April 20th 2009

Glorious sunshine with little wind at home while the valley and Draycote Water were shrouded in early morning mist so delayed going out till later. Sound decision as I had Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and 5 Sand Martin going over the garden plus butterflies in the shape of 3 Large White, Comma, 2 Orange Tip and my first Holly blue of the year. My moth trap had 2 Lesser Swallow Prominent.
Grandborough Valley was very pleasant this afternoon with migrating summer plumage Golden Plover in the bean field, near the double barn, Flecknoe Rd and a Little Owl standing vigilant on the old manure heap near Grandborough Fields Farm. A ride along the canal to Napton Reservoir produced Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Sparrowhawk and a few butterflies including 2 Orange Tip, 2 Comma, 3 Peacock, and numerous Large White and Small White.
Napton Reservoir had 2 Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, two Yellow Wagtail, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker and pair of Gadwall. On the way home did a detour to catch up with my first Grizzled Skipper of the year.
Decided to give the pond a miss and arranged to do a mothing session at Brandon Marsh as the evening temperature could be good for trapping and though the clear skies might have affected the numbers I still managed 72 moths of 14 species from two traps. Highlights were Muslin Moth, Early Tooth-stripe, Yellow-barred Brindle, Brindle Beauty, Marbled Brown and Lunar Marbled Brown. Birds seen were Barn Owl, Reed Warbler, Cetties Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Yellow Wagtail and Redshank.

Richard