September 27th 2009

Dave and I had planned to go out looking for owls and do the valley justice but that was knocked on the head with low lying mist so we chose to brew up and chew the cud overlooking the grassy fields. We were discussing whether to knock mothing on the head this year as our catches are low when a Long-eared Owl came out of the gloom – saw us then drifted back in to the mist. As we are always saying to each other – you make your own luck.
Unfortunately the pond was shrouded in mist and it took another hour and a half to burn off so we spent more time chatting to Pete & Jon Hall but still managed 2 Dunlin, 20 Meadow Pipit, 5 Yellow Wagtail and 4 Grey Wagtail while the Wheatear on toft bank showed characteristics of the larger, brighter sub-species oenanthe.
Brandon had little to offer with one Cetties Warbler and 3 others heard plus 36 Wigeon, 5 Snipe and Ringed Plover while in the courtyard a Brindled Green was next to one of the lights.

Brindled Green

Moved on to Lawford Heath and we managed 9 Buzzard, 20 Swallows heading south very high with another one hunting around one of the farms and 2 Meadow Pipits also going south.

Richard