Back in the groove?

Having not done any birding for over three week (due to a combination of factors), Saturday 9th October saw me lazily lounging at home, surfing the net and quaffing copious amounts of coffee! I was casually browsing Adam Archers recent tall stories (these being somewhat reminiscent of an ornithological equivalent of some shit Tolkien would scribe - pure fantasy!) when it suddenly dawned on me that the chunky brummie had moved considerably ahead of me in the Bubo listings! With not enough daylight available to muster an assault on the coast, I decided to hit Draycote Water and snare a bit of Yank Duckage for the year! Collecting 'Hugo a Go-Go' (AKA Mikipedia) from Kirkby-in-Ashfield, we caned it down to deepest Warwickshire.

Upon arrival we headed to the last reported area along Hensborough Bank but after nearly an hours searching, we failed to locate the bird! Thankfully, a birder on a bike came trundling along and informed us that the bird was showing well in Toft Bay. We immediately headed back to the motor, caned it around to the main car park and walked at pace down to Toft. En route, Dave Hutton gave us the heads up that the bird was showing pretty well and within 15 minutes I was watching my 7th (sleeping)UK Lesser Scaup (281). Although not the best way to kick start a flagging year-list attempt, it certainly got me back in the groove...


Above - Duck Soup!


Above - Sleeping Lezza Scaup!!