March 15th 2008

Purple Patch Day - light south east wind, low cloud and drizzle greeted my arrivial at Draycote Water just after 6pm to be met by a Dark- Bellied Brent Goose circling reservoir (my 23rd record and 50th bird) and four Shelduck. There were still a couple of thousand gulls loafing around with 250 Greater Black-backed Gulls and the third winter Iceland Gull which finally left at 7am, many of the black-headed gulls were in adjoining fields. Calling Avocet arrived off farborough bank landing on the water before making slow progress towards biggen bay but had not made the shoreline by the time the fishing boats came out and flew off low over grandborough valley (my 5th record the last in 2005 involving 8 birds). By 8pm I had only managed to reach the cafe being distracted by White Wagtail, male Stonechat, 3 Sand Martin and with so many sailing boats arriving moved round to valve tower where a male Wheatear was feeding (first of the year for Draycote). Other birds seen included 40 Cormorant, 9 Goosander, 20 Fieldfare, 50 Redwing, Meadow Pipit 30+, Lesser Redpoll, Great-spotted Woodpecker, 15 Goldeneye, 10 Gadwall and Jay.
Back home for a well deserved breakfast entertained by 3 Brambling on feeders. In the afternoon went for a walk with JJ round his patch, coffee at his place then off to Draycote for the roost in the rain again. No soon had we started then Iceland 3rd winter could be seen in the bins and first winter Glaucous Gull both before 1645pm. Met up with Paul Hyde who had adult Med Gull in roost and Rock Pipit on toft bank as well as having an impressive 37 Sand Martin. Despite the drizzle last night I had Oak Beauty, Common Quaker 3, Small Quaker and Hebrew Character 2 in trap

Richard