Birding in the gloom

Another wet dreary dull overcast morning though not as cold as yesterday and decided on trying around the fields between Draycote village and Birdingbury concentrating on the thick hedgerows of draycote hill, the various set-aside strips and the numerous pheasant feeders some of which can be seen from Draycote Water. Unfortunately not all are on public footpaths so had to do a bit naughtiness. Despite the conditions birds were plentiful with hundreds of Fieldfare & Redwing along with a single Corn Bunting, 22 Tree Sparrow, 2 Jay, Sparrowhawk, 100 Stock Dove, 12 Bullfinch, 90 Skylark 8 Reed Bunting and 120 Yellowhammer. Bird of the morning was a Woodcock flushed from draycote hill set-aside strip. A brief look at the pond between the valve tower and rainbow produced a female Common Scoter, Little Egret, 9 Goosander, 5 Tree Sparrow, 8 Bullfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Kingfisher and 2 Siskin. God forbid but McDonalds was the nearest driest place to chill out in and must admit there kindness was appreciated as they dried my coat out-bless.