July 23rd 2009

I was enjoying two Whimbrel in rainbow corner, Draycote Water when Paul Cashmore text to say he had eight go over his garden in Coventry as he left for work so must have been a movement overnight and not a bad start to your day. Not sure if mine stayed as per usual the fishermen always want to fish the area the birds are resting in. Earlier I had a male Wheatear on hensborough bank along with juvenile Grey Wagtail, 4 Common Sandpiper flying together around toft bay, Little Ringed Plover in toft bay, Treecreeper in toft shallows and immature Teal off farborough bank. Between the inlet and valve tower the Goosander was still present and a Hobby hunting back towards rainbow corner. Off draycote bank young Blackcap and Garden Warbler were very active. The visitors centre had Mother of Pearl, Uncertain and Least yellow Underwing.
Decided to visit the Frankton area and managed a few Yellowhammers, 2 Whitethroat, Corn Bunting, 2 Buzzard and 3 Jay. The fishponds had a pair of Tufted Duck with 9 young, male Teal, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher nearby carrying food.
Heading back towards Draycote village the day warmed up and 2 Hobby performed over Bourton Hall while Buzzards became more numerous and cycling through the village I had both Beautiful and Banded Demoiselle and Ruddy Darter.
Draycote Meadows had plenty of butterflies with Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Large White, Green-veined White, Small Tortoiseshell, Small Skipper, Comma and Speckled Woods. The nearby railway cutting had Narrow-bordered Five Spot Burnet, Yellow Shell and 2 Silver Y plus Green Woodpecker, Great-spotted Woodpecker, 4 Bullfinch, 4 Mistle Thrush, and Sparrowhawk.
When I arrived home my garden had 8 Large White, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Meadow Brown, a very fresh Painted Lady and an unidentified blue which shot past.
A wander around the valley this evening with Dave produced Sparrowhawk with prey, 2 Buzzard and 70 Swallows heading for there roost.

Common Hawker in the garden this afternoon

Herald the best of some recent poor catches

Richard