A few hours at Draycote Water this morning heading clockwise from the Visitor Centre to the 'Inlet' and back. I arrived just after 9am with a bitter north-westerly wind blowing and rain in the forecast. The drake
Smew was easily spotted just off one of the fishing pontoons and single
Raven over.
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| One of two Grey Wagtails during today's visit |
At Hensborough Bank a large flock of
Graylag Geese held nothing more of interest within and so too a smaller group of
Canada's. Scans out towards the centre yielded the usual
Tufted Duck and
Goldeneye, a
Grey Wagtail on the shoreline the only other species of note.
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| Scaup sheltering in Rainbow Corner! |
At 'The Overflow' a stop for a brief respite had a small group of
Long-tailed Tits, along with two
Redwing searching the leaf litter. As I rounded Rainbow Corner I paused for a coffee in the relative shelter and while a shower passed. While here a couple of
Treecreeper and a single
Goldcrest in the small copse. On the water (8)
Goosander and sheltering within a group of
Tufted Ducks a single
Pochard and the long staying
Scaup.
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| Linnet feeding on the Alder at Draycote today! |
Circa 30
Tree Sparrows were utilising both feeding stations and at least a half dozen
Yellowhammer were also noted. On my return trip thanks to a call from @Bobhazell picking out a pair of
Pintail nestled in at the bottom of the 'Inlet', which I missed on my first pass. Despite two
Great Northern Divers on site today I never managed to connect with either during my short stay!
