Today I had a few hours to spare so headed out to the Cotswold Water Park.
The reported Great Northern Diver showed well at my first stop coming very close to the lake edge then diving under and reappearing out in the middle of the lake, great to see one of these inland and so close.
My next stop found me looking through a large raft of waterfowl trying to see how many different species could be found. Pintail, Goldeneye, Shelduck, Shoverler, Teal, Pochard, Red crested pochard, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard plus over 300 Lapwing an impressive sight well over 2000 birds on the water.
A quick stop to look at one of the flooded fields produced 10 Little egrets.
Next a quick late visit to Blakehill farm which turned out to be well worth the time, with a single Short eared owl giving some close views and a distant Merlin sat on a fence post, also singles of Sparrowhawk and Peregrine with several flocks of Fieldfare, Redwing and Starling flying over.
Not a bad couple of hours on a gloomy January day. DT
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