Purple patch day. Overnight winds continued with out abating this morning so cycling was difficult if not down right dangerous at times. Took some finding but the Red-necked Grebe at 8am was some 400 yards off the sailing club and going out further so not very good views then amazingly it reappeared in front of cafe by the platforms at 1010am after being flushed by a speed boat and gave stonking views to myself and the severn trent staff but after ten minutes it again drifted out of sight until it was relocated off farnborough spit. Bob Duckhouse rang just as I had found it again and came but again it disappeared to be replaced by a Slavonian Grebe. We split with Bob going back towards the sailing club to search that area and I searched toft where I managed again to relocate it and get Bob on to it by the car park in toft with chemical toilet. By then the winds had got stronger and it started raining so sheltered in hide - bit dudey but managed to scope the male Smew and first winter Lesser Scaup sheltering under the willows in grays barn. On the down side had to share it with half a dozen ramblers who were as quiet as bloody elephants on heat so soon put them in there place.
Other sightings were a very elusive Red-breasted Merganser female between valve tower and biggen bay finding it difficult to cope with the swell. Great-spotted Woodpecker 2, Siskin 10 toft shallows, Lesser Redpoll 2 biggen bay, Sparrowhawk, and a Buzzzard. Chatted to Jeff Wesson who had done the reservoir clockwise and had little to report tho he would have had the wind in his face most of the time.
Back home checking me Draycote records the Red-breasted Merganser is my 39th, Slavonian Grebe 31st and the Red-necked Grebe 23rd with the last one in October / November 2005.
Richard
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