May 3rd 2009

Birding wise it’s been a real crap day. Though sunny the cold blustery northerly winds kept the temperatures down and we saw very little that was different from Friday when we had a walk out to the sewage farm at Draycote water with Kevin Grewcock managing only 4 Common Tern and a Common Sandpiper. In the sheltered areas we are doing well for Whitethroats and Sedge Warbler and we might have seen a Reed Warbler but it disappeared as soon as we glimpsed it. Highlight of the visit was a Pale Tussock on the wall of the café.


Met up with Colin Potter for breakfast at Long Itchington giving us a chance to look at this Knot Grass that was in his garden trap and couldn’t identify then it was on to Brandon Marsh.


Just as windy and just as quiet with a few more Garden Warbler and Whitethroat on territories than our last visit but otherwise it was the usual birds on east marsh:- male Wigeon, 2 Teal, Snipe, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher and 4 Little Ringed Plover so no change there.
Back at Dave’s and he had another poor moth catch – not sure what’s going on with his garden but he’s 30% down on last years catch while I’m 20% up so he is not a happy bunny.

Richard