July 14th 2011

Draycote Water had Common Sandpiper, adult Yellow-legged Gull, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Grey Wagtail, Little Egret, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, male Pochard, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk along with 5 Large Skipper, 2 Small Skipper, 30 Ringlet, 2 Speckled Wood, 2 Gatekeeper, 6 Marbled White, 10 Meadow Brown, 2 Large White and 3 Green-veined White.
Draycote Village produced Spotted Flycatcher, Nuthatch, Green Woodpecker, 3 Mistle Thrush, Great-spotted Woodpecker plus 4 Speckled Wood and Red Admiral while Draycote Meadows was alive with butterflies with at least 10 Large Skipper, 5 Small Skipper, 2 Brown Argus, Small Copper, 6 Gatekeeper, 70 Marbled White, 10 Meadow Brown, 100 Ringlet, 2 Speckled Wood, 6 Green-Veined White, Large White and 3 Small White. Birds here were Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Reed Bunting, 3 Whitethroat and 5 Buzzard plus large Red Damselfly and Southern Hawker along with Small Blood-vein, 2 Shaded Broad-Bar, Cinnabar, Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet and Grass Rivulet.
Cycle Route 41 along the disused railway had similar butterflies but in much smaller numbers managing to add Holly Blue to the day list while a roosting Tawny Owl stole the show.
Blooms Garden Centre had Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselfly plus Southern Hawker while the A45 Little Chef had 4 Mistle Thrush, 2 Buzzard, Treecreeper and 4 Bullfinch along with 17 Marbled White.
Final destination of Lawford Heath gave me Corn Bunting, Shelduck, Teal, Kingfisher, Sedge Warbler, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting and Raven.

Richard