April 14th 2010

As soon as we arrived in the country park at Draycote Water at 9am we were surrounded by Brambling with at least 20 birds flitting in trees between the lower car park and visitor centre. Some were summer plumage males looking very resplendent and later on Bob found another 50+ in five groups along the north shore while I had six back in the country park at 2pm. Some were still present when JJ looked at 5pm near the sailing club.
There were 4 male and one female Wheatear along the banks on the east side with others seen on the west side by Bob and at least 8 Yellow Wagtail present but no sign of the Blue-headed.


Wheatears

The sky’s were full of hirundines feeding high up with an estimated 500 Swallow, 200 Sand Martin and 20 House Martin when we first arrived which was not surprising considering the amount of flies hatching – they were so thick a lot of visitors turned back because it made them so uncomfortable.

The brown blob behind the flies is a Rabbit

I saw 2 Little Ringed Plover but Bob had more elsewhere and also present were Ringed Plover and a Curlew over while the Red Kite made another visit as it flew from Dunchurch towards Grandborough.
Unfortunately there was nothing out in the centre and the only interesting ducks present were 8 Gadwall, 4 Teal and 2 Wigeon while the perimeter still holds good numbers of Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap along with a newly arrived Sedge Warbler in the sewage farm. Also around today were 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, 4 Bullfinch, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 6 Reed Bunting, 8 Buzzard, Raven and 25 Stock Dove.

All pic by Bob Hazell

Richard