Ken Cservenka led a walk round some of the lakes in the Cotswold Water Park, starting from the car park at Lower Mill estate. It was bright, but with a biting cold wind. The main focus of the walk was waterfowl. Special birds seen included about a dozen Goosander, and 3 female Smew, but the most spectacular sight was a raft of 70 Red-crested Pochard. These can turn up as genuine wild vagrants, though the Water Park birds are probably the results of an original introduction or escapees. Remarkably, given the time of year and the cold wind, a butterfly was seen, flying too fast for certain identification but most likely a Red Admiral.
