Draycote Water

Dunlin


Dunlin


Dunlin

Goosander

Goosander

Grey Heron

Mute Swan

Turnstone

Turnstone

Turnstone

More pics on website http://kevin632.fotopic.net/

Arrived at Draycote at 0730 (late for me) in warm, pleasant sunshine, so decided to walk the perimeter, amassing 52 bird species before leaving at 1100.

The Yellow Legged Gull was initially on a boat near the fishing pontoons, but was later seen on a fly past at Toft Shallows and ending up on a bouy off Biggen Bay. Farborough Bank produced a splendid Turnstone and a Grey Wagtail. The low water in Toft Shallows produced an adult Little Ringed Plover with three juveniles, and also, six Common Sandpiper, four adults and two juveniles. All the usual suspects for this time of year, most of which were being disturbed by the large number of bank and boat fishermen, together with a larger than normal number of fast, silent racing bikes. My arrival at the Valve Tower resulted in a female Goosander and then as I approached the Inlet, three Dunlin. So, a very pleasant morning. I even managed to pass by the refreshment van without buying a bacon and egg batch!

Sightings:

Rook; Greenfinch; Wood Pigeon; Chaffinch; Wren; Carrion Crow; Green Woodpecker; Pied Wagtail; Swift; House Martin; Skylark; Blackbird; Blue Tit; Magpie; Grey Wagtail; Mute Swan; Tufted Duck; Mallard; Canada Goose; Coot; LBB Gull; BH Gull; Herring Gull; Yellow Legged Gull; Cormorant; Great Crested Grebe; Chiffchaff; Whitethroat; Turnstone; Swallow; Jackdaw; Grey Lag Goose; Grey Heron; Common Sandpiper; Moorhen; Lapwing; Little Ringed Plover; Dunnock; Robin; Song Thrush; Goldfinch; Great Tit; Starling; Blackcap; Dabchick; Jay; Goosander; Dunlin; Willow Warbler; Gadwall; Buzzard; Cape Shelduck.