Surfing the Web recently I found on 'Birdguides' :
" Smew - CAMBS - Needingworth Quarry Lakes - (SUN) 08 03 10
-29 yesterday (07 03 10) including 7 drakes."
29 !!!
We are lucky to get the odd one in LINCS.Cunning Plan...... as my wife Inga had agreed to babysit for our 2 month old grandson in Harlaxton, Grantham all day today (Sat), I dropped her off there and continued on the A1/A14 for the c. 1 hour journey to St. Ives and Needingworth Quarry Lakes/Pits, CAMBS.
Parking at the 'Pike and Eel' Hotel/Pub on the banks of the River Great Ouse at the end of Overcote Lane in Needingworth( and returning there later for a welcome pub lunch), I did the new bridleway circuit of the Lakes/Pits (there are quite a few) as per 'Birdguides' www. streetmap.co. uk.
The Smew were all gathered on the one Pit ...No. 2 to the immediate NW from the 'Pike and Eel'....and this meant accessing a field for a closer view and being careful not to spook the wildfowl. Estimates today among the local birders with me nearest the Pit varied from 15-20+ still (with about 1/3 drakes). Counting was difficult as the Pit is quite narrow/long and the Smew were diving continuously. I later learned that some birders counting from a distance hadn't seen most of the Smew because of the banks ... one was" happy to have seen 6." Anyway, it was a most enjoyable experience viewing them closer to for about an hour before the pub lunch took precedence.
Also around the Smew Pit and nearby :
incl.
250+ Wigeon
Goldeneye
GC Grebe
Tufted Duck
Coot
Snipe
In the hedges/trees on the bridleway :
incl.
Green Woodpecker
c10 Redwing
LT Tit
Goldfinch.
En route (am. in the sun) :
Red Kite - flew low over the A1 near Stamford
Buzzard - circling over the A1 near Peterborough.
It was a most enjoyable trip despite the A14 traffic jam/chaos on the return journey......and the grandson was fast asleep when I got back to Harlaxton.
Regards,
Freddy