April 27th 2008

Dragged me and Dave down to pond with both of us suffering from lack of sleep but soon woke up with plenty about and plenty of others missed. A walk to toft bay produced one adult and two first summer Little Gulls, Common Tern 4, Artic Tern, while farnborough bank surprisingly had Common Sandpiper 4, Dunlin 4, and Whimbrel but missed the Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover and Sanderling. One Swift very high up while warblers were much in evidence having Reed Warbler 4, Sedge Warbler 3, Whitethroat 4 and Garden Warbler 3.
We had arrived in grandborough valley when news came that we had missed Wood Warbler and Little Tern. You win some, and you lose some but we decided on a mega breakfast insted of going back - sound descision as they were not seen again. Only birds of note in valley were Buzzard 4 and Whitethroat.
All the time we had breakfast there was a moth on the cafe wall which I had dismissed as Early Tooth Stripe but on closer inspection it was a Streamer so the moral of the this episode is "he who makes a pig of him self will go blind".
Moved on to Napton on the hill looking for any migrating raptors but had no kuck apart from the local Buzzards and a calling Cuckoo.
Next stop was Brandon Marsh where there was no sign of Garganey but we had stunning views of Lesser Whitethroat, many Garden Warblers and Cetties Warbler. Also present were Common Tern, Shelduck, Ringed Plover and Redshank.
On the way home we had Corn Bunting and Little Owl.
Due to the warm weather we had many butterfly's including Holly Blue, Peacock 8, Small Tortishell, Brimstone 4, Large White 4, Orange-tip 2 and Speckled Wood.
Can't resit repeating this photo by Steve Seal even though it appears on other sites


Grasshopper Warbler, Brandon Marsh

Richard