2/1/08 Draycote Water, James and Simeon
James and I were in Oxfordshire so we quickly popped over to Draycote Water in the next county to try and see the Lesser Scaup. Arriving in the car park we met a birder who informed us that the bird was showing to about 20 yards! We were really excited and the next mile seemed the longest we had ever walked. When we got to the area it had been seen, loads of birds were around! 8 Goosanders, loads of Little and Great-crested grebes and thousands of gulls were on the reservoir. The sun was beginning to set so we set about the task of finding the rare. It didn't actually take that long as James soon found the Lesser Scaup right next to the bank! The bird had its head tucked in at first, but we could see the scalloped back and peaked hind crown. The sun was in a bad position for photos, but it was good for seeing the purple sheen on the birds head. (Greater) Scaups have a green sheen. At one time, it lifted its head for about 5 seconds, but we did manage to see the tiny "nail" on the end of its bill! A few other birders saw it with us, including a young girl (about 8 probably) who was still learning garden birds! Lucky! These were the only shots I managed of the bird;