The Cymbeline Lister: Fauna, Flora and Choo Choo's

Dave and I gave the pond brief look at 7am with 3 Yellow-legged Gull and a Common Sandpiper on farborough bank before heading south. Even though it was muggy and overcast we had 2 Marbled White’s and a Ringlet flutter by as we slowed down to a crawl on the A34 near Oxford due to an accident on our way to Dry Sandford Pit nature reserve.

Our target was Marsh Helleborine and soon found over 200 plants just flowering and while trying to get photos with out falling in to the bog we found 5 Southern Damselflies amongst the vegetation and flushed a Scarlet Tiger moth which unfortunately did not hang around. Even without the sun which occasionally broke through we wandered around part of the reserve and found Broad-bodied Chaser, 12 Ringlet, 7 Meadow Brown, 4 Large Skipper, 28 Marbled White, 10 Small Heath and Common Blue plus Freyer’s Pug, Cinnabar Moth and Mullien Moth caterpillar. Birds included Buzzard, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Whitethroat, Blackcap and Reed Warbler.

By early afternoon we had a need for refreshments so went over to the Didcot Railway Centre which is a substantial working heritage rail museum and wandered around the sheds. Being mid-week they were only operating one loco in steam with the rest shedded up which made it restrictive for photos but still plenty to see. Better viewing at weekends when they have them in the sidings and more steamed up. Of the 7 Red Kite today seen 3 were over Didcot Railway station