Teal were seen on the Emm Brook between Kingfisher and Dragonfly Bridges, also seen in the area were Redwing

26/01/19 In Area 1, 3 Grey Heron were seen in the flooded field at Ludgrove. 1 Adult and 2 Juveniles.

24/01/19 Paul Bright Thomas reports the following observations from Area 4: In oaks along Emm Brook - trouble! Two Great spotted Woodpecker carried out a pursuit of a 3rd well above tree tops circling for >5 minutes, seems to be an attempt to exhaust a territorial rival in harsh conditions (sub-zero temperatures overnight and into the day).

22/01/19 A Great spotted Woodpecker was heard drumming away on the trees in Area 5 by Pat Taylor. Must mean spring is on its way.

21/01/19 60+ Redwings and 40+ Fieldfares were both seen at the south end of the old Golf course in Area 10 by Trevor Guyatt.

19/01/19 A bit of a gloomy start to the day so I visited Area 1 and Heathlake to cheer myself up. On the water were Mallard , Tufted Duck , Mute Swan , Pochard , Coot and Black-headed Gull . The island in the middle had 3 Gey Heron and 4 Cormorrant sitting in the trees. My Area 5 garden was busy with Blackbird feeding on the Apples put out for them. 2 Long -tailed Tit were visiting the fat feeder in the afternoon. In Area 10 a Kestrel was seen on the zip wire on the Old golf course by Marek Walford.

18/01/19 In Area 1 at Luckley by the bridge at least 40 Siskin were feeding in the riverside Alder trees at 09:00. Meanwhile in Area 10 a Barn Owl was seen at the front of the Box by Richard Sajdak at 09:00 and later by Nick Kightley.

14/01/19 Just a few metres outside the FOTEB area 10 recording area , but a Tawny Owl was seen on the river Loddon by the Green Bridge by Brian Bennett and Roger Stansfield.

13/01/19 A Barn Owl was seen at the front of the Box in Area 10 by Geoff Emmett. Photo courtesy of Geoff Emmett

11/01/19 A Coal Tit was visiting my Area 5 garden feeders this morning, along with a Nuthatch .At least 4 Blackbird were feeding on the Apples on the lawn. An afternoon visit to Heathlake in Area 1 produced 2 Mute Swan , 1 Grey Heron , 10 Cormorrant roosting in the trees and 30+ Black headed Gull. Ducks were represented by numerous Mallard , Tufted Duck , Pochard , Shoveller also seen were Coot , Moorhen and Great crested Grebe .

10/01/19 Downstream of Kingfisher Bridge on the river in Area 4 was a Grey Wagtail .

08/01/19 In Area 10 on the old golf course, 8 Fieldfare and 22 Redwing were seen by the overflow car park by Brian Bennett.

07/01/19 In Area 4, Malcolm Dunmore was feeding a pair of Mallards from the Meadow Road bridge at 9 am this morning,when a Kingfisher landed then flew off downstream.

06/01/19 In Area 10 a Barn Owl was seen on the ground feeding on prey at the right hand end of the Bittern hide reedbed, before flying back to the box by Richard Marsh.

05/01/19 In Area 5, my neighbours Ash tree was full with 15 Redwing and 15 Goldfinch who eventually came down to feed on the Sunflowere Hearts. 3 Mistle Thrush flew over with their rattling call, to settle in a treetop close to the river. 2 Mallard were also seen. In Area 10 a Kestrel was perched ina tree on old Golf course seen by Jules Jones.

04/01/19 2 Egyptian Goose were seen flying over Woosehill Roundabout in Area 5 at 09:30 presumably heading for Windmill Pond. In Area 10, 2 Little Egret were seen at the end of the Emm Brook where it joins the Loddon at the green bridge by Roger Stansfield.The very reliable Little Owl was seen again in trees south of road from Luckley Road to Ludgrove School in Area 1 enjoying the lunch time sun.

03/01/19 2 Sparrowhawk In Area 10, a Sparrowhawk was seen flying low over the car park field and 9 Fieldfare were on the old Golf Course. Both sightings by Fraser Cottington.

02/01/19 A Little Owl was seen in trees south of road from Luckley Road to Ludgrove School in Area 1 by Peter Kendall.In Area 10 the Barn Owl was seen at the box again, this time by Paul Doctor.

01/01/19 The New Year started by watching my Area 5 garden, 5 Redwing were in a neighbours Ash tree , the Song Thrush was singing early in the morning, along with the Robin , Magpie and Starling were very interested in the mealworms on offer. A Jay flew across the garden and 3 Cormorrant were seen to fly over in a tight formation. In Area 1 at lunchtime a Little Owl was sitting out in its usual tree, with another one calling nearby. Ring necked Parakeet were heard calling and Jackdaw and Rook were noisly feeding in the fields. In Arae 10 2 Barn Owl were seen around the box by Fraser Cottington.

Insects

Plant/Trees

25/01/19 Several of the Loddon Lily Leucojum aestivum in Area 10 at Dinton Pastures have now come into bloom.

10/01/19 In Area 4 near Kingfisher Bridge the catkins of Goat Willow Salix caprea are just starting to emerge. These are one of several Willows that are commonly known as "Pussy Willow".

02/01/19 A walk in Area 10 at lunchtime by the Dinton Activity Centre and Loddon Lily Leucojum aestivum are starting to appear. The Catkins of Hazel Corylus avellana are also putting on a fine display.Albeit a bit early.The catkins are the familiar flowers of the hazel, but these just the male flowers which open to scatter their pollen, the female flowers are much smaller and easily overlooked. Each hazel will have flowers of both sexes, the catkins on the ends of the twigs and the female flowers a little further down. Why do leaves change colour

Other Wildlife

Amphibians and Reptiles

Mammals

24/01/19 At 06:40 this morning a Red Fox Vulpes vulpes was seen trotting up the Brookside pavement in Area 5.

13/01/19 An out of focus Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus was caught on my garden trail cam again feeding on spilt seed in my Area 5 garden at 14.31.

12/01/19 A Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus was caught on my garden trail cam feeding on spilt seed in my Area 5 garden at 04:30 this morming.

Molluscs

Fish

Fungi

10/01/19 Near Meadow Road Bridge in Area 4 , an old Chicken of the woods Laetiporus sulphureus fungi can be seen on the trunk of a dead riverside tree.