September 22nd 2010

I had a nice surprise in the trap this morning with a Rush Veneer, a common and widespread immigrant to coastal sites and not so common inland unless it’s a good year. This was my 9th record for the garden, the first since 2008 and the other seven records came in 2006 which was an exceptional year for this species when I was recording up to 3 in a night.

Rush Veneer by Bob Hazell

Garden had 2 Buzzard, Great-spotted Woodpecker, 3 Raven and a trickle of Swallows going south while the feeders attracted Goldfinch and Coal Tit.

Did not get out till late afternoon and chose to look at Napton Reservoir again and chuffed to find a juvenile Black Tern – I think this may be a location tick for me. Also present were 4 Reed Bunting. 45 Goldfinch and Water Rail briefly then hung around waiting for any owls to come out before the forecasted rain arrived and rewarded with 2 Barn and single Little Owl with another Little Owl and a Tawny Owl heard. While waiting I ran around with the net and caught Common Wainscot, Sallow and Square-spot Rustic.

Not wanting to end up with egg on me face again I have been trawling the tinternet for steam trains excursions going through Rugby and have found the following. At this stage timings have not been confirmed so best to treat them as provisional dates until confirmed.

October 2nd THE MERSEYSIDE TORNADO
Liverpool-London Euston
60163 Tornado: Liverpool S Parkway-Lichfield TV-Euston and return

Tornado

October 9th THE CATHEDRALS EXPRESS
London Euston-Chester
46233 Duchess of Sutherland: Euston-Chester-Euston

November 6th THE CAPITAL FIVE
Tyseley-London Euston
45305: Tyseley-Nuneaton-Euston and return

45305

20th November THE CHRISTMAS CORONATION
Edinburgh-London Euston
60163 tornado: Edinburgh-Carstairs-Beattock-Shap-Crewe-Euston

11th December THE CATHEDRALS EXPRESS
London Euston-Chester
60163 Tornado: Euston-Chester and return

Richard