Vis mig - ousels of fun

As soon as dawn broke Skylark, Redwing, Fieldfare and finches (including 4 Brambling) started appearing over the Southam road so by the time the gates opened at Draycote visible migration was in full swing probable due to the pre dawn shower after the first part of the night was clear.

In our walk to toft bay we had 500 Starling, 700 Fieldfare, 300 Redwing, 8 Brambling, 50 Siskin and 250 Chaffinch from those we could identify. A group of duck circling included 7 Shoveler and female Pintail while an adult Kittiwake flew north.

Although the wind was from the south west it had been bitterly cold at Draycote so we stayed in the Long Itch Diner to warm up before moving on to Napton on the Hill where Dave picked up a Ring Ousel as it flew over the village lagging behind a group of thrushes. Minimum count of 400 Chaffinch, 300 Fieldfare and 200 Redwing went over before the rain arrived and at least 22 Raven in the area.