April 1st 2008

Well last nights trapping session was ish - some nice moths but not as many as I was expecting but still managed 61 moths of 13 species of which two, Shoulder Stripe and Oak Beauty were added to my Brandon Marsh moth list which is now on 253. Managed to see Barn Owl and Tawny Owl.
Little sleep as last nights weather, light south wind with clear Sky's then cloudy becoming a breezy south west with a light rain shower looked promising for migrants so cycled to Napton on the Hill very early morning seeing Barn Owl and hearing two Little Owls calling on the way. Part of the morning searching the hedgerows, churchyard and the old quarry paid off finding a male Wheatear and White Wagtail in quarry along with 2 Chiffchaffs, a male Brambling was in the main hedgerow parallel to the lane to windmill along with a male Blackcap and the churchyard produced a Willow Warbler my first for the year and two more Chiffchaffs, Sparrowhawk and male Siskin. Cycling back towards Draycote called in at Napton Reservoir getting Kingfisher, Reed Bunting 5, Sand Martin 2, Siskin, Redwing 23 going north and male Wigeon. Another Willow Warbler and Treecreeper in Millbank Spinney, Broadwell and male Wheatear, 7 Golden Plover including one in full summer plumage, Curlew in same field and Raven along Hill Rd. By now the wind had picked up so coffee at Leam Valley Golf Centre, Kites Hardwick which had 10 Linnets feeding around the car park and many Pied Wagtails including one White.
Draycote was very blustery with first summer Little Gull this evening off valve tower, Great-spotted Woodpecker, 50 Sand Martin, one Swallow and 5 Goldeneye in bay. Toft Bay had Willow and Long-tailed Tit in gray's barn, Chiffchaff 3 and Willow Warbler in toft shallows and Sparrowhawk and 4 Buzzards over.
By the time I got home my hip was stiff as a eunuchs imagination but my Bramblings have made it to April with two coming in early evening. Butterfly's seen today were Comma 2, Brimstone 4, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell.
STOP PRESS - Marsh Harrier 1st summer male, Barn Owl, Fieldfare 10 seen 1930hrs by Mark Phillips and his son near Grandborough Fields- well done.

Richard