February 20th 2011

A totally miserable day yesterday so did not go out and spent the day updating our moth records and boy wonder is pulling away from me now that were keen on micros helped of course by Bob Hazell who’s photography has helped us to see more than our eye balls can ever register. www.mothsinfocus.fotopic.net

Dave
Garden totals
Records: 17454
Moths trapped: 67418
Macros: 302 species
Micros: 181 species
Total: 483

Me
Garden totals
Records: 13558
Moths trapped: 43114
Macros: 301 species
Micros: 168 species
Total: 469

Todays weather was drier than yesterday but just as dull with low cloud and occasional light drizzle. A brief look at first light around Hill and Flecknoe Road in the Grandborough valley produced 6 Buzzard (pair copulating at first light – as you do) and 2 Roe Deer.
Dave and I walked out to the inlet at Draycote Water and soon found our latest arrival, a first year male Scaup which joined the female last Friday – they were off the picnic area together when we arrived but drifted towards rainbow corner on our return. Despite the poor conditions we managed to see at least 6 Brambling behind the inlet and a Curlew circled the reservoir calling till lost to view in the gloom. The only other birds of note were 60 Greater Black-backed Gull, adult Yellow-legged Gull, 10 Goosander, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 9 Pochard and 10 Gadwall.
Both Treecreeper and 10 Long-tailed Tits were observed while having breakfast at the Long Itchington Diner and 40 Tree Sparrow, Marsh Tit, 3 Reed Bunting, 6 Yellowhammer and Great-spotted Woodpecker seen at Wormleighton.
Back out again to do the roost late afternoon at the pond and finally caught up with the first winter Iceland Gull plus Lesser Redpoll and Treecreeper.

Richard