Meadow Pipits.

I used to think that Meadow Pipits were just "Little brown jobs" and not very attractive but I've changed my mind after taking a few shots of some of the large flock that is currently on the Farborough Bank at Draycote Water.

Here are a few shots which show that they are quite attractive birds.

Lesser Scaup at Draycote Water.

Decided on Monday morning to see if I could get some shots of the Lesser Scaup that had been seen at Draycote recently.

I started off at Toft but I could not see it in the flock of Tufties just off the picnic area and when another birder suggested we check the other side where it had last been seen I joined him.We eventually found it after a long walk with a load of Tufties but it was too far off for getting any shots.

I then trudged back to the Toft picnic arriving very knackered some time later.As I sat on one of the tables to eat lunch a load of Tufties landed pretty close to the shore line and blow me down the Lesser Scaup was amongst them.I could have saved myself a long exhausting walk!!!!! Mind you I'm not complaining as I got some decent shots.

Some shots of a Kestrel.

Having had a disappointing day at Brandon the day before I went to Draycote on Tuesday morning hoping for better pickings.

The two Dunlin were still in Toft and some Yellow Wagtails and Meadow Pipits were on the Farborough Bank but other than that there was little to see.That is until just before lunch the Toft Kestrel showed up and he was in a good mood because he flew around for half an hour over the picnic area swooping down to catch it's lunch and eating his catch on the rocky foreshore.Some shots are below.Click on them for a larger version.

Back down to earth.

Keen to go out birding after having to go to a funeral on Thursday I decided to go to Draycote Water again on Friday morning as my other local patches at Upton Warren,Marsh Lane and Brandon Marsh were all very quiet apparently and Draycote had been great recently.

Decided to walk to the inlet past Rainbow corner in fine weather but it proved to be very disappointing none of the recent waders were about.All I saw was a lone Ringed Plover.

On the return walk the weather had gone down the tubes and it had become overcast.Did have a battle with 3 Grey Wagtails as they flitted about on the rocks but I'm blowed if I could keep up with them.

After a coffee with Francoise in the Cafe I walked down the Farborough Bank and soon found some Yellow Wagtails but when I went to take off my new rucksack to get out my teleconverter I found I could'nt - the reason being it wasn't on my back.It was in the Cafe.What a complete burk!!!!! I'd only bought the rucksack yesterday and for once had gone upmarket.In it were 2 birding books,the remains of my lunch (this could be a deterrent to thieves) and worst of all a 1.4 teleconverter that was not cheap.

I raced back to the Cafe,arrived panting like a large dog on a hot day to be greeted by a maintenance man at the door with "Lost a bag mate ? It's behind the counter."I thought briefly of giving him a kiss but decided against it.

This incident showed that there are still some honest people about and also some complete burks.

A bit of luck at Draycote Water.

On Wednesday morning I went to Draycote again as this was the only local reserve that was on form at the moment.

The bit of luck occurred mid morning when I had spent an age trying to get some shots of the Yellow Wagtails that were on the Farborough Bank and failing hopelessly.I looked round for Jeff Rankin,who had been trying for the Wagtails with me but had soon given up,and saw him with another birder near the lifebelt further along the Farborough Bank.They had spotted something in the water!!!!!!!!

Like a fool I ambled up to them not expecting much so when I finally got my lens on it and saw it was a Manx Shearwater it took flight.It flew down towards the Centre and then banked and flew over the Sewage Works.Managed a few flight shots.

Another trip to Draycote Water.

Having had a poor morning's birding on Saturday at Brandon Marsh followed by another on Sunday morning at Marsh Lane I was badly in need of a birding boost so I went again to Draycote Water on Monday morning.

I soon found that the Pectoral Sandpiper with it's two mates the Dunlin were at Toft so I cheered up considerably especially as they came right to the end of the beach and onto the rocks for some preening.I had the birds to myself after Bob and Francoise left to do a circuit of the pond except for two other birders at the far end of the beach and they were so still for so long that I thought one of them was dead.

I'd like to say that I then raced over to Rainbow Corner for the B/T Godwit but all I can do is a slowish amble these days.It was still there and it also was very obliging as it came to the end of the beach just below the rocks.Also saw some Ringed Plovers but not the Ruff.

Brandon Marsh visit.

As it was a great morning I shot over to Brandon Marsh to see what was about.Not much as it turned out which is typical when the weather is great for seeing and taking pics there is nothing to see.To make matters worse the usual Saturday crowd was not there so I can only presume they had made a better choice than me and gone to Draycote Water.

Everywhere was very quiet with the boredom only being broken by a juvenile Water Rail showing in front of the Carlton hide.

A few Common Snipe were seen from the Teal Pool hide but nothing else