July 8th 2009

The heavy rain showers and cooler conditions we have been experiencing since the weekend finally changed this afternoon so spent the afternoon checking on the Grandborough valley. A Hobby was hunting over Woolscott, Turtle Dove in Sawbridge and Grasshopper Warbler along the county road between Woolscott and Sawbridge were all welcome and shows that things are finally looking up. Amongst the many family parties seen were 6 Grey Partridge, 5 Whitethroat, and 4 Buzzard along the Flecknoe road but no sign of the Quail. Draycote Water had Common Tern, near adult Yellow-legged Gull, Green Woodpecker, 4 Yellow Wagtail, Sparrowhawk, Common Sandpiper and Redshank plus the plastic cape Shelduck. Not many butterflies about and the only dragonfly seen was a Brown Hawker in toft shallows.

Richard