Woodstock Wildlife Record

Not particularly local, but a week's holiday in Corfu in mid-August with my son allowed for a little bit of wildlife watching around the cottage we stayed in and on our days out and about. We stayed in a small house in the foothills of Mount Pantokrator surrounded by mainly Olive and Fig trees and scrub. It looked very promising for wildlife and over the course of the week we got some good views of various birds and insects. Overall, the variety of birds wasn't as great as I had hoped, but much of what we saw we happened upon on our days out, as opposed to actively searching. The cottage we stayed at had a lovely patio area that gave views up the mountain and I spent mornings and evenings sat enjoying what passed by. It looked ideal for warblers but the only ones I managed to positively ID were Eastern Subalpine Warblers, which seemed to be the most numerous warbler. Aside from Blue and Great Tits, a Spotted Flycatcher was the only other small passerine of note. One or two flee

I set out today intending to see Brown Hairstreak butterflies, and having seen some lovely photos of some recent sightings at Otmoor, I headed there first. I was lucky to see at least half a dozen, and several very confiding males along the Roman Road. I then moved on to Whitecross Green Wood in hope of some more butterflies, and also some dragonflies and damselflies. Despite overcast conditions I almost immediately found two more Brown Hairstreaks near the car park. Both females this time.  Once the sun came out, there was more insect activity and I saw a good number of butterfly species including Purple Hairstreaks, Silver-washed Fritillaries, a Small Copper, and good numbers of the more common species. There were plenty of Migrant Hawkers and a few Brown Hawkers. I didn't manage to see a Southern Migrant Hawker today. The best damselfly was a nice female White-legged Damselfly. Aside from insects, there were a few Fallow Deer along the rides, and at least 5 juvenile Swallows res