Draycote Water and Brandon Marsh :: 30 January 2016

An early start and off to Draycote Water. A chill in the air but still overcast from rain in the night. 200m into an anti-clockwise circuit there he was, that elusive drake smew popped up from a dive. Clearly not hiding from me anymore. With each step the sun started to burn through and as the hide was reached the temperature felt noticeable warmer. Down the boardwalk a small bird dropped into the tree next to me, just where I had spotted chiffchaff on my last visit; it turned out to be a goldcrest. Song thrushes again in the hedgerows and at least four flocks of long-tailed tits. Four bullfinches were feeding in the tops of the trees as I came back from the boardwalk onto the main path. Between Toft Bay and Biggin Bay the scaup was hanging with a mixed group of goldeneye and tufted duck. Whether it was mobile or further out I failed to note the great northern diver.

Off to Brandon Marsh and lunch. The visitor centre was heaving with cyclists, their cycles adorning every available spot around the parking stands. Firsts for the year were two nuthatches, one on the nut feeders but another visiting a seed feeder not a foot from the window. Onto the reserve and quiet down through New Hare Covert and round Swallow Pool. Outside the Wright Hide I found a chap watching a goldcrest low in the undergrowth, then some siskins feeding high in the trees. Good numbers of pochard were diving outside the hide. Reasonably quiet in the East Marsh hide and joined by a number of other groups. Talked about the recent bittern sightings in the channel to the left of the hide and spent most of the time watching here. Eventually rewarded but by water rail at the front edge moving left to right. Waited and eventually saw the return passage. Onto Carlton hide and nothing on the reed bed. Eventually a cormorant came to fish and a little grebe worked it's way down the right hand edge. A kingfisher fly past seemed to be all we would get but then I spotted a bittern come low across the reeds and drop in directly ahead. Waited around ten minutes with a hopeful few. Would you believe it ... up it went and everyone happy. Time for home.

Species count for Draycote Water (44): jackdaw, mallard, coot, tufted duck, little grebe, cormorant, carrion crow, great crested grebe, black-headed gull, moorhen, smew, goldeneye, pied wagtail, meadow pipit, canada goose, blackbird, blue tit, green woodpecker, long-tailed tit, dunnock, robin, teal, gadwall, woodpigeon, magpie, wren, bullfinch, jackdaw, great tit, goldcrest, song thrush, greylag goose, goldfinch, scaup, chaffinch, wigeon, buzzard, goosander, lapwing, grey heron, tree sparrow, rook, lesser black-backed gull and fieldfare.

Species count for Brandon Marsh (43): magpie, reed bunting, blue tit, great tit, nuthatch, robin, chaffinch, dunnock, greenfinch, wren, blackbird, canada goose, woodpigeon, great crested grebe, carrion crow, cormorant, mute swan, shoveler, coot, gadwall, black-headed gull, goldcrest, siskin, moorhen, lapwing, common gull, lesser black backed gull, goosander, pochard, tufted duck, grey heron, long tailed tit, goldeneye, shelduck, oystercatcher, teal, herring gull, water rail, greylag goose, kingfisher, little grebe and bittern.

Draycote Water :: 16 January 2016

Having failed seeing the drake smew at Draycote Water on two occasions, both in wet and windy weather, I set off early to see if my luck would change. Below freezing as I set out with car windows needing scraped.

Quiet on the roads and arrived just before sun up. Two guys offered me their ticket as they were abandoning their cycle round the reservoir as a bad idea, given the temperature at that time. Watched the sun rise from the side of the reservoir then set off for a circuit. No sign of the smew but pleased to see the hide was open again after vandalism close it during the festive season. The birds seemed to be appreciating the cold but still and bright conditions with chiffchaff and goldcrest showing very close but in woods.

After a fruitful circuit I still had no smew on my list so I decided to make another journey down to the hide. Met a couple surveying the bay with a scope and they picked up both the smew, a redhead and the scaup - it's good to talk! Walked round the bay to the other bank for better photos but still distant. While watching for the smew was lucky enough to be given a fly past by a kingfisher.

A most enjoyable morning.

Today's species (50) included: coot, little grebe, mallard, goldeneye, carrion crow, tufted duck, great crested grebe, greylag goose, cormorant, black headed gull, meadow pipit, great northern diver, lesser black backed gull, wren, woodpigeon, moorhen, teal, pied wagtail, robin, blue tit, blackbird, great tit, dunnock, chiffchaff, bullfinch, song thrush, goldcrest, great spotted woodpecker, long tailed tit, green woodpecker, starling, jackdaw, canada goose, pochard, fieldfare, redwing, common gull, rook, grey heron, goosander, chaffinch, reed bunting, tree sparrow, magpie, lapwing, gadwall, smew, feral pigeon, scaup and kingfisher.

Draycote Water :: 02 January 2016

Another attempt to bag the drake smew reportably present at Draycote Water. Numerous photos on twitter, with the bird "showing well", have frustrated me since my last attempt. On that occasion the weather was inclement and this visit was to be no different, wind and temperature a bit more bearable though. I was also assisted by "her indoors" so a pleasant afternoon come what may.

Unfortunately, despite a full circuit, I was again unable to tag the bird. Perhaps I should go on a nice day?

Species spotted today (31) included: black-headed gull, robin, blackbird, coot, mallard, little grebe, great crested grebe, cormorant, long-tailed tit, tufted duck, pochard, goldeneye, carrion crow, moorhen, lesser black-backed gull, shoveler, rook, goosander, grey heron, canada goose, teal, scaup, pied wagtail, wigeon, chaffinch, blue tit, great tit, magpie, great northern diver, woodpigeon and shag. At least the year list is up and running.

Draycote Water :: 12 December 2015

A windy day to be going round Draycote Water, and the constant threat of rain, but the chance of seeing the drake smew had pushed me on. Wind into my face round to the hide brought me only a sighting of one of the great northern divers, a reward in itself on any other day. Good numbers of ducks on the water and wildfowl around the edge. Some birds taking refuge in the rocks around the water's edge.

Passed the valve tower and still no sight of the smew. While scanning the water a kingfisher shot across the surface of the water and passed me, stopping at the valve tower outlet. Another great northern diver (becoming commonplace round here) and back to the visitors centre. No smew but plenty of birds, most starting to congregate for the roost around the pontoons and near water.

Species noted (38) included: blackbird, black-headed gull, blue tit, canada goose, carrion crow, common gull, coot, cormorant, dunnock, gadwall, goldeneye, goldfinch, goosander, great crested grebe, great northern diver, great tit, grey heron, greylag goose, kestrel, kingfisher, lapwing, lesser black-backed gull, little egret, little grebe, long-tailed tit, magpie, mallard, moorhen, pheasant, pied wagtail, robin, rook, starling, teal, tufted duck, wigeon, woodpigeon and wren.

Farmoor Reservoir :: 04 December 2015

After three long weeks, including a trip to China, it was time for a day off. Reports of a long staying (now pair of) grey phalaropes took me off to Farmoor Reservoir. Spots of rain as I arrived so waited just a few minutes for it to pass. Up onto the path and soon came across the pair of phalaropes feeding along the waters edge, seemingly un-phased by my presence. I was joined by a few others to watch as they progressed back and forward in front of us. Walked around F1 further and had the opportunity to talk with a volunteer from WkWT Brandon Marsh and spot the red-necked grebe.

A most enjoyable visit, despite the arrival of rain again as I left to sort out my car down on the Cowley Road.

Today's sightings (21) included: blackbird, black-headed gull, carrion crow, coot, cormorant, fieldfare, great-crested grebe, grey phalarope, grey wagtail, lesser black-backed gull, little grebe, magpie, mallard, moorhen, pied wagtail, red kite, red-necked grebe, redshank, redwing, tufted duck and woodpigeon.

Draycote Water :: 21 November 2015

A cold walk around Draycote Reservoir. Temperatures dipped to just above freezing but were accompanied by a bitter wind. Met a couple of birders heading for the Visitor Centre cafe and they let me know that heading clockwise would probably allow me to catch greater northern diver, scaup and goosander. The common scoter was meant to be around the pontoon outside the Visitor Centre but it wasn't visible from my viewpoint.

Good numbers on birds and quite a few cormorant to eliminate as possible great northern divers. Soon spotted a female pintail foraging on her own. No sign of the GND but while watching a group of goldeneye and goosander caught a glimpse of the scaup. Unfortunately it dived as I pointed it out to a nearby birder and I lost it again.

No GND on the trip round to the valve tower and getting to the point where the sun was dropping quickly so headed back to the Visitor Centre and passed along the footpath in the other direction. In only 100m I found the common scoter, then round the bend, in fading light, I spotted the GND. A successful day!

Sightings (32) included: black-headed gull, carrion crow, chaffinch, common gull, common scoter, coot, cormorant, goldeneye, goldfinch, goosander, great-crested grebe, great northern diver, lapwing, lesser black-backed gull, little egret, little egret, magpie, mallard, meadow pipit, moorhen, pied wagtail, pintail, reed warbler, robin, rook, scaup, starling, teal, tree sparrow, tufted duck, woodpigeon and yellowhammer.

Grimsbury & Pitsford Reservoirs :: 31 October 2015

An alert on the phone told me that @grimsbury_birds had found a black redstart on my local patch - at Grimsby Reservoir. Popped by, meeting Jason Coppock who was already in attendance. Unfortunately, though showing well, stayed at some distance throughout. Photo hampered by distance and light but recognisable - Jason's video was quite special though (view here).

Left to go and see if I would add Great White Egret to my year list; five had been reported at Pitsford Water. Never been there before, but will certainly go back. A good 7 mile circular walk might make it an enjoyable long afternoon one weekend. Caught up with distant views of the GWE on the far shore and later slightly closer from a hide. So many birds on the water. Eventually glimpsed the Slavonian Grebe that someone on-site had mentioned, although missed it on the first pass as it seemed to be diving more than it was on the surface. Two for the UK life list on the same day and in different places!

Also managed to add grey wagtail and redwing to the year list.

Sightings at Pitsford Water (32) included: mute swan, cormorant, canada goose, greylag goose, lapwing, wigeon, coot, carrion crow, mallard, black-headed gull, little egret, starling, tufted duck, great-crested grebe, great white egret, grey heron, coal tit, redwing, blackbird, woodpigeon, shoveler, teal, chaffinch, wren, slavonian grebe, common gull, sparrowhawk, great tit, yellowhammer, robin, dunnock and pochard.