More Shags

Visibility was a lot better than expected at the pond this morning with Draycote Water like a milk pond allowing us to pick out 10 Teal, 6 Shoveler and 12 Gadwall among the Tufted and Mallard. There are now at least 3 immature Shags present along farborough bank and amazingly tolerate of us and numerous walkers until the fishing boats came out and pushed them off. Most of the passerines were distant around the farm though a few Yellow Wagtail were here and on farborough bank and in a three hour visit we only managed Common Sandpiper, 6 Common Tern, 5 Little Egret, and Kingfisher.

Shag and Little Egret by Bob Hazell

Shags by me
 

Napton on the Hill had 6 Raven, 6 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Willow Warblers and a Comma butterfly while a return to Draycote in the afternoon produced a flurry of raptor activity with Hobby, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 6 Buzzard and a fishing Osprey which went away empty handed. Lesser Whitethroat and Blackcap in country park along with Treecreeper plus Brimstone butterfly and Southern Hawker.