Draycote Water on an Appalling Day!

A day off and appalling weather! Well, it was stay at home and tidy up or brave the persistent rain and go out birding. No contest - the birding won! I arrived to an empty carpark at Draycote Water (not surprising), donned waterproofs and set off. Not really expecting to see much, I walked to the valve tower and back, then to Toft and back.

Hensborough Bank held a single Dunlin, two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, two adult Ringed Plovers and two Common Sandpipers. A Sparrowhawk patrolled the fields behind Draycote Bank and the female Goosander was located near the valve tower. Huge numbers of hirundines were making the most of the insects with at least 100 Sand Martins. It was pleasing to see at least 50 Swifts over the water, the most I have seen this late in the year. At least four juvenile Yellow Wagtails were around the perimeter, at least five Common Sandpipers and in Toft Shallows, one Green Sandpipers. Grays Barn held three Little Egrets and the Egyptian Goose was off Toft Bank. Stopped off at the bird hide for my coffee to find Bob H and Richard M in residence. No doubt they will inform us all of their observations in due course. (A list of sightings can be found at the end of this post).

Today was not a good day for taking photographs! I foolishly persevered, and to coin a phrase from Max, below you will find my "crapographs" - please don't laugh! Dark, dull gloomy and optics steaming up - not good. I bet the sun shines tomorrow. AND IT DID! - and some good birds were discovered and photographed - but I was at work!

Now how does an Ostrich do it? - Lapwing

Where did I put my................? - Goosander

My fierce pose - Goosander

I don't want my picture taken! _ Gadwall

Dunlin

Little Ringed Plover

Dunlin & Ringed Plover

Ringed Plover

That Goose again - Egyptian Goose

Juv House Martin

(More poor quality images on my website - see link opposite)

Todays Sightings:

Great Crested Grebe; Dabchick; Cormorant; Grey Heron; Little Egret; Mute Swan; Canada Goose; Egyptian Goose; Mallard; Gadwall; Teal; Tufted Duck; Goosander; Sparrowhawk; Coot; Moorhen; Ringed Plover; Little Ringed Plover; Dunlin; Common Sandpiper; Green Sandpiper; Lapwing; Black Headed Gull; Herring Gull; LBB Gull; Wood Pigeon; Swift; Green Woodpecker; Sand Martin; Swallow; House Martin; Yellow Wagail; Pied Wagtail; Dunnock; Wren; Robin; Blackbird; Chiffchaff; Willow Warbler; Long Tailed Tit; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Starling; Magpie; Jackdaw; Rook; Carrion Crow; House Sparrow; Chaffinch; Greenfinch; Goldfinch.