August 22nd 2010

Out early with Dave to the pond where a walk to hensborough bank produced the female Goosander on draycote bank, 2 Garden Warbler in trees behind inlet and a Lesser Whitethroat on the inlet. Hensborough bank had 2 Redshank, Ruff, 6 Ringed Plover, 3 Little ringed Plover, juvenile and adult Turnstone, 6 Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, the Egyptian Goose flew in from fields below hensborough bank and as we met up with the Bumbling Bears a single Swift went past low. Also seen were Gadwall, Wigeon, Teal, 8 Willow Warbler, 2 Common Tern, Raven, Little Egret and 350 Canada Geese. We saw nothing in Draycote village though the Bears caught up with the Nuthatch later and they had up to 13 Ringed Plover which is a bloody good count these days at the pond.
After breakfast we spent two and half hours searching Napton on the Hill finding 9 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Garden Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, 12 Stock Dove, 10 Swift, Raven, 15 Buzzard, 3 Mistle Thrush, Green and Great-spotted Woodpecker.
The visibility on the hill after yesterday’s rain was outstanding and for the first time in 30 years I finally cracked seeing the 7 counties with the knowledge of local farmer Bob Crick who kindly showed us around his farm and allowed us access to the wood the other side of the Windmill where the panoramic views were stunning.

Richard