Overton Biodiversity Society

November 2009

5^th

a Red Kite was over Waltham Road early afternoon. A December Moth was new for the Parish in 2009.

Right: December Moth, Poecilocampa populi (Picture: Mike Wall)

6^th

possible Brambling in a Bridge Street garden would have been the firs late year birds recorded locally, these being joined by Coal Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker, among others.

7^th

two Little Egret were seen in Southington early morning. The last night of the Garden Moth Scheme produced just one moth, a Merveille du Jour.

8^th

several of the O.B.S. membership visited the Isle of Wight, a day later than originally planned. Wildlife highlights of the trip included Red Squirrel, Black-throated Diver, Black Redstart, male Peregrine, Guillemot, 20 Little Egret, 230+ Golden Plover, Kingfisher and Red-green Carpet.

Right: Merveille du Jour, Dichonia aprilina (Picture: Mike Wall)

17^th

a Little Egret was in Flashetts.

18^th

a Red Kite was again over the village while the Little Egret was again flushed from The Test in Flashetts.

19^th

by midday two Raven, four Red Kite and singletons of both Sparrowhawk and Buzzard had passed over Overton, all but the accipiter south-west. An Ash Bud Moth of the form rustica was trapped in a Woodlands garden. A Pheasant visited a Bridge Street garden.

20^th

at least 15 Fieldfare were unexpected visitors to a Dellands garden Hawthorn.

Right: Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris. Nowhere near as frequent a winter visitor as Redwing, and usually arriving later in the winter locally

21^st

a Little Egret was on the filtration pools, Station Road.

22^nd

a few Redwing were noted moving over mid-morning.

23^rd

a Red Kite moved low north-east over Woodlands shortly before dark.

25^th

a visit by a non-local carrying out survey work to the area north of the village produced:
"I spent two hours today in SU55B north of Overton. It's all farmland with very little woodland. I set myself a target of 30 species, notwithstanding the windy weather. It turned out to be very good indeed, with 42 species, including 6 Red Kites, 10 Buzzards, a Peregrine sat in a field, a superb ringtail Hen Harrier which I saw twice at close range hunting over maize crops, 240 Red-leg Partridges (in an area that is part of the Grey Partridge recovery scheme - but none seen), two flocks of 125 and 50 Skylarks, two flocks of 20 and 100 Linnets, 2 Ravens and 2 Golden Plovers. I managed Marsh Tit, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Gt Spotted Wood, recorded only 2 Wrens and 1 Robin, and missed Rook!" John Clark

28^th

a garden-visiting Magpie off Bridge Street was one of few recorded about the village.

Right: Magpie, Pica pica. Some love them, some hate them! Do however ensure that you are getting your facts right before you slander them!

30^th

a Red Kite lingered low over the Station Road area late morning.

Contributors: John Clark, June Gibbs, Bryher Hutchins, Peter E. Hutchins, Kelvin Leslie, Mindy Noble, Chanel Rae, Margaret Rainford & Valda Stevens.