Draycote Water

Finished a shite night shift and spent the morning in bed, waking to pleasant sunny weather! It would have been rude not to go out, so Draycote Water was chosen, arriving to pleasant conditions. I decided to walk to the valve tower and back, meeting Max S and Bob H on the way. They filled me in with what was about, my ears pricking up at two male Brambling, which I need for my year list, but as they were on the north shore, they would not be ticked today. Bob's day list was very impressive, but the only birds of note for me were the two female Common Scoters near bouy A off the inlet. As I arrived at the valve tower, an approaching fog bank could be seen and it was not long before visibility was too poor for staying. Back near the closed visitor centre, the fog had started to clear and a massive number of gulls were roosting. A quick scan as daylight faded reminded me of my need to study gulls in greater detail!

Record shot of the Common Scoter

Great Crested Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

(More images on my website - see link opposite)

Todays Sightings:

Carrion Crow; Wood Pigeon; Buzzard; Robin; Jackdaw; Black Headed Gull; Magpie; Rook; Blue Tit; Cormorant; Coot; Mallard; Tufted Duck; Lapwing; Dabchick; Pied Wagtail; LBB Gull; Blackbird; Linnet; Meadow Pipit; Canada Goose; Teal; Long Tailed Tit; Great Crested Grebe; Common Scoter; Grey Heron; Pochard; Goldeneye; Moorhen; Common Gull; Wren; Mute Swan; GBB Gull; Great Tit; Redwing; Goldfinch; Gadwall; Grey Wagtail; Fieldfare.