February 24th 2008

Went out of county this morning with Dave to a site in Oxfordshire in a very scenic valley with the focus on two large set aside fields. In two hours from first light we managed to find Barn Owl, Buzzard 10, Short-eared Owl 5 of which two were sitting on the roadside hedge on arrival, female Merlin hunting the smaller birds, Stonechats 2, Raven 2 and a stunning ringtail Hen Harrier which quartered the set-aside before drifting off south. Score’s of Red-legged Partridge, 2 Muntjac Deer and earlier on the way down while still in Warwickshire we had Barn Owl hunting the roadside verge on the Fosse Way near the Southam / Leamington Spa roundabout.
Moved back in to Warwickshire and on to Cross Hands Quarry mainly to check out the site for a moth trapping session later in the year and a quick look at the Rollwright Stones – a stone circle from the Neolithic & Bronze age.
Little seen at the last two stops so we moved on to Brandon Marsh where we missed the Bittern but had Shelduck 2, Snipe 6, Kingfisher, Cetties Warbler, Goldeneye female and Ringed Plover. On the way back to Dave’s for dinner we did a quick stop on Lawford Heath but only hundreds of Fieldfare and Redwing seen.
Did the roost at Draycote with John Judge but the weather closed in so we struggled in the downpour but it cleared after an hour leaving ideal light conditions. Managed 7 Med Gulls which is this winter’s highest count so far (4 adult summer, 1 partial summer, and 2 second winters. One first winter Glaucous Gull off inlet soon disappeared but returned later along with the second winter Glaucous Gull. Third winter Yellow-legged Gull and a possible adult Caspian Gull also seen.
Oak Beauty in trap last night.

Richard