December 31st 2010

Last throw of the dice for patch year ticks – zilch but though it was dreary weather wise we had a cracking visit.

Dave and I walked out to the valve tower at Draycote Water which was foggy with no open water until we reached the inlet where the pumps were on full blast clearing a channel for some of the duck present to use before throttling back to a trickle. The fog became mist and visibility improved showing most of the open water is between valve tower and dunns bay though there is a bit off farborough spit and a small pool out in the centre.Sightings included
Goosander 42 female & 28 male valve tower
Kingfisher stream below draycote bank
Lesser Redpoll unknown number behind inlet
Brambling female with 30 Chaffinch on outlet
Raven at least 2 present
Dunlin one on ice off inlet
Curlew 2 circling reservoir and calling before flying towards the grandborough valley
Bar-tailed Godwit circling with Curlew and following them
Also seen were Shoveler 8, Pochard 20, Gadwall 10, Green Woodpecker, Great-crested Grebe 176 and Little Grebe 6.
Met up with Steve Batt who had the male Smew and Barnacle Geese off farborough spit plus some Siskin and 2 Coal Tit.

Richard