August 30th 2008

Down the flecknow Rd before first light getting 3 Barn Owls (2 toft farm & 1 Kytes Hardwick) on the way. The raked field still had the 2 Wheatear with the Whinchat immature now much further away and the large mixed finch flock (mainly Linnets) included a Corn Bunting. Four Grey Partridges in the area and yesterdays immature Marsh Harrier still present though distant. A very brief visit to Draycote Water produced 2 Shags on fishing platforms, Wheatear farborough bank, Common Sandpiper 2 and 4 Black Tern.
Back at home getting the trailer packed for tonight's mothing session and 3 Black Tern flew over garden just as John Judge rang to say he had 62 there. Brief words with Dave to pick me up and we arrived just in time to chat to John at Draycote before walking out to farborough spit to view terns. Difficult to count as they were distant and the wind had strengthened but we managed various counts between 56 and 64 so Johns count of 62 will be good enough for me. Over coffee we caught up with Pete and Linda Price who had seen 11 Shelduck earlier with two still remaining by inlet and 6 Common Sandpiper while Pete Findon had seen a Hobby. We had a Pintail fly in and Swift over. Also of interest were two Pale Eggars on the wall of cafe along with 2 Brimstone, Garden Carpet and a Flounced Rustic while butterflies seen included Peacock 4 and Brimstone.

Pale Eggar

Richard