March 9th 2010

I promised myself I would remain positive but birding is becoming hard work as winter visitors depart and summer migrants are still crossing the Sahara so very little to get your teeth in to at the moment. A walk around Draycote Water this morning with Bob and Kevin produce the 2 Great-northern Diver but no sign of the Smew and duck numbers in general were low with only male and female Goosander, 15 Goldeneye, 5 Gadwall, 4 Pochard, 20 Teal while 76 Wigeon were due to two separate flocks feeding up before moving on. Only passerines of note were 4 Long-tailed Tit and 50+ Fieldfare and the spring sunshine encouraged 3 Buzzard to thermal. Also of note was the sudden departure of many of our over wintering Great-crested Grebe with very few remaining.

Richard