Draycote Water

He's just put out a report on my presence so I'm off! - Drake Garganey


Drake Garganey


Drake Garganey


Garden Warbler


Garden Warbler


Garden Warbler


Drake Garganey

Wheatear

Wheatear

Wheatear

Wheatear

Wheatear

Wheatear

The Garganey went that way - Tufted Duck

I can walk on water - Coot

Yellow Wagtail

Still needing Garganey for my year list, I decided that an early morning visit to Draycote Water was in order. Knowing that the main gate does not open until 0800, I decided to park in Thurlaston at 0600 and walked down to the perimeter road (choosing to ignore the sign on the gate saying the reservoir does not open until 0730!). Thurlaston residents do not take kindly to strangers in the area, less so to people parking their cars to visit the reservoir. Indeed, I remember as a teenager in the early 70's, being chased "Nora Batty style" (with a broom), by a lady living in the house next to the public footpath!

The morning was cool with a slight frost, but sunny and the promise of a good day.

All the expected Warblers were in full song as I passed through Toft Shallows, and nothing out of the ordinary on the water either. Farborough Bank produced several Yellow Wagtails and two very obliging Wheatear near the Visitor Centre. Distant views of the Great Northern Diver off Draycote Bank, but alas, not relocated when walking through this area. It was not until I arrived at the Outlet that the drake Garganey was located, quite distant and flighty between Rainbow and the Outlet. The field hedges behind Rainbow Corner revealed Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers and a Lesser Whitethroat. Overhead sang several Skylarks with large and growing numbers of Swifts, Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins. An Oystercatcher flew over the reservoir but was not seen to land. Finaly, a very obliging Garden Warbler sang out near the golf course.

On my return to the car, an elderly lady was stood by the Thurlaston village gate. I feared the worst - was this to be another Nora Batty style beating? No, she wanted to share the view with me............................................................................!

(Loads more images on my Web Site - see link opposite)

Todays Sightings:

Blackbird; Blue Tit; Robin; Great Tit; Wood Pigeon; Rook; Carrion Crow; Mallard; Song Thrush; Willow Warbler; Blackcap; Wren; Canada Goose; Great Crested Grebe; Tufted Duck; Cormorant; Coot; LBB Gull; Moorhen; Chaffinch; Gadwall; Green Woodpecker; Pied Wagtail; Magpie; Starling; Linnet; Goldfinch; Dunnock; Kestrel; Yellow Wagtail; Chiffchaff; Whitethroat; House Martin; Wheatear; Greenfinch; Swallow; Swift; Pheasant; Skylark; Garganey; Lesser Whitethroat; Reed Bunting; Yellowhammer; Sand Martin; Grey Heron; Garden Warbler; Black Headed Gull; Jackdaw; Oystercatcher; Mute Swan; Long Tailed Tit; Great Northern Diver: House Sparrow,