September 21st 2008

Out with Dave at first light to a cold (5deg) grandborough valley where we had Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, Buzzards 5 and Ravens 3 while having a brew and enjoying the sun rise. Met up with Steve Valentine and moved on to Draycote Water which still had hundreds of gulls hanging around being harassed by 2 Ravens and a first winter Yellow-legged Gull on our amble out to farborough spit where there were 3 Goosanders feeding close in and must have been part of the group of five that has been here for a while but it’s the first time I have had any of them on this side of reservoir since there arrival. Other birds seen included, single Shag immature resting on sailing boats, Wigeon, Gadwall, Meadow Pipits 4 and Yellow Wagtail.

Goosanders by Steve Valentine
After a breakfast at Long Itchington we moved on to Brandon Marsh which had 4 Swallows flying south, Buzzard 5, Snipe 26 on east marsh, Chiffchaff 2 including one calling and Nuthatch on the visitors center feeders. A large Grass Snake was in front of the east marsh hide.
As we left reports of Honey Buzzards in the county began to reach us so we decided to watch the sky from Lawford Heath and over the next hour we were able find Buzzards 13, Ravens 9 and 26 migrating Swallows south in three small groups. Also seen were Meadow Pipits 8, Corn Bunting and a first winter Shelduck. The nearby tip had at least 500 large gulls but did not have time to go through them as she who must be adored had my dinner ready at Dave’s.
Once fed and watered I worked the dunsmore ridge for two hours but again no HBs, just a steady movements of Swallows (90) all heading south in small groups, Siskin 2, Hobby, Raven 2, the large female Peregrine which I had seen at Draycote Water yesterday and my first Merlin of the autumn.
PATCH NEWS: of interest the total count of 16 Ravens today is a one day patch record for me and two of the six HBs reported in Warwickshire today were in my patch including one at Draycote.

Richard