Draycote Water this morning

The Island

A morning visit to Draycote Water between 0730 & 1200 was very pleasant weather wise - indeed I soon realised I was well overdressed and the sweat poured, and poured and poured. Meeting Francoise on Hensborough Bank later in the day made me realise that her dress sense was better and more appropriate than mine. Maybe I should wear a dress?!!

Walking to Farborough Spit and back, I realised that the water levels were even lower than my last visit two weeks ago. Scanning the "millpond" water, anything on it would be clearly visible, but alas nothing outside of the expected. Scoping across to Draycote Bank got me on to three Black Terns but they soon disappeared. Overhead, visble Skylark migration was occuring with at least fifty over Farborough Bank heading east. Along the bank, four Yellow Wagtails flitted but would not come close for a picture. At the spit, a number of Dunlins and Ringed Plovers scurried about totalling around the water c15 Dunlins and c 10 Ringed Plovers. A solitary Curlew Sandpiper was on the spit with another by the outlet - same bird or two? Returning along Farborough Bank, I walked out to the valve tower in the hope of finding the Black Necked Grebe. I was to be disappointed, maybe its moved on, maybe its moved to the north shore bays, maybe I didn't look hard enough - time will tell! The outlet had further Dunlin, a drake Shoveler, and a Curlew Sandpiper (? same bird as on Farborough, ? another). A Chiffchaff sang out near the inlet. Over Draycote Bank eleven Ravens "honked" their way north.

A few windsurfers and sailing boats were venturing out, with of course the boat fishermen. Disturbance on the water was minimal until, a sailing boat moored on the island and its crew decided to walk onto the island and its full length. Of course, this scattered everything on the island which then remained barren for a good while after they had moved on.

Grey Heron

Dunlin

Dunlin

Teal

Tufted Duck

Tufted Duck

Dunlin

Curlew Sandpiper

Dunlin

Curlew Sandpiper

Curlew Sandpiper & Dunlin

Curlew Sandpiper & Dunlin

Mute Swan

Mute Swan

Mute Swan

Todays Sightings:

Rook; Wood Pigeon; Robin; Chaffinch; Magpie; Blackbird; Carrion Crow; Great Tit; Dunnock; Coot; Mute Swan; Mallard; Great Crested Grebe; Black Headed Gull; Pied Wagtail; LBB Gull; Grey Heron; Tufted Duck; Canada Goose; Green Woodpecker; Black tern; Cormorant; GBB Gull; Dunlin; Ringed Plover; Teal; Skylark; Yellow Wagtail; Goldfinch; Pochard; Dabchick; Curlew Sandpiper; Blue Tit; Wren; Wigeon; Gadwall; Kestrel; Shoveler; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Chiffchaff; Moorhen; Raven; Lapwing; Pheasant; Jay; Jackdaw; Long Tailed Tit; House Sparrow.