May 31st 2008

Another warm humid day. Out early for a check on the Barn Owls in the valley and pleased to say by there activity they must be feeding plenty of young so that's a bonus these days and further on in the valley lots of other species are also busy with there young. Draycote was quiet on the birding front with only Lesser Black-back Gull 10, Black-headed Gull, Common Tern 2, Buzzard 5 and many Pied Wagtails feeding young but did managed to spend some time with John and his son Alfie and the Price's. The cafe had Pale Tussock, White Ermine, Brimstone and Poplar Hawk-moth seeking shelter while an hour in the country park produced Common Blue and Peacock butterflies and Burnet Companion moth. After dinner and dodging the potential thunderstorms visited one of the quarries just outside my patch looking for butterflies and managed 8 species with Small Blue 2, Large Skipper, Dingy skipper and Small Heath new for the year. Also managed Silver-ground Carpet and dead chuffed when I flushed a Sandy Carpet which was a lifer for me. On the feathered front the best birds were a Little Ringed Plover, Hobby and Lesser Whitethroat and heard a Cuckoo on the way home.
Back at home Bullfinch male and female visited garden briefly and this evening at least 8 Swifts feeding overhead.

Richard