August 29th 2009

Although not as windy as yesterday there was still a brisk cool westerly at Draycote Water this morning and accounted for the dark phase Artic Skua arriving at 7:40am which came in over the over the golf course when I was counting the Swifts but continued south.
There were 2 Common Sandpiper, adult Ringed Plover, juv Little Ringed Plover and 6 Shoveler in toft bay and shallows. Massive numbers of hirundines high over the country park, toft shallows and biggen bay early morning. At least 500 Swallow, 500 House Martin and 50 Sand Martin with 8 Swift between biggen bay and valve tower and 4 over toft shallows. Little Tern juvenile appeared off the Sailing club at 10:10am but no sign of any common or black. Best sheltered area for warblers was the hedgerow between the top & bottom field of the country park with 2 Garden Warbler and 3 Lesser Whitethroat. Also seen were female Goosander off draycote bank, 3 Yellow Wagtail and 3 Wheatear on farborough bank, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Buzzard 5, Teal 16 and Raven over valve tower.
In the afternoon I went down to Farmoor Reservoir, Oxfordshire to see the juvenile American Black Tern, juvenile White-winged Black Tern and juvenile Black Tern. There had been very few records of this American race of Black Tern in this country and a useful i.d. lesson in case one turns up at the pond.
Moth numbers continue to be low because of the high winds and cold nights but I can still attract the ladies.


Richard