Unusually there was a bird locally that I'd been unable to add on my 2022 year list - a long-tailed duck at Draycote Water. In addition, there were reported great northern diver and black tern. As it was close, Kev and I met at 7.20am and picked up breakfast on the way. On arrival we found the car park surprisingly full and numbers of ambulances in place - it appeared that there going to be a series of races, including a half-marathon. This would likely curtail our visit.
We got onto the water's edge and after a short scan we picked out the black tern coming from our right - it landed on the walkway to the pontoons, and I made my way to get closer - my main lens has been struggling with autofocus and has been sent to Nikon for investigation so I am using an old emergency 70-300mm zoom. I approached but two groups got between me and the bird, worst of all heading towards the tern and with one group pushing a sailing boat. Predictably the tern took off but fortunately only as far as one of the two pontoons where it perched within reach.
We set off noting groups of little grebes of up to twelve, numbers of mipits, coot, a grey wagtail, a few pied wagtail and great-crested grebes offshore. There were then two pairs of goosanders to the spit but by then I could see Dylan Parry-Davies (@DPDNature) ahead and made for him. He was on the long-tailed duck and within minutes so were we - it was out by a blue buoy and diving regularly. With the spare lens it was pointless to take photos at that range, so I made do with a short record video through my scope – unusual for me to carry one as I usually take advantage of Kev and use his.
The black tern passed us at distance then two ravens behind, calling regularly. A chap on a bicycle stopped to inform us that a few hundred people would be running past us in around half an hour and we decided that it was time to head back - we didn't come across the great northern diver and decided not to go looking – Dylan had seen it earlier and posted on Twitter. Dylan decided he would make for Napton Reservoir while I talked Kev into making for the Upper Bittell Reservoir as the red-throated diver had been reported again (as had a kittiwake).
In under an hour we'd parked the car and were strolling down to and passed the Sailing Club, then up onto the dam. It only took a minute to see the diver, its white throat glistening against the sun - I had to drop the exposure by -1.3EV to avoid the whites blowing out the image. We watched the bird diving and preening, following it as it worked away from us. Fortunately, it didn't feed too far from shore and a couple of times came nicely within range.
We were pointed to the kittiwake on the furthest bank, sitting amongst black-headed gulls - when they were flushed, it failed to leave - doesn't look like it is very well. Eventually Kev found the tundra bean goose and then we added a pink-footed goose following behind. A single male goldeneye and a pair of ravens wrapped up our list.
A short stroll back to the car, a drive back to Banbury, a short stop-off at Balscote Quarry and I was dropped off at home - a successful and very enjoyable day.
Year List: 226
BirdTrack Record: Draycote: https://app.bto.org/birdtrack/pubcon/shared?subId=SUB46224305
Upper Bittell Reservoir: https://app.bto.org/birdtrack/pubcon/shared?subId=SUB46224306
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