November 6th 2008

The last 36 hours on planet Richard has been bloody awful with low cloud and persistent drizzle resulting in low motivation bordering on suicidal tendencies so more than grateful when Steve Seal rang to say he was on his way to pond with Dave Hutton and would pick me up. Dave has just passed his test so he was driving – well done mate but you can take the stabilizers off now you’re legal.
The weather was still dull and overcast but at least the rain had stopped when we arrived at Draycote Water and a walk along farborough bank soon located the Red-necked Grebe showing well and as photos were being taken I picked the first of six Little Gulls and we had 5 adults and one first winter and a first winter Med Gull which flew over our heads.

Red-necked Grebe by Steve Seal
Decided to have a coffee hoping it would brighten up later and met up with Francoise who had potted up a December Moth so we soon had that on a log for a photo session. Feathered Thorn also noted.

December Moth
Joined by Bob Duckhouse and Bob Hazell we went back out as it had brightened slightly and viewed the Red-necked again and a look from farborough spit produced adult winter Med Gull in toft bay which then landed in the fields behind us. A Common Sandpiper was on the wall of toft bank feeding on insects and could be set to over winter and a sweep of reservoir produced 230 Great-crested Grebe and 3 Shoveler but no sign of the Little Gulls so they must have moved on. Unfortunately the rain came in so we left and back home a bit of bird activity with 2 Coal Tit and a Goldcrest in the garden.

Photo of one of the Sprawler we have had recently

Richard