September 12th 2009

By the time I arrived in the valley just before day break the mist was just starting to form and within an hour the visibility was poor but by then I had managed to find Tawny Owl and 2 Barn Owl before moving on to the high ground of Napton on the Hill.
Being above the mist then a two hour search produced more warblers that expected with
2 Whitethroat and Spotted Flycatcher in the churchyard, 2 Chiffchaff 3 Willow Warbler and Blackcap by the 2nd kissing gate, another couple of Chiffchaff towards the end of the horse field while the scrub below the quarry was the most productive area with 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Yellow Wagtail, Sedge Warbler and Willow Tit. Other birds present included Great-spotted Woodpecker, 9 Long Tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit, Buzzard and 2 Jay.
Cycling between Napton and long Itchington the sun was breaking through and I had a roadside party of 12 Long-tailed Tit plus Treecreeper, Whitethroat and Red-legged Partridge.
After breakfast it was clear blue skies and warm so worked the northern edge of Southam Quarry finding Little Ringed Plover, Yellow Wagtail, Spotted Flycatcher, Whitethroat before accidentally flushing a Short-eared Owl and watching a Hobby juvenile perched with a recently caught House Martin. Moved on to check the brambles opposite the entry to Stockton Cutting but nothing was showing.
Between Hill and Kites Hardwick there were many Lesser Black-backed Gull in the recently ploughed fields along with Black-headed Gull and a few Herring Gull while Meadow Pipits, Yellow Hammer and Reed Bunting flew over but Skylarks were in very poor numbers.
The Curlew Sandpiper reported at Draycote Water earlier was still present along with Common Sandpiper in toft bay with Spotted Flycatcher, Whitethroat and Garden Warbler in toft shallows. Also seen were juvenile Wheatear in fields below farborough spit, Buzzard and Peregrine.
Just arrived home when JJ and Dave Morgan rang to say Pectorial Sandpiper had just arrived so despite a sore bum it was back out again for a look. This is my 6th record with the last on the 22nd September 2005

Other sightings were
Butterflies
Common Blue, Green-veined White, Large White, Speckled Wood, 6 Small Tortoiseshell, 5 Painted Lady, 4 Comma and Peacock
Dragonflies
Common Darter, Ruddy Darter, Migrant Hawker and Brown Hawker
Animals
Muntjac Deer, Grey Squirrel, Hare, Rabbit and Weasel.
Moths
Dusky Thorn on the wall of Napton Church

Could be foggey at the pond first thing so check forecast. Gates open 7am

Richard