Day off at Draycote

Little Grebe

We both had a day off today and after a late start, decided to have a march round Draycote Reservoir.  We went prepared for rain but were buffetted round the reservoir by wind.  No real birds of interest were around till we reached the Draycote Bank area, where there were several Goosander and at least 5 Tree Sparrow on the nearby feeder.  The Outflow area had a female Red Breasted Merganser and another Goosander along with a pre roost of Gulls that contained Black Headed Gulls and Common Gulls.  We had a reviving coffee and cake at the Cafe and then continued along Farborough Bank where the long staying Smew was loitering along with the Great Northern Diver.  We could not find the Long Tailed Duck but were rewarded at the end of our long walk with a Water Rail and Chiff Chaff in Toft Bay.

Great Northen Diver - Now you see it

Now you don't