April 29th 2008

The makings of a cracking morning were spoilt by mist so took the time to re-pack my suitcase for Sunday's big getaway. Once Swifts appeared over my garden it was time to do Draycote where there were plenty of them over Draycote bank and even more when a Hobby arrived, approximately 1000+ with 500 Swallow and House Martins 200 well spread out across the reservoir. Out in the centre there was a small passage of Artic Tern 6, Common Tern 8 and later in the afternoon Black Tern 2 as the rain showers arrived which also brought in female Ruff and Dunlin to gray's barn landing amongst the fishermen. Also seen were Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler 3, Garden Warbler 5, Common Gull 40+ immatures, Lesser black-backed Gull 20, Gadwall 2, Common Sandpiper, Yellow wagtail, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard 10. Mink was seen in sewage farm. Showers turned to heavy rain so called it quits.

Richard