Before dawn we had Barn Owl and 'leo' in the valley and probably due to the high winds and rain overnight they both stayed out longer than normal giving reasonable views also 2 Hare and a Fox. Nearby flooded fields held a number of Starlings and gulls including Yellow-legged Gull adult and a Buzzard looking for worms close to the road.
On to Draycote and a walk out to valve tower produced the male Smew, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Buzzard and 14 Goosander while the return trip finally rewarded us with views of Great-northern Diver three hundred yards off outlet before it went back in to centre.
After breakfast we went to Brandon Marsh via Lawford Heath and had two Ravens over heath with one very close and another Fox.
Brandon Marsh held 4 Goldeneye, female Goosander, Snipe, Coal Tit and 9 Lesser Redpoll.
The River Avon between Kings Newham and Bretford was flooded holding many Teal and over 50 Mute Swan plus many winter thrushes.
Back at Draycote we intended to do the roost till dusk but we struggled against the poor light and though conditions were similar to Friday the majority of roost was much further out. Dave must be learning from the master as he found an adult Med Gull in rainbow corner and then proceeded to cause me a heart attack when he found gull with all red bill - pure panic but after a phone call to JJ came to me sense's and calmed myself. It was a summer plumage Common Gull but in all the years I have been gulling I have never seen this type of bill colour on a common. Bill looked shorter and the crown flatter but rest of plumage identical to Common Gull. The Great-northern Diver came in close to outlet but was flushed by a boat and flew off towards biggen bay and after circling for awhile it was lost out of sight but did not appear to be leaving.
Richard
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