I decided on a day out at Draycote Water. Set off at 6am, arriving at 8:15am. Car park fee for the day was £1.50 (don't forget a 50p next time). Toilets open at 7:30am, good job they did as well. First bird on arrival was a Great Spotted Woodpecker at the first toilet block and then a glimpse as it flew towards the visitor centre.

After getting togged up. I left towards Toft Bay for the long staying Lesser Scaup. On the walk down to Toft Bay birds encountered on the way were Lapwing, Great Crested Grebe, and Little Grebes, never have I seen so many Little Grebes in one place. Goldeneye (male and female) Cormorants, Goosanders (male and female) Black Headed and Common Gulls, Moorhen, Coot. Fieldfare, Redwing and Starlings in the adjoining fields with Pied Wagtails flitting between field and dam wall. Scattered around where Crows and Magpies.

I finally made it to the hide and settled in to scan the bay in the bottom corner. I saw many Teal, Pochard and Gadwall along with the usual Mallards. The bird feeder had Chaffinch and Greenfinch. I soon spotted the big raft of Tufted Duck and started scanning thru to try and find the Scaup. People came and went, and no Scaup reported. After two and a half hours I made my way round to the other side. Here I settled into the Picnic area, okay the willows blocked some of the view, but I could see clearly as the birds drifted passed. Half an hour came and went and there he was Lesser Scaup, seen and watched clearly as he drifted with the Tufted Duck. I settled in had dinner and watched the bird drift up and down. Here I saw Robins, Goldcrest and Blackbirds.

Off I set to try for the other two birds I had set my sights on for the day. It was near the dam wall. It was here that I finally caught up with the Great Nothern Diver, giving excellent views as it drifted in close. Here also there must have been 150+ Great Crested Grebes, but no number three bird. It was whilst I was talking with one of the locals that I found out where my third bird was, back down to Toft Bay. Sure enough there he was one drake Smew. All three birds in the bag time to return home, not before seeing a Peregrine Falcon fly thru on the return to the car park, nice end to a grand day out. >Day List<

 View of Draycote Water looking towards Toft Bay, location of the Lesser Scaup and Drake Smew