April 22nd 2006

Out this afternoon in the improving weather conditions calling in briefly to Draycote Water on my way to Napton on the Hill managing to add Garden Warbler and Artic Tern 5 to my pond's year list, also seen were 3 Common Tern and 4 Little Gulls adults, Wheatear, Swift 4, Ringed Plover and Dunlin.
Near Hill a Hobby was hawking overhead and by the time I arrived at Napton on the Hill it had warmed up a treat making it a hard work checking the hedgerows, fields quarry and churchyard. Apart from the resident common birds there seemed little evidence of any migrants until late afternoon when a male Ring Ouzel appeared near the windmill after being unintentionally disturbed by a dog walker, which then flew to the south side of "windmill" (the bird that is) and out of sight, only other bird of note were 2 Swifts over village.
Evening visit to Napton Reservoir listening to Reed, Sedge, and Cetties Warbler and a Kingfisher watched catching and swallowing its prey. Barn Owl seen on the way home.
Butterfly's today were Peacock, Orange-tip, Green-veined White and Brimstone.
Animals seen were Fox and Stoat.
Moths trapped last night at home included Angle Shades and Lesser Swallow Prominent


Angle Shades

PATCH NEWS - JJ had a Cuckoo calling at Flecknoe and Bob Duckhouse had 14 Artic Tern at Draycote Water.

Richard