February 19th 2009

It was not as dull as yesterday so a trip to Draycote Water early morning for my sins then a wander around the valley biding my time before returning back to Draycote Water for the roost. Between the M45 and toft shallows there was 4 Siskin and a Lesser Redpoll but no sign of the Red-crested Pochard pair in toft bay. One of the three Great-northern Divers was also in toft bay and spent long periods on the surface while the male Smew and Red-necked Grebe off farborough bank also showed well. Only new birds noted seem to be the party of 12 Shoveler out in the centre, Dunlin flying over and Yellow-legged Gull in field off farborough bank. A look around the café for moths produced at least 10 with 4 Dotted Border, 3 Pale Brindle Beauty, 2 Early Moth and one unidentified micro.

Early Moth

I tried the footpath between Kites Hardwick and Valley Farm on the Hill Rd but very little apart from Buzzard and Sparrowhawk so returned back to Draycote Water finding first and second winter Iceland Gull in the roost.

Richard