October 5th 2010

Last night I attend the first of a 9 week course with David Brown the county guru when it comes to moths who gripped me off with Mallow he had to show plus a few from a weekend trip to the south coast that included L-Album Wainscot and Feathered Ranunculus. Although we only ran traps for a couple of hours the catch included a very smart Orange Sallow and Brick which was my 345th moth for Brandon when I got home and checked my records.

Brick

Orange Sallow
These are shots from last year by Bob Hazell

9 Black Tern at Draycote Water this morning was a pleasant surprise for this time of year and while Bob was enjoying a Curlew Sandpiper in toft bay I was on to a Red Kite in rainbow corner. The Lesser Scaup was still present among the duck flock off outlet which included, 12 Wigeon, 4 Gadwall and 6 Pochard while the shoreline held 5 Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin.
A search of the country park produced 12 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Chiffchaff and a Jay while migration overhead was light consisting of 2 Siskin, 8 Swallow, 40 Skylark, 25 Meadow Pipit and 12 Golden Plover. Also seen were Kingfisher, 2 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 400+ Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Grey Wagtail.
A look along Hill Rd in the Grandborough Valley produced 100 Skylark, 50 Yellowhammer, 50 Tree Sparrow, 20 Linnet and 20 House Sparrow along with a few Greenfinch, Chaffinch, 3 Buzzard and a Grey Heron over.

Richard