September 9th 2010

A short early morning look at the pond.
No sign of the Red-necked Phalarope this morning but with hundreds of gulls loafing around I could have missed it. There were 4 Black Tern and 4 Little Gull among the many Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls with at least 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls. Waders were represent by 7 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Redshank and Greenshank but were scattered between toft and rainbow corner now that hensborough bank has almost dried up as the water level continues to drop. Only other bird of note before I left was a Wheatear.

In the Grandborough valley many of the fields have been harvested and ploughed over with one being used as a post roost by the gulls from Draycote held at least 2 adults, a 3rd winter and 4 juvenile Yellow-legged and 4 Greater black-backed Gull. The fields were also attracting Chaffinches, Linnets, Skylarks, Yellowhammers, Goldfinch, Lapwing and Stock Dove with 10 Tree Sparrow at Grandborough. A visible migration watch from Bush Hill, Flecknoe produced a steady southward passage of Swallows with 568 counted along with 63 Meadow Pipits in 2hrs and a my first for the hill Shelduck with 4 heading towards Draycote Water. Also seen were 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Blackcap, 4 Raven, 5 Buzzard and a Wheatear, another Wheatear was near the railway cottages plus 2 Goldcrest and 2 Great-spotted Woodpeckers

Napton Reservoir had Little Egret, 2 Cetties Warbler, Reed Warbler, 2 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, Yellow Wagtail, 4 Raven and 6 Reed Bunting while the Grasshopper Warbler on Napton on the Hill was along the lane to the car park between the horse paddocks and main road. Also seen were at least 6 Spotted Flycatchers along with 5 Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap, more Swallows going over while local birds included 6 Raven, 4 Buzzard, Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper, 7 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit, 10 Mistle Thrush and 12 Magpie mobbing something in the scrub between the quarry and the old brickyard but whatever was attracting their attention it was well hidden and I never got a glimpse.

Called in on Draycote Water on the way home and fell asleep in the country park waking to a nice tan, new birds seen from this morning were 2, Swift, 5 Shoveler in toft bay and Nuthatch in toft shallows. Arrived home after 13 hours in the field and too tired to blog.

I’m writing this Friday morning and its raining so will try to look for phal later

Richard