January 29th 2008

No sign in valley of any leo's, one Barn owl hunting distantly otherwise apart from two Buzzards and a few winter thrushes very quiet. Draycote seems to have lost the Lesser Scaup after nearly two months in residence. Along with Bob Hazell we searched extensively but no trace.

Lesser Scaup by Steve Seal


Bob saw it yesterday so it may have gone overnight along with the male Smew which could not be located as well. Great-northern Diver still present and distant though Bob managed to get some good shots near valve tower on his walk round.


Great-northern Diver by Bob Hazell

Lesser Redpoll 5, Buzzard 2 Goosander 22 and Chiffchaff were the other highlights and duck numbers seem low. Larger gulls came into roost late but managed first winter Iceland & Glaucous Gull between 1630-1640pm before losing the light by 1700hrs also three adult Yellow-legged Gulls and one first winter.

Richard