For some unknown reason I didn't wake this morning until shortly after 10.30am and while enjoying a wake up coffee at the computer noticed via Twitter that a drake Smew had arrived at Draycote Water.
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| Great Northern Diver off Saddle Bank |
On arrival a quick call to Richard Mays, who I noticed at Farnborough Spit had me walking clockwise passed the sailing club and along Hensborough Bank. This produced a couple of
Dunlin, which flew past towards Rainbow Corner. I stopped for a catch up with Bob Hazell & Keith Foster who were heading back to the centre before moving on. A couple of
Great Northern Divers were off Saddle Bank, including the poor bird which has a fish hook stuck in it!
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| Gorgeous Drake Smew close in off Draycote Bank |
Along Barn Bank I connected with at least a half dozen
Goosander and a
♀Pintail was hanging around the Inlet. The star of the show of course had to be this mornings new arrival, a stunning drake
Smew! I located him along Draycote Bank, thanks to Richard, Bob & Keith's information and patiently waited for him to come quite close, really inquisitive little birds I always feel. Sure enough he duly obliged and the canon SX50 went to work in the glorious sunshine.
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| Little Egret at 'The Inlet' |
Having filled my boots, so to speak, I headed back to the car park but not before spending a short time photographing a
Little Egret at 'The Inlet'. As I passed back around Rainbow Corner a couple of
Goldcrest were calling and as I searched for the calls a cracking
Blackcap appeared along with several
Long-tailed Tits.
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| Drake Smew - Definitely the bird of the day! |
An excellent couple of hours in glorious sunshine and a mention also for the equally as splendid
Goldeneye's, they too looking rather gorgeous!!
