Trip reports
Draycote Water by Paul Woodham
Friday, 15 May 2009
The morning started a little quiet as we made our way out, although the meadow pipits gave us a good reason to stop, with cries of 'is that a rock pipit?', but, alas - no. The eagled eyed - no, not 'golden' but maybe 'bald' (!) - with their 'scopes soon picked up a male smew in the distance. Luckily, we saw him up close too, later - marvellous!
The "end birds" were also picked out at the far end of the reservoir but more of them later. The sailors soon set sail with the help of that chilly wind, with the added benefit to birders that the birds were moved into the quieter corners.
As we made our way back we had managed to tick off over 30 species consisting of mainly ducks, like golden eye, teal, gadwall and shoveler, plus goldfinch and redwing as some colourful additions.
There was a general question, as we made our way, from other birders, "have you seen the...?". This led us to look out for, and subsequently find, the long-staying red necked grebe. Still in its winter plumage, it did allow us all to importantly compare the differences with its cousins, the great crested and little grebes.
The afternoon walk had little to add species wise, but there is always something to find. Early on, our attention was drawn to three common buzzards circling high over our heads - crick in the neck stuff!
So, on to the best part of the day - the end! The 'scopes soon picked up our two birds again, still distant and at different points. 'We need a picture for the day' came the cry, so we set off for our intended prey; just a little further, as they enticed us over to the furtherest corner of the reservoir behind the water tower.
This was what can be best described as one of those moments we get occasionally to be savoured and remembered; "do you remember the birding moment when we...?"
The birds in questions were two great northern divers that cruised and dived up to each other no less that 20 yards away from us, to fill both our 'bins' and 'scopes alike, plus the odd camera or two to take those all important photos. They then rested up from what they had been doing best - diving for what seemed like forever, and the fun of finding them that that causes, before they're gone again. Our delight was further increased as a third bird swam in and joined the two. The divers then just circled around beak to tail, first clock wise then anti-clock wise before they split.
Closer views then were had, then again, and then again as we set off back to the cars, but we savoured the event we had just been privileged to see.
Draycote is only an hour away from North Bucks and the great northern divers and the supporting cast can be found there most winters, the web site is www.draycotebirding.co,uk so have look as it's always worth that winter visit.
Not too much else to add really, so I'll sign off with the 3 G.N.D's gently circling around in my head!