March 16th 2009

I was at Draycote Water by 6am, clear skies, no wind and a little chilly with 2 male Wheatear and Grey Wagtail on farborough bank, 3 male Shoveler accompanied by a female Pintail out in centre. At least 3 Great-northern Diver and 8 female and 2 male Goosander near the valve and the Red-necked Grebe in toft bay along with 4 Sand Martin. Other birds of note were 2 Chiffchaff, Great-spotted Woodpecker, 8 Linnets, 4 Reed Bunting, 6 Skylark, 4 Mistle Thrush, 2 Siskin, 18 Stock Dove, 2 Snipe and Treecreeper.
Back home it warmed up a treat with 4 Sparrowhawk displaying over garden plus 3 Buzzard drifting south then a Red Kite over 1:30pm heading east and my first butterflies of the year with Peacock and Brimstone.
The kite put gardening duties on the back burner and spent the afternoon watching the skies over the valley from toft hill :- Marsh Harrier female drifted over west 4pm and watched going over pond, 9 Buzzard, Raven, 4 Sparrowhawk, 11 Redwing, Shelduck leaving pond heading east and a very high Peregrine.

Richard