Draycote Water

Well, again, what can I say? A day off and another dull, grey, misty morning! I arrived at Draycote at 0800 and started my perimeter walk. The drake Smew was soon located off Farborough Bank in the company of a pair of Goldeneye, intent on increasing their numbers! Toft Bay produced a drake Pintail heading across towards Biggin Bay where it was seen later. I met up with Bob H in Toft and continued with him around the remaining perimeter. Three Shoveler (2m, 1f) were located near Biggin Bay and as we approached the treatment works, a Little Egret circled above us before being lost to sight. Only one Great Northern Diver was seen distantly off the Inlet. Raptor wise, Kestrel (2), Buzzard (1) and Sparrowhawk (1), the latter being flushed fom the wooded area off Draycote Bank by the "brave" men with guns, intent on culling the local Pheasant population. Overall, not a bad bird count with 48 species recorded. The images below were taken with a high ISO due to the bad light!

Goldeneye - Intimate Moments!

Goldeneye - Intimate Moments

Smew

Smew

Smew

Goldeneye

Goldeneye

Todays Sightings:

Kestrel; Magpie; BH Gull; Rook; Carrion Crow; Blackbird; Robin; Green Woodpecker; Greenfinch; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Herring Gull; Lapwing; Dabchick; Cormorant; Tufted Duck; Mallard; LBB Gull; Coot; Moorhen; Gt Cr Grebe; Jackdaw; Goldeneye; Wood Pigeon; Canada Goose; Smew; Pied Wagtail; Chaffinch; Pintail; Fieldfare; Redwing; Gadwall; Teal; Wigeon; Pochard; Common Gull; Mute Swan; Dunnock; Song Thrush; Bullfinch; Goldfinch; Long Tailed Tit; Shoveler; Little Egret; Buzzard; Gt Sp Woodpecker; Sparrowhawk; G N Diver.