Not much change of late

A damp start to the day with overnight drizzle just starting to lift on our arrival at Draycote Water with 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls in the post roost which is not as big as it has been now that the nights are getting shorter and the long staying male Smew off farborough bank as we waited for it to stop from the shelter of the visitor centre awning. Once cleared we walked to the inlet with 2 female Pintail by the outlet, 24 Tree Sparrows on the feeders, Kingfisher by the inlet and the geese flock seen distantly towards toft bay, 50 Yellowhammers behind the inlet and 4 Little Egrets between inlet and valve tower. Best sighting was of a female Merlin perched between the inlet and Draycote village. Though distant good views were had in the scope. Not so many Goosander around. The Little Owl at Kites Hardwick was on show but no sign of yesterday’s second bird and all we could manage at Napton Reservoir was 4 Gadwall, male Pochard and a Snipe though over the last week it has had Teal and Wigeon.