November 11th 2008

There are at least 3 Great-northern Divers at Draycote Water with a possibility of a 4th. One is off farborough bank, one off valve tower and one in dunn’s bay while this afternoon one was seen flying in to reservoir from the east and landed out in centre. Unfortunately it could have been one of the three attempting to leave and spotted coming back but as I spent some time looking across the reservoir at the time I thought I would have seen it circling. Another interesting sighting today was of two adult Peregrine’s one of which was very large and its plumage much lighter, almost two tone with dark primaries contrasting with the rest of its wings and body plumage and the head whiter so have not ruled out the possibility of a hybrid. Only new arrival seen was a female Brambling in the country park and other sightings included the Red-necked Grebe off farborough bank but more distant in the strong south west winds, first winter Shag, a very confiding Shoveler resting by the fishing platforms, 48 Golden Plover, 11 Pochard in toft bay along with 12 Wigeon and 6 Gadwall. There were two Kingfishers in toft shallows pool as I was leaving this afternoon plus 30 odd Teal.

Shoveler
Dunchurch Cricket Club had a first winter Med Gull feeding on its flooded pitch as I cycled past home.

Richard