August 16th 2008

A purple patch day started off with an early visit to Draycote Water where there were three Teal in toft bay, female and immature male Wheatear on farborough bank along with Grey Wagtail and a magnificent adult light phase Artic Skua was seen arriving at 9am but unfortunately it continued west (My 22nd record for location).
Adult and sub adult Yellow-legged Gull between the fishing platform and sailing club with 50+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gull 2 out in centre and Curlew 2 circled in vain for somewhere to land. While John and Alfie Judge walked out to farborough spit I searched the more sheltered areas of the sailing club lower car park finding Blackcap 2, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff 3, and Garden Warbler before we met up for coffee.
While in the café met up with Kay and Max who had re-found and re-identified yesterdays mergansers as Goosanders off the outlet so that’s where we legged it too and soon had them in sight. Definitely Goosanders, probably all immatures and my first August record. Other birds seen were Yellow Wagtail 2, Swift 300, Sand Martin 20, Buzzard 3, Green Woodpecker, Great-spotted Woodpecker and Raven. A brilliant visit slightly marred by some jerks from the sailing club trying to take a launch in to toft shallows and flushing the birds but in my best Vlad the Impaler voice soon had them scuttling for cover.
Just arrived at home when one of the farmers down the valley asked me to come over as soon as possible and on my arrival we traveled some way before stopping and he causally said what’s that?. Magic – a Long-eared Owl roosting in hedgerow and almost hidden from view, dead lucky as the field it’s in is being harvested later today and will probably move and it’s an area away from the road so I would never have found it myself. Looked like an adult but will check plumage later.

Richard