October 11th 2008

With the present weather system over the UK producing very little migration here in the midlands I concentrated on the grandborough valley for local birds and any earlier migrants that may have stayed on since I last worked this area.
Dawn broke to grey cloud turning different shades of pinks and purples as the sun rose and it was a great backdrop for the Barn Owl that was still out hunting near Ox House. I walked the footpath between Dunchurch and Grandborough village with the thick hedgerow bordering the M45 holding a large tit flock working its way towards the A426 motorway bridge and consisted of Long-tailed 34, Great 5 and Blue Tits 11 and also included a lone Chiffchaff and 4 Goldcrest.
Many of the fields have been ploughed now but careful searching showed they held various numbers of Meadow Pipit, Skylark and Linnets accompanied by the occasional Reed Bunting and the most numerous species of bird present were the corvids with Jackdaws, Rook and Crow in there hundreds along with a few Magpies and a Jay from the nearby Bunker Hill wood. There are still a few stubble and set-aside fields remaining and though some are off the public footpath I worked them as best I could and managed to locate a Stonechat between Bunkers Hill wood and Whitehall Farm.
Stock Dove numbers were higher than I normally have when sticking to the roads and other birds seen were Buzzard 3, Raven 2, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Redwing 5, Red-legged Partridge 2 and a few more Skylarks.
Highlight of the morning was the Black-tailed Godwit on the fishing lagoons and from it’s washed out appearance may be the one Bob Hazell had at Draycote Water last Wednesday and certainly lacks the peachy appearance of the Brandon Marsh bird which was still present there in the week.
Arrived at Draycote Water and the 2 first winter Little Gulls were still in toft bay, Common Scoter off draycote bank but could only find one Shag and one Goosander. Other sightings included Gadwall 6, Grey Wagtail 2, Meadow Pipits 30, Ruddy Duck 2, Bullfinch 6, Siskin 3 and Buzzard 4.
Brief look at Lawford Heath with Raven 2, Buzzard 2, Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow 5 and Meadow Pipits 10 all noted.
Late afternoon and my garden had two Brimstone Butterfly's while my moth trap had my second Merveille du Jour of the year along with Blair's Shoulder-knot, Brindled Green, Common Marbled Carpet, Light Brown Apple Moth, Lunar Underwing and Pink-barred Sallow.
Dave's desperate for a change of scenary so we are off to the Nene Washes, Cambridgeshire tomorrow.

Richard