May 21st 2009

A mild night with a light south westerly wind so down the valley by 4:30am deciding to give this part of my patch a good search, working the areas between Sawbridge and Wolfhamcote returning via Nethercote and Flecknoe back to Sawbridge before moving down the valley to check on the Hill and Flecknoe Road areas.
Barn Owl: 2 still hunting after 5am near breeding site
Little Owl: one in trees near Sawbridge
Turtle Dove: one heard in suitable breeding area
Spotted Flycatcher: one Flecknoe Village
Hobby: one high over Grandborough Fields Farm
Lapwing: at least 3 pairs in area
Tree Sparrow: 4
Cuckoo female seen between Nethercote and Flecknoe and one heard in distance towards Brauston, Northamptonshire
Common Tern 2 heading towards Draycote Water north of Sawbridge and may be commuting from Daventry Country Park, Northamptonshire.
By late morning it had warmed up and no sign of rain so went looking for butterflies in the Stockton and Napton area finding my first Small Heath and Dingy Skipper of the year along with Hairy Dragonfly, Beautiful Demoiselle and Banded Demoiselle before ending up at Napton Reservoir. I had just managed to get half way round seeing Reed, Cetties and Sedge Warbler when the winds picked up and the skies finally opened up with a short sharp shower resulting in a hundred Swift and a Common Tern appearing. Five minutes after it passed a female Marsh Harrier appeared hunting over the adjacent field before drifting towards Napton on the Hill.
Called in at Draycote Water late afternoon with 2 Sanderling, Dunlin and my first Little Stint (one winter one summer) of the year in toft bay feeding where the embankment has collapsed and Common Tern off biggen bay.

Sanderling by Bob Hazell
Back home and after a couple of quiet moth nights my catch included Waved Umber, Iron Prominent, Peppered Moth, Rustic Shouldere-knot and my first Small Square Spot of the year.

Rustic Shoulder-knot

Peppered Moth
E-mails tonight after the pub informed me I had missed Little Ringed Plover, Hobby and Peregrine at the pond so well done Bob Hazell and John Harris.

Little Ringed Plover by Bob Hazell

Richard