May 30th 2010

Out early with Dave but despite the fresh westerly wind there was very little on show at the pond and we were only just in time to see 4 Common Tern fly off east over toft shallows, plenty of Swifts, Swallows and the odd Sand Martin taking advantage of the low flying insects.
On our way to Long Itchington for breakfast we stopped briefly just outside Birdingbury to enjoy a pair of Grey Wagtail on the River Leam.
At Brandon Marsh there are now 4 Redshank chicks doing there best to avoid the attentions of 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls plus 6 Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, 2 Oystercatcher, Kingfisher and 2 Shelduck. The sun finally started to bring out the butterflies with Orange-tip, Common Blue and Green-veined White.
The Warwickshire branch of Butterfly Conservation were holding a Butterfly Reserve Open Day at Ryton Wood Meadows so we popped over to give our support where some of last nights moth catch were on show with Broom Moth the most interesting to me before joining up with Keith Warmington who was leading a guided walk around the wood and meadows. Although we did not have a lot of time as Dave needed to be back home for Bank Holiday domestic duties we managed the following butterflies :- Brimstone, Large White, Green-veined White, Common Blue, Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Brown Argus and Wood White. Moths seen were Cinnabar, Silver Y, Burnet Companion and Common White Wave while Dragonflies included Emperor Dragonfly, Broad-bodied Chaser, Four Spotted Chaser, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly. We missed the Hobby’s that were seen earlier and had 2 Oystercatcher fly over.
With the sunny blustery conditions continuing I went back down the pond mid afternoon and managed a Greenshank circling the reservoir looking for somewhere to land and 2 Dunlin. Also around were 3 Green Woodpecker, 4 Whitethroat, 5 Garden Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Yellow Wagtail and 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Richard