Having seen 7 Smew at Rutland Water this morning/early afternoon (Sat)....(see Non-Lincs Birding UK Only).. I thought I'd call in at Kirkby-on-Bain on the way back to Bracebridge Heath (....a longer detour than I thought..) and see if the 2 drake Smew were still around (and the Stork).
There were no Smew on Riverslea Pit at 3.30pm but by 4.00 one drake had flown in and by 4.25 two drakes were swimming and diving close together. Such charismatic birds.
The White Stork appeared on the tip at c. 4.10, initially probing earth patches at the base of the tip before moving up to inspect the bagged rubbish : as they say, "chacun a son gout" - each to his own taste preference !
Freddy