May 9th 2010

Out with Dave and it was another cold morning although the front had passed and it was bright and sunny but in the hour we spent searching the Grandborough Valley we saw nothing.
Draycote Water was just as bad with plenty of Swifts but little else and our walk to farborough spit could only produce one Great-northern Divers and 3 Yellow Wagtail while there was one Corn Bunting on Lawford Heath.
Brandon Marsh was more productive with lots of bird song but yesterdays 2 Wood Sandpiper and this morning’s female Marsh Harrier did not hang around for our pleasure. Both Oystercatcher and Lapwing have young and as the sun finally brought some warmth a number of butterfly species appeared with Speckled Wood, Large White, Brimstone, Orange-tip and Green-veined White plus Large Red Damselfly.
This afternoon the temperature climbed to a dizzy 15c so went back to the pond mid-afternoon looking in the more sunny sheltered areas away from joe public for butterflies and moths managing Grizzled Skipper, Speckled Wood, Orange-tip, Brimstone, Green-veined, Small and Large White on the butterfly front and the two moth species, Lesser Treble-bar and Silver-ground Carpet. On the birding front there were 3 Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warbler, 4 Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler, 5 Linnet, 6 Yellow Wagtail, Jay, 4 Bullfinch and Great-spotted Woodpecker but these were out done by the Osprey and Hobby that both appeared at the same time. The Osprey made no attempt to fish, just circled three times before continuing north while the Hobby took a House Martin. The male Garganey made a brief appearance in toft bay

Richard