Draycote Water - 24th December 2014

Drake Smew

I arrived at Draycote Water later than planned so only had time for a walk along Farborough Bank. The drake Smew was soon located, followed by two female Common Scoter. Pleasure was also gained watching numerous Dabchick, Goldeneye, Gadwall and "courting" Great Crested Grebes.

Drake Smew

Fem Common Scoter

Dabchick

Does my bum look big in this?

Goldeneye

Drake Gadwall

Great Crested Grebes

Christmas Greetings!

Wishing you all

A very Happy Christmas 

and a Productive New Year!

Swift Valley, Rugby - 19th December 2014

Goldfinch

A brief "window of opportunity" saw me spending a pleasant hour at the Swift Valley feeders this morning. However, either the birds were a lot more "flitty" or I'm getting slower, but I ended up with many bird less shots!

Goldfinch

Jay

Nuthatch

Marsh Tit

Great Tit

Blue Tit

Chaffinch

Magpie

Draycote Water - 3rd December 2014

Goldeneye

An excellent morning at Draycote Water, bright and sunny but a challenging northerlt breeze. It was great to arrive to see the sun rise, captured through this link:

Draycote Sun Rise

Bird wise it was very quiet with (of note) two Shelduck, five Shoveler, one Little Egret and a Chiffchaff. Numbers of expected species seemed quite low, unless of course, they were all located between Rainbow Corner and Toft, where I didn't walk! A good chat with Bob Hazell who was doing a complete circuit, but not so with Mr Ignorant Birder who yet again refused to return a cheery greeting!

Goldeneye

Redwing

A (very) distant Kestrel!

A friendly encounter - Coot with Dabchick

Teal