Had a few hours to kill this afternoon so drove up to Carsington Water (in the secret hope of the Med Gull).  Arrived in the Sheepwash hide to be greeted by: Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe (momentary panic when one showed some characteristics of Red-necked and I'd got nobody to verify it; then I saw its bill and definitely GCG), Cormorant, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Coot, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Yellow-legged Gull (1 obligingly sitting on its own would have been better against the Herring for comparison), Lesser Black-backed Gull, Magpie, Jackdaw.  Then on to Paul Stanley hide to add: Mute Swan, Gadwall, Pochard, Little Grebe, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Willow Tit, Nuthatch, Carrion Crow and Chaffinch.  Added Pheasant and Coal Tit in the car park for a reasonable total (29) in a fraction over 1 hour's birding.  I am sure if I had stopped longer I could have added more as there are some notable ommisions (Moorhen, Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow, thrushes) which could have pushed it up to 40.  Unfortunately didn't see the Med Gull, didn't wait around for the majority of the gulls to arrive.

Simon