Stopped here briefly en route back to Stockport on Tuesday and was rewarded with 2 brief bursts of Nightingale song from Twitchers Gate at around 5 pm. The hide overlooks pit 43, but it is the dense vegetation near the hide from where the bird was calling. Despite waiting patiently, the bird failed to show but hearing the call was good enough in itself.
On my way to Dorset to visit my Mother In law I stopped off at the Cotswold Water Park, a place I have visited quite a few times. For those who have not visited before its a huge area of gravel pits and in the winter is noted for Smew and Red Crested Pochard. In summer it great for Nightingale, Cettis Warbler and Hobby. One problem is that parking is limited at some of the really good spots, though there are a few Car Parks if you have time for a longer walk.
We were running late so I only had 45 minutes to find my 2 target birds Smew and R C Pochard. I headed off towards Lake 38 and had some of the best views ever of Red Crested Pochard, there were well over 100 birds and similar numbers of Wigeon.
I then headed off towards lake 43 a lake I had not visited before and it was there I found the bird I was realy after the SMEW. I had great views of a Male with 5 redheads I also saw another 2 redheads and another male. I had to hurry back to the car as I was late but also managed to pick up 3 Red Kite on the road to Tidworth.
and similar numbers of Wigeon.