April 10th 2011

I spotted a Sandwich Tern arriving at the pond 8am over rainbow and while trying to get Dave on to it I couldn’t understand why his commentary was different to where I was looking – a check showed he had found another bird so the two joined the 4 Common Terns and 2 first summer Little Gull that were already present but the “wiches” only stayed 10 minutes before flying off north west.
A year tick was the Ruddy Duck that has so far avoided the national cull – can’t be many left and other ducks of note were 3 Shoveler, 8 Gadwall and 6 Teal.
A Blue Tit is trying to nest in an old House Martins nest and will be interesting to see what happens when the martins return and there was a nice male Wheatear and 6 Yellow Wagtail on farborough bank but by 8:30 they were being pushed around by the walkers and cyclists flooding in.
Joined Dennis at the Long Itch Diner then on to Napton on the Hill where the farmer allowed us to check his private spinney next to the windmill – did not find anything special but a very peaceful and relaxing two hours. Best birds seen were 2 Treecreeper, 2 Raven and 20 Buzzard plus the usual butterflies including 4 Holly Blue.
Dave Hutton had kindly given us the nod that he had found a Black Tern at the pond but as we went past the place was far too busy so will have to wait till tomorrow.
I added Green-veined White to the butterfly year list with one resting in Dave’s garden when we checked his moth trap.

Richard