I picked a really good day to catch up with Bob and Richard for a leisurely stroll around Draycote Water this morning. It was also a good opportunity for a little lay in after a sequence of early morning visits to Brandon.
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| Yellow Wagtail |
I arrived at Draycote just after 8 o'clock to an absolutely gorgeous morning, with clear blue sky and a very light breeze. My first birds of note were a single
Oystercatcher, a couple of
Yellow Wagtail along Farborough Bank and way off towards Draycote Bank an adult
Little Gull over the water.
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| Record shot of one of today's Wheatear |
I met up with Bob and Richard on their regular walk and as we continued along Farborough Bank a couple of
Wheatear dropped in along the shoreline. Two
Swallows over the water before Bob announced a couple of almost summer plumage
Black-necked Grebes over towards Lin Croft Point (Draycote Map
HERE). Sadly way too far for even a record shot but brilliantly found.
A
Common Whitethroat in the bramble while heading up towards the hide was Bob's first on site this year and as we stood chatting with John, who'd arrived for a look at the Grebes a
Common Sandpiper dropped in. Richard had decided to head back so Bob and I continued on to complete the circuit.
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| Bee-Fly - Here's one I took earlier! |
Bob, who's always good company, provided me with several hilarious moments, especially while trying to photograph a couple of
Bee-Flies. It always seems that when I'm with Bob his equipment malfunctions, proved a little later in the morning when a
Speckled Wood butterfly took flight just as he prepared to pull the trigger, priceless!!
Other birds of note while completing the circuit were a single
Yellow Wagtail along Drayocte Bank (3 for the day) and our first
Lesser Whitethroat of the year, when Bob and I heard one singing towards the back of the Inlet. A thoroughly enjoyable and well timed visit!
