Friday 13th September

Started off with a walk around Shustoke but apart from five Common Sandpiper it was pretty quite, the stubble field has been ploughed over but the Linnet were still present, though maybe only c.80 present.

Joy and I then drove to Draycote for our first visit of the year, we used to visit monthly and probably will again in the future, now nearly all the road works are completed making it a little easier to access now.

We started off along the dam finding a Wheatear and then a Turnstone at the end of the dam there were two Ringed Plover and a Ruff feeding on the edge. Whilst scanning through the far bank a Greenshank flew through my field of view and it would be the only sign all day. There were around a dozen Teal from the hide and a single Common Sandpiper.

The next stretch was quiet apart from a pair of Raven closely followed by a pair of Sparrowhawk. Between the Valve Tower and the outflow there were eight evenly spread Little Egret taking the days total to c.15. At the Outflow there were three Shoveler, Wigeon and a Gadwall. Along the southern shore it was relatively quiet apart from three or four Common Sandpiper and another or the same Ruff.

Ruff, Draycote Water

Turnstone, Draycote Water

Wheatear, Draycote Water