March 24th 2011

Another cracking day weather wise though not as warm as yesterday so while Bob and April were down south for the morning it gave me a chance to play catch up with Mark as we sat Buzzard watching off farborough bank – distant heat haze reduced visibility so we only managed 25. Other birds noted were 30 Fieldfare, 3 Meadow Pipit, Green Woodpecker, 10 Reed Bunting and the first summer male Scaup.
After brunch in the Long Itch Diner we tried a look at Napton Reservoir but it was quiet birding wise though we did managed 18 Buzzard, 4 Sparrowhawk, Meadow Pipit, 8 Reed Bunting, Green Woodpecker and 7 Sand Martin flew over.
Mid afternoon and Mark dropped me off in Napton to meet up with Bob and April and the three of us took advantage of the last rays of the day to look for day flying moths.
This week has seen a good numbers of Orange and Light Orange Underwing sightings of these day flying moths and we managed to totally confuse our selves with ignorance as we probably had both species so need to visit again before the weather breaks. There were plenty of Jays around and not surprisingly Buzzard.
It was pub night in Cubbington catching up with friends and local news of Barn Owl, Stonechat and Red Kite on my patch earlier in the week and afterwards Cym and Dave called in on there small holding to check on the progress of their sheep as its lambing time. I kept out the way preferring to observe the stars and listen to a Little Owl and Meadow Pipits going over than don rubber gloves.

Richard