March 10th 2012

Last night was mild so my moth trap had 3 Hebrew Character, 2 Common Quaker, Pale Brindle Beauty, Satellite, 3 Grey Shouldered-knot and my earliest Brindled Pug while Dave managed 3 Agonopterix scopariella, 4 Amblyptilia punctidactyla, 2 Dotted Border, 2 Common Quaker and a Hebrew Character.

Draycote Water and the valley were shrouded in fog this morning so continued on to Napton on the Hill where conditions were a little better. Highlight of a thorough search was my first Chiffchaff of the year in the churchyard and 4 Raven. On my return a Little Owl was at Shuckburgh and a very high Peregrine heading east between Calcutt and Broadwell. Also seen were 2 Tree Sparrows, 8 Bullfinch, 14 Long-tailed Tit, 9 Buzzard and 3 Sparrowhawk.
Called in on the pond but it was heaving with fishermen and runners so did not stay long, just 25 Goldeneye out in the centre and 2 Siskin in toft shallows worth noting.

Richard