Previously “Diary of a Birding Medic”; “Rugby Birder”; "Bempton Birder”. All views expressed in this blog are my OWN and do not represent the opinions or policies of any organisations or entities whatsoever with whom I have been, am now or will be affiliated. Reference to Bempton Cliffs in NO way promotes the organisation known as RSPB Bempton Cliffs, but rather the FREEdom of the cliffs.

Monday, 14 March 2011

Draycote Water

Admiral of the Fleet with Escorts
(Drake Smew with female Goldeneye)


Draycote Water was rather pleasant this morning with an early morning frost giving way to spring sunshine. The drake Smew was soon located off Farborough Bank in association with a good number of Goldeneye. Below the bank three Buzzards were mobbed by corvids with another five Buzzards seen from the site. Farborough Bank also held five Meadow Pipits and a number of Reed Buntings. At least twelve Siskins were in Toft Shallows and the hedgerows held three Lesser Redpolls. Around the site, four Chiffchaffs sang out. Two Grey Wagtails fed near the valve tower and two male and four female Goosanders loafed off the inlet. The fields below the inlet held a Hare and Skylarks sang out above. The drake Scaup was again off Hensborough Bank but remained distant UNTIL Francoise the Scaup Magnet arrived. Mysterious powers eminated from this vision in turquoise as she sat and ate a banana. The powers miraculously reached the Scaup and slowly but surely it came in closer! While watching the Scaup, a Curlew flew over calling in the direction of Farborough Bank.


Goldeneye

Smew

Smew with Goldeneye

Scaup

Scaup

Scaup

Scaup with Tufted Duck

Scaup

Scaup

Scaup

Scaup


Todays Sightings:

Starling; Wood Pigeon; Bullfinch; Carrion Crow; Blackbird; Rook; Greenfinch; Black Headed Gull; Chaffinch; Goldfinch; LBB Gull; Tufted Duck; Coot; Mallard; Cormorant; Great Crested Grebe; Canada Goose; Pied Wagtail; Song Thrush; Magpie; Buzzard; Goldeneye; Smew; Meadow Pipit; Dunnock; Green Woodpecker; Wigeon; Gadwall; Robin; Pochard; Jackdaw; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Long Tailed Tit; Siskin; Redwing; Wren; Lesser Redpoll; Chiffchaff; Grey Wagtail; Moorhen; Pheasant; Goosander; Skylark; Scaup; Curlew; Reed Bunting.

Brown Hare.

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7 comments:

  1. Kah-Wai Lin14 March 2011 at 17:47

    Nice picture!

    Kah Wai
    http://kwbirding.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kevin Groocock14 March 2011 at 18:04

    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  3. ShySongbird14 March 2011 at 20:06

    Oh dear, oh dear! I've not long got back from there and walked along to Toft and no sign of the Smew at all, I really think I'm destined not to see it :( I didn't see much at all today, I suspect early in the day is better but unfortunately I can't get there in the mornings.

    Anyway your photos are lovely and I enjoyed reading about your visit, you saw a good variety. I didn't even manage a Meadow Pipit, only the inevitable Pied Wagtails.

    ReplyDelete
  4. ShySongbird14 March 2011 at 20:08

    Sorry Kevin, I meant to say your Waxwing photos on the previous post were beautiful! I have missed out on those as well...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kevin Groocock15 March 2011 at 06:37

    Cheers ShySongbird. The Scaup can be really hard to entice in clos - you need the services of "Francoise the Scaup Magnet"! The Smew seems to favour being close in on Farborough in the mornings. Later, with increased disturbance, it moves further out or into the bays. Good luck and I hope you get them!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Max Silverman15 March 2011 at 10:03

    More nice shots Kevin.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kevin Groocock15 March 2011 at 10:37

    Cheers, Max.

    ReplyDelete

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