February 28th 2009

Down the valley before first light spending most of the morning walking between Dunchurch and Flecknoe managing 4 owl and 6 raptor species as well as a good supporting cast including one summer migrant. Owls were represented by 4 Barn, 2 Little, 2 Tawny and a Short-eared Owl which was hunting the north side of Bush Hill, Flecknoe while raptors seen were Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, female Merlin, Peregrine and the hybrid falcon. The Merlin was along Hill rd, Peregrine towards Woolscott while the hybrids route could be detected by following the mayhem it was causing among the pigeons and corvids. Surprise of the morning and probably the month was the male Wheatear between Barn and Valley Fields Farm which is usually expected to appear on its migration around the third week of March. My earliest date at Draycote Water is 8th March though normally the 20th-23rd is the average arrival date so this bird was is very early indeed and the first I have ever seen in February. Gob smacked!
Other species seen included 2 Stonechat, 100 Stock Dove, 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Redshank, Corn Bunting, 25 Yellowhammer, 2 Cormorant, 4 Red-legged Partridge, 3 Tree Sparrow, 40 Canada Geese, 100 Fieldfare and 50 Redwing.
Last night was another mild night so the buildings at Draycote Water attracted 14 moths of 7 Species with 2 Chestnut, Grey-shouldered Knot, Light Brown Apple Moth, 2 March Moth, 4 Dotted Border, 2 Pale brindled Beauty and a Spring Usher. The Rock Pipit was elusive being pushed around by the walkers eventually found on the lower slopes of farborough bank and the Red-necked Grebe, male Smew and female Common Scoter were in toft bay with 2 Great-northern Divers off the valve tower. The roost had 1st winter Iceland Gull and Glaucous Gull along with 2 adult Yellow-legged Gull and male Stonechat on the adjacent golf course. Woodcock and Barn Owl were seen on the way home.

Richard