May 19th 2009

Last night the wind dropped mid evening so decided to visit the pond for a short mothing session and while setting up a Barn Owl silently drifted over the sailing graveyard taking me by surprise and later in the night a Tawny Owl was perched on the rood of the Rangers Office.

White Ermine draycote Water
The session produced 77 moths of 26 species with Tinea trinotella, Ash Bud Moth, White Ermine, and Maiden’s Blush new for the year while back home my garden trap had my first record of Seraphim a woodland species. That now puts me on 399 for the garden so get the cake ready.

Seraphim
After a couple hours sleep I was back down to pond where the skies were full of Swifts with at least 1500 estimated along with 100 House Martin, fewer Swallows and 10 Sand Martin and this soon attracted the interest of 2 Hobby’s.
Out in the centre there was a flock of 16 Common Scoter including 12 males with most of them asleep while other species seen included Peregrine, Grasshopper, Reed and Sedge Warbler, 3 Common Tern, 15 Buzzard, 4 Stock Dove, 4 Yellow Wagtail 3 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Lesser Black-back Gull and Draycote’s first Spotted Flycatcher of the year.
All though slow to warm up there were still a few butterflies out with 3 Large White, 5 Common Blue, Holly Blue and 2 Small Copper.
Just after dinner time a series of weather fronts dropped more liquid on me and by that time I was in the valley and the cause for the Little Egret that flew north over Grandborough village heading for Bunker Hill. Only other bird note of were 2 Grey Partridge and a Wheatear male along Hill Rd.
Back home and at least 5 Swift and a House Martin feeding overhead

Richard