July 22nd 2008

Soon as I checked my trap early morning it was obvious that the overnight temperature had improved so with out wasting time I covered the trap and put it in the garage to check later and legged it to the valley (a cycling term you won't hear on the tour de france) in time to count 9 Barn Owls from three sites so we have had a good breeding season this year and now its a waiting game to see if the young survive the perils of the next few months. Other highlights from 52 species seen in the valley were Spotted Flycatcher 5 from two locations, Turtle Dove 2, Coal tit, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Corn Bunting, Whitethroat 3, Green Woodpecker 5, Stock Dove 28, Grey Wagtail, Grey Partridge 3 and Buzzard 3.
Arriving at Draycote Water there were four Common Tern including an adult feeding a very young bird which was sporting the latest in birding jewellery with a white ring on the left leg and a metal ring below a red ring on the right leg. The adult was unringed so not sure where they have come from, certainly have not bred here and no idea if they ring the chicks at Brandon Marsh or Daventry Country Park. Other birds seen were the feral Graylag Goose, escape Cape Shelduck plus adult and near adult Yellow-legged Gull, Mute Swan 30, Canada Geese 180, Green Woodpecker 4 and Common Sandpiper.

Common Tern juv by Bob Hazell
Met up with the Peter and Linda Price who had seen two Lesser Whitethroats by the inlet and then coffee with Bob, Francoise and Ollie where after a lot of mickey taking we have come up with the in joke - "saw Francoise - wish I hadn't bothered" (cheers Ollie). Bob had seen Kingfisher.
The country park had 12 species of butterfly including Marbled White 4, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and a big increase in Gatekeeper numbers.
Back Home and the trap produce this melanic Peppered Moth and Buff Ermine out of 18 species caught and with the weather becomeing warmer and more humid then we should be getting a few over the next few days - well I hope so as I out trapping every night over the next four days.

Buff Ermine

Peppered Moth

Richard