April 4th 2010

I certainly ached this morning as Dave and I walked up from Draycote village to check on the pond between the valve tower and rainbow corner managing 4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Oystercatchers and a male Wheatear near the tower and 2 Great-northern Divers off draycote bank. There were plenty of warblers calling around the village and at least 10 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler and 2 Blackcaps below draycote bank. Other sightings of interest was a large flock of Swallows arriving from the east but they could not make there mind whether to join the others present or not and circled for awhile before leaving heading north east and a Kingfisher on the inlet.
After leaving the village we found a flock of 15 Goldfinch and a Linnet feeding in alders near Blooms Garden Centre and on Lawford Heath there were 30 Linnet, 25 Fieldfare, 2 Buzzard and 6 Meadow Pipits.
Brandon Marsh had Goldcrest, House Martin, 2 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Ringed Plover, 18 Snipe, 5 Lesser Redpoll plus Willow Warbler and Blackcap among the10+ Chiffchaff while 3 Cetties Warblers were seen and another 3 heard. There were plenty of Swallows and Sand Martins present.
Back home April and Bob popped round to photograph the Oak Tree Pug – well it’s that or a Brindled Pug so comments welcome. Not seen one for a year - getting rusty.


Oak Tree Pug by me (top) and Bob Hazell (lower)

Richard