November 24th 2009

It was to windy for my little legs yesterday which was probably a big mistake with Kittiwakes, Leaches Petrels and Gannets recorded in the severn estuary and a Grey Phalarope found in the north of the county so I wasted no time in getting to the pond for first light this morning.
The Green-winged Teal was in its regular place in toft bay just right of the hide but still too distant for a decent photo and adult Kittiwake was off farborough spit with a group of Black-headed Gulls where I was lucky enough to have a first winter Caspian Gull fly past close. Continued to rainbow corner and spent the next two hours in cool gloomy blustery conditions hoping something would fly in but apart from a brief view of the Great-northern Diver I was not having much luck. Only other birds noted were 14 Gadwall, 7f & 2m Goosander, Great-spotted Woodpecker, 2 Raven, 4 Lesser Redpoll and 20 Meadow Pipit. Met up with Bob in the visitors centre for coffee and he had not fared much better than me so back to my place to photograph a December Moth that Dave caught over the weekend. Bob found a well hidden Winter Moth on the visitors centre wall earlier.

Winter Moth Draycote Water

December Moth Bilton Rugby
I have a guided walk this Thursday at 11am and we will go looking for the Green-winged Teal in toft bay and have arranged with Severn Trent some more walks in the new year and a couple of extra walks that fall on a Saturday over the winter period. The dates and times are:-
Saturday 12th December 2009 10:30am
Tuesday 29th December 2009 11am
Saturday 9th January 2010 10:30am
Thursday 28th January 2010 11am
Thursday 25th February 2010 11am
Thursday 1st April 2010 11am

Richard