Bird Race 2009

Every year we do a Normanby Parish Bird Race where we see how many species we can see in 24 hours and this year is no different however this is the latest date in the year on which we have attempted it.  So how have we done..... well not as good as previous years infact the worst ever but it was still enjoyable if not tiring(and I didn't join Wayne until 07.00, he started at 03.00).  The total  species seen was 84, 10 less than last year's record but the banter isn't about what we saw but what we didn't ie  Spotted Flycatcher or Turtle Dove which we find very worrying, we also seem to have lost Little Owl, Water Rail and Bittern from the parish.
The weather has not been brilliant today - sunny spells with very heavy thundery showers and 15 mph westerly winds but when the sun came out we had a few nice butterflies such as the Brown Argus and Common Blue pictured below and also Wall and Small Heath.  Best bird of the day would go to Barn Owl flying past in full sun with a vole in its claws otherwise nothing particularly special but we were relieved to get Cuckoo (only 1) and Willow Tit.  Prize for bird more prolific than previous years would go to Buzzard a species we previously struggled with.
Changing the subject completely, last night we went to see the new Star Trek film which we thought was fantastic a must for any Trekkies out there - live long and prosper!