April 5th 2008

Little sleep after last nights party and trapping session at Lower Shuckburgh to get out before the weather front moved in - mild at first but temperature dropping with sunny periods and rain at mid-day and sleet late afternoon. Draycote Water still has a few gulls roosting with 150 Common Gull, 60 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 20 Great Black-backed Gull still loafing around, adult summer Little Gull in biggen bay and Common Sandpiper on farborough bank near valve tower. Also seen were migrating Shoveler with a small flock of 7 out in centre resting, Willow Warbler, Sparrowhawk, 28 Stock Doves, 100 Sand Martin and Golden Plover heading north.
Napton on the Hill was heaving with visible migration as the weather front arrived and I counted Meadow Pipits 340, Fieldfare 35, Redwing 10, Skylark 29, Brambling 2, Lesser Redpoll 4, Swallow 4, Sand Martin 60 all pushing north while near the windmill there was male Wheatear and male Stonechat and the hedgerows produced at least 5 Willow Warbler, Blackcap 2 and Chiffchaffs 40+.
Napton Reservoir produced my first Sedge Warbler of the year, 30 Sand Martin, Swallow 2 and Cetties Warbler / Water Rail heard. A Swallow was already back on its breeding grounds on a farm near Tomlow and a another flew over Gibraltar Canal Bridge. Rain was threatening as I biked down flecknoe rd with a lot more birds about than my last visit and passing between The Elm and Woodbine Farms a Short-eared Owl flew low across the road followed by many Rooks from a nearby rookery and were mobbing it mercilessly and trying to gain height they followed it for sometime before returning while the owl continued east. This was then followed up by an Osprey heading for Draycote Water over Grandborough village being reported by fishermen at Draycote Water at 1130am. Other species seen were Raven 2, Redwing 2, Buzzard 7, Chiffchaff 3, Blackcap male, Long-tailed Tit 8, Red-legged Partridge 2 and Jay. While all this was going John Judge found his second Marsh Harrier in just over a week with a female over the war memorial (A45/B4455 roundabout) on the west side of my patch.
Returned home to watch the grand national and pick up my mobile (forgot it and missed everyones calls - sorry) then returned to Draycote Water which had Common Tern, a House Martin off lin croft point which were firsts of the year for me, Yellow Wagtail on hensborough bank and Med Gull adult summer.
My trapping session at Lower Shuckburgh went well with 103 moths of 17 species including Yellow Horned, Water Carpet, Red Chestnut and Shoulder Stripe while my trap at home had 8 moths of 6 species. A shame this cold front is going to put the knockers on it for awhile.

Early Grey

Shoulder Stripe

Richard