🍂 ⛅
18C Thursday 28th September 2017 ~ After the overnight rain and the promise of a fine autumnal day I decided to have a few hours at Draycote Water this morning!
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| Meadow Pipit ~ Several along Farborough Bank |
I began with a walk along to Farborough Spit, a few
Meadow Pipits along the route, as well as the usual haul of
Little and
Great Crested Grebes. A
Wheater was feeding along the bank and pausing at the spit for a while, just a single
Ringed Plover. Bob Hazell told me a little later that he'd recorded at least seven
Ruff and a
Greenshank here earlier, but they'd obviously moved on by the time I arrived!
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| Wheatear ~ Farborough Bank |
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| Rock Pipit ~ Farborough Bank |
Just prior to reaching the centre on the way back a single
Rock Pipit appeared, pausing for a while for a few snaps. From here I decided to walk as far as the Valve Tower, taking some time out at Hensborough Bank. While here an illusive
Weasel darted in and out of the rocks but never stayed still long enough for a snap. Two
Grey Wagtail on the waterline and a singing
Chiffchaff from the treeline. Overhead a few
Skylarks passing through and while searching for them a
Hobby drifted high, plus a single
Swallow, my only hirundine of the day.
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| A late Hobby ~ Heavily cropped due to the height! |
Along Draycote Bank, three noisy
Ravens cronked their way past, eight
Little Egret and four
Buzzards enjoying a thermal in the warm sunshine. Sadly the feeding station was empty, so no
Tree Sparrows on this occasion!
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| Little Egret ~ Firmly established now at Draycote |
Spotting Bob in the distance I waited at the Valve Tower so we could walk back to the centre together. On arrival Bob's words '
I presume you've got the Egyptian Goose down their', Erm no says I #oblivious....
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| #Oblivious |
Only a
Sparrowhawk to report during our stroll back to the centre, although the elusive
Weasel did make another appearance, evidence of how elusive he was below....
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| Weasel |
