Wednesday 20 August 2008

August 20th 2008

Out very early this morning intending to look for owls and did not have to go far with a Tawny Owl perched in fir tree by Lion Farm Rugby Road, Dunchurch lit up by street lighting and the silhouette of a Little Owl on an electrical sub station roof near the Prison along the A45. In the valley I checked on the Sawbridge site and there were 3 Barn Owls out hunting and another Little Owl and while struggling up the hilly part of the Flecknoe Rd towards the village there was a Barn owl still out hunting at 6am.
Flecknoe its self had Spotted Flycatcher and Whitethroat while nearby Wolfhamcote had a flyover Turtle Dove, plenty of warblers, my first returning Snipe for the valley and a Sparrowhawk causing havoc amongst the Collard Dove population.
Doubling back through Flecknoe towards Grandborough Fields a Grey Partridge walked out in front of me and around the Grandborough Fields Farm there were Red-legged Partridge, Whitethroat, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Raven, Skylark 8 and many Yellowhammers. No sign of the Redstart near Woodbine Farm and the ploughed field along Flecknoe Road had only one Wheatear but did hold a small group of Stock Doves, Skylarks and Yellowhammers with Buzzards 3 enjoying the thermals.
Had to be back home by mid-morning so arrived just in time to see two Cormorants flying over garden and my new moth trap even in these dull blustery damp conditions is doing well with 218 trapped last night including my 3rd Old lady of the year though it was too tatty to photograph and a welcome Angle Shades, normally a common species but this year has hardly made an appearance.
Had planned to go back out but the sofa insisted I watch the Olympics.

Richard

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