Saturday 8 August 2009

August 8th 2009

Out looking for owls long before first light and the effort paid off with a Long-eared Owl seen drifting across the second field of the double grassy field off the Southam road at 4:20pm. Tawny Owl heard and 2 Barn Owl seen.
Moved on to Draycote Water and gave it a quick lap with moths represented by 2 Red Underwing, Dusky Sallow, Six Striped Rustic and Purple Thorn on the wall of the rangers office and Grey Pug, 3 Common Footman and 2 Riband Wave on the café wall. A migrant Greenshank was in rainbow corner, Goosander still off valve tower with Common tern off-shore, Little Ringed Plover and 3 Common Sandpiper toft shallows and Great-spotted Woodpecker over sewage farm. A few Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff and Garden Warblers noted before leaving for the valley.
First hour in the valley was a struggle with very little to grab the attention until a possible distant Marsh Harrier juvenile floated behind bunkers hill but the brief view was not conclusive so that’s one that got away. My walk to Woolscott from Grandborough produced 2 juvenile Spotted Flycatcher, 5 Whitethroat and Grey Partridge.
Back home the neighbours buddleia has been hosting large numbers of butterflies in recent days and a count of 58 Painted Lady, 36 Large White, 2 Small White 3 Green-veined white, 23 Peacock, Comma and 3 Small Toirtoishell were pretty impressive while overhead its been quiet with a single Sand Martin heading south east mid day and 10 Swallows feeding early evening.
Finally I have received reports of Clouded Yellow and Hummingbird Hawk-moth in Rugby today so keep your eyes peeled.

Richard

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