May 12th 2009

Another year tick in the moth trap – Knot Grass otherwise the catch was dominated by 11 Shuttle-shaped Dart and single Cabbage Moth and Green Carpet.
There was very little to be seen at Draycote Water this morning in a very quick look before going to Cambridgeshire, 2 Common Tern, Yellow Wagtail, 2 Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Great-spotted Woodpecker and a late male Teal for my efforts.
Traveled with Trog to Peterborough then it was a thigh breaking bike ride to Whittlesey in a strong easterly wind to see the 10 Dotterel south east of the village. The trip were in a pea field before moving to an onion field also in the area were male Whinchat, Red-legged Partridge, White Wagtail, 3 Yellow Wagtail and female Marsh Harrier before I moved on to the Nene Washes at Eldernell. No rest from the wind but the walk to March Farmers produced 2 Little Egrets, 2 Whimbrel, 5 Ruff, Greenshank, 4 Marsh Harrier, Cuckoo, and Common Tern but no sign of yesterdays male Montagu’s Harrier and on the returning walk to Bassenhally Farm pass Lord’s Holt I managed Kingfisher, male and female Garganey, 2 Turtle Dove, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Snipe, Shelduck, Cetties Warbler and a distant Cattle Egret. A welcome stop in Whittlesey for food then it was a late evening ride along the Nene Way back to Peterborough enjoying 2 Little Egret and 2 Barn Owl plus a romantic couple going hell for leather. Bless.

Richard