A windy day to be going round Draycote Water, and the constant threat of rain, but the chance of seeing the drake smew had pushed me on. Wind into my face round to the hide brought me only a sighting of one of the great northern divers, a reward in itself on any other day. 
Good numbers of ducks on the water and wildfowl around the edge. Some birds taking refuge in the rocks around the water's edge.
Passed the valve tower and still no sight of the smew. While scanning the water a kingfisher shot across the surface of the water and passed me, stopping at the valve tower outlet. Another great northern diver (becoming commonplace round here) and back to the visitors centre. No smew but plenty of birds, 
most starting to congregate for the roost around the pontoons and near water.
Species noted (38) included: blackbird, black-headed gull, blue tit, canada goose, carrion crow, common gull, coot, cormorant, dunnock, gadwall, goldeneye, goldfinch, goosander, great crested grebe, great northern diver, great tit, grey heron, greylag goose, kestrel, kingfisher, lapwing, lesser black-backed gull, little egret, little grebe, long-tailed tit, magpie, mallard, moorhen, pheasant, pied wagtail, robin, rook, starling, teal, tufted duck, wigeon, woodpigeon and wren.
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