August 22nd 2009

A clear chilly night and probably the coldest we have had for sometime as I set out for Napton in the wee hours of this morning. With no traffic you get to hear a lot more and heard Tawny Owl passing Kites Hardwick and Stockton Cutting and Barn Owls were heard at Hill and Broadwell. Just as I was approaching Calcutt a Barn Owl drifted across the road and a Little Owl was perched by the entrance to Napton Reservoir.
I enjoyed a welcome cup of coffee at the reservoir from one of the Carp fishermen enjoying a great chat about our respective hobbies while 2 Barn Owls hunted a nearby set-a-side field and later there were Kingfisher, 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 4 Teal, 2 Snipe and a Yellow Wagtail present.
Continued on to Napton on the Hill by which time the sun was warming up a treat and in the churchyard bird activity increased with 3 juvenile Spotted Flycatchers indicating another successful breeding year, 4 Coal Tit, 3 Mistle Thrush plus a few of the local warbler population with Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap noted. A good search of the quarry paid dividends with a Tree Pipit which was probably brought down by the heavy rains a few days ago.
I spent the morning watching the skies for raptor migration but saw only local Buzzard and Sparrowhawk though there was a large movement of Lesser Black-backed Gull with over 300 in small groups passing overhead. As I left there were 12 Long-tailed Tit and a Lesser Whitethroat along the lane to the church and another party of 14 Long-tailed Tit at Calcutt.
I stopped off at Birdingbury Bridge for refreshments taking the opportunity to explore the Grand Union Canal towpath between Gilk’s Spinney and High Clays Farm. Very few birds around but a few Butterflies and a couple Dragonflies species were on the wing.
Finally ended up at Draycote Water and hung around for the gull roost which is a good size for this time of the year and found adult and juvenile Med Gull and 6 Yellow-legged Gulls. Also present were 2 Dunlin, Goosander, Jay and Great-spotted Woodpecker.

Richard