31st Aug - sunny until late afternoon, then showers/thunder, 19C, 14C in rain

Willey;  this morning only 30 Swallows on the wires, suggesting some may have left in the last couple of days.

Stanford reservoir;  late morning hris found 2 Whinchat on the field adjacent to the reservoir, so after lunch I headed off to see them.  However, after much searching I still failed to find them, however Chris managed some good digiscoped photos.

Photos Chris Hubbard

A good number of both Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were roaming the bushes along with Tits and Goldcrest.  Whitethroat and Blackcap were also heard.  A few Swallows and Sand Martins were feeding over the water.  A single Black-tailed Godwit was present feeding near the Lapwings which were resting on the islands.  A couple of Little Egret and Grey heron were on the islands too.

30th Aug - rain am, brighter pm, some showers, 18C

Willey; rain prevented getting any morning Swallow count today, other than some were flying around in the dry spell later.

A couple of things from yesterday, this moth was flying in the church yard grass and the fungus was growing in an Oat stubble field.

Shawell Lagoons; made an evening visit here, the evening are getting very much shorter now, by 2030h the light had faded.  A Common and Green Sandpiper were on the shore area, with 26 Lapwings resting. A number of Pied Wagtails were also running around, slowly the number increased from 4 to 20, I suspect they have a pre-roost gather here.  About 10 Swallows and 5 Sand martins fed over the pools.  A couple of Little Grebe with Tufted Duck and Coot were on the south pool.  Two Bullfinch were calling from the thicket and several Goldfinch were in the tree tops.

29th Aug - cloudy, dull at times, light breeze NW, 18C

Willey; about 50 Swallows were over the village first thing today.

Stanford reservoir; I made an evening visit here, it was rather dull and not a lot of activity from the passerines.  The highlights included a Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit near the islands, at least 30 Teal were busy feeding, along with Shoveler and Gadwall.  Two Little Egret and 2 grey heron were present feeding and preening.

A Green Woodpecker was about, 4 Bullfinch flew over to the bushes and a Tawny Owl called from the adjacent wood at 1850h.

28th Aug - sunny and very warm, 25C, light SW

Willey;  this morning there may have been a few less Swallows around than yesterday. I checked one nest in our shed, they have very young chicks and will be at least another 3 weeks to fledge, by then very few others will still be here.

During the afternoon I had a walk around the fileds and wood to the east of the village, Nuthatch and Treecreeper were calling, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest were present. Two spotted Flycatchers were in the wood and along its edge.  A couple of Stock Doves flew off, while a Grey Heron headed for the top pond. The slightly raised callers of Swallows made me scan the sky to see a Hobby drifting overhead southward, clearly not hunting and the Swallows knew this.

A Grey Squirrel jumped out of the hedge and paused, its check pouches were stuff full of food it will be hording for the winter.  If you look around closely signs of autumn are showing, with leaves beginning to change colour and some even dropping.  The morning dew is now quite heavy, a sure sign of a change.

Cotesbach Sandy Land and Landfill area; I had a look here as occasionally Redstarts have been found here, and with another netted at Stanford reservoir nearby early morning, I thought there may be a chance.  I did not find one but seeing Red Kite, a Buzzard family, 4 Ravens, Green Woodpecker and other common species was good anyway.

Shawell Lagoons;  I next looked here, a Common Sandpiper was on the shore, 65 Lapwing were roosting too and a single Little Grebe was present.  Otherwise the expected other species were seen.

27th Aug - a brilliant sunny warm day, 25C, light breeze S

At last a spell of proper summer following a poor July and August.

Willey; there were c60Swallows and c5 House Martins on the telegraph wires first thing.  Two Cormorant flew over high eastward and a Great spotted Woodpecker called in the BH wood.  Around 1000h 4 Linnets were high in the top of the church yard Horse Chestnut making some noise and a Starling sat on the telegraph post top singing away loudly.
At 1700h a single Yellow Wagtail flew over calling, eastward, maybe finally some with the cattle tomorrow.  Checking the paddock at 1800h produced at least 4 Spotted Flycatchers busy feeding from the bush and the tops.

Mere Lane Lake; mid morning I had a look here.  A Sparrow hawk dashed by sending the small birds to cover. After awhile things began to show, Bullfinch, Chiffchaffs, Whitethroat, Long-tailed Tits to name a few. In the.reeds I spotted a Reed Warblers carrying food to young in a nest still, when it turned round I could see it was colour ringed, so hopefully we'll get this ringing information soon.  Next to it were 2 Sedge Warblers, these too may have had a nest.  Little Grebes, Coot and the Mute Swan pair with 2 large cygnets weee on the water.

Speckled Wood, Large Whites and a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly were seen, plus several Dragonflies including Brown Hawker, Common and Ruddy Darter.  AMuntjac deer called loudly from the thicket area.

Eyebrooke reservoir; I had a look here after lunch, the highlights included 3 Buzzard, Red Kite and an Osprey with a caught fish.  Waders included 2 Ruff, 3 Greenshank, 1 Green. Sandpiper and many Lapwing.  On the adjacent hedge and rough area were 3 Whinchats feeding.  A single Common Tern sat on a post over the water and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was on the muddy shore. Few passerines, c15 Starlings, Linnets, Goldfinches and a single Whitethroat.  The usual duck species were present too.

26th Aug - sunny spells, very warm, 24C, light NW

Loughborough; A Hoopoe has been seen around an house area for a few days so this morning I decided to go and have a look. It had been seen first thing feeding on lawns in the favoured area, of course when I arrived it had just flown off over the houses.  So, searching by the gathered birders began, after 2 hours it still had not been re-located and I had to leave.  Although I did spot some interesting fungus in grass under a tree.

I returned a little later and the Hoopoe was sitting found on a pavement next to a road, it flew off over he houses.  Fortunately it eventually returned to its favoured lawn, where the lady resident was kind enough to let people in to her house to view the bird on her lawn, here I managed some photos too.

Shawell Laggons;  On the way back I visited here to see what Gulls I could find, I had begun checking the Gulls when 2 Green Sandpipers flew passed and settled on the shore.  Two adult Yellow-legged Gulls were present among the many Lesser Black Backed Gulls, I also found two LBBGs which were colour rings, one read as J374L, the other I could not read, we'll have to see where this one was ringed.

Stanford reservoir; This morning the ringers here had a very good catch, ringing 129 Whitethroat and 170 Blackcap plus other species including 2 Redstart, taking the total to 408.  Its amazing to think that so many birds are passing through on migration, most unseen when you go out birding.
Anyhow I popped here late afternoon to see the reported Wheatear, I did not find them, but did see a Spotted Flycatcher and the Greenshank.

25th Aug - sunny, very warm, 22C, light SSW

Willey; this morning a surprise, a Kingfisher flew over the field passed the cattle, a little off a normal route for a Kingfisher.    A Grey Heron flew over head - very fishy!   In the village a flock of c25 House Sparrows were feeding on the street verge, maybe some spilt cereal.

Stanford reservoir; 2 Wigeon were present today, the first returning birds of the autumn.

A couple of Little Egret and Greenshank were on the islands, a Little Grebe was nearby too.  At least 2 Kingfishers were whizzing about brightening things up.

Plenty of Warblers were around the bushes, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroats.  A Willow Tit also present occasionally calling, this was only my second record this year here.  Treecreeper and Goldcrests as usual.

24th Aug - mostly sunny, light SW, 20C

Willey; another Hedgehog succumbed on the main road near the village turning.  About 60 Swallows were on the wires this morning with others flying around.

Stanford reservoir; a Black Tern was reported, so after dinner I popped over to have a look, fortunately it was still present and busy feeding over the water, I expect it will migrate away by morning.  A single Swift was spotted feeding overhead and c20 Swallows.  A barn Owl was watched hunting at about 0745h over the game crop areas in the adjacent fields. A Tawny was heard calling again from the wood. A Greenshank was resting on the island next to a female Shoveler.  Otherwise all the other usual species were present this evening.

On a pile of wood shred waste from a felled Poplar tree clusters of fungi were noted.

23rd Aug - cloudy, dullish still morning, becoming sunny spells pm 20C, wing fresher West

Willey; first thing there were 2 Wheatear in a stubble field just along the Pailton road, about half hour later another was found on the field track just east of the village.   A Sparrrowhawk flew along the village then back each time pursued by the Swallows, about 150 flying around alarm calling.  A Nuthatch and Chiffchaff were calling in the church yard area.

I've not seen any Yellow Wagtails with the cattle in the fields on migration, usually now we have several stopping over to fatten up, may in the next day or two.

After lunch I had a look at the BH wood, there were 4 Spotted Flycatchers feeding from the Hawthorns on the bank.

I spotted a spider that must have hitched a ride on my car, phone photo, I thunk it is a False Wolf Spider..

Stanford reservoir; visited here in the morning as it was hoped some migrants may have stopped over. A Redstart had been reported nearby and with my Wheatear it suggested they may be others about to find.  In terms of passerines there were several roaming feeding flocks of Chiffchaff, Willow Warblers, Goldcrest and Tits.  At least 2 Whitethroat were in the thickets and a Blackcap along Blowers Bay.
The  2 juvenile Shelduck are still here, the adults probably gone to moult off Germany.  The usual duck and plenty of Lapwings were around too.  A single Little Egret in the inlet area.  A couple of Raven flew over SE.

Shawell Lagoons; mid afternoon look here. There were plenty of Gulls present but none found with colour rings.  Yellow-legged Gulls are frequent now, like this sub-adult pictured.

Also present was a Common Sandpiper on the shore, 97 Canada Geese, a Little Grebe, several Tufted Duck including the female with 3 ducklings still.

Cotesbach Sandy Lane; next was a look in this area, a Red Kite was in the tree and a Green Sandpiper on the flooded area.  A couple of Bullfinch were calling from the lakeside and 4 Buzzards were overhead, one a juvenile calling and pestering a parent.

22nd Aug - cloudy, dull, 18C, humid, light breeze SE

Willey; about 60 Swallows and a few House Martins were on the telegraph wires this morning.  My first autumn Meadow Pipit flew over calling. A Green Woodpecker was feeding on the ground in the paddock. There was about 70 Gulls, probably all Lesser black-backed resting on the pasture field first thing, no doubt off the the arable fields later.

Stanford reservoir; an evening visit, generally quite with the usual ducks and Geese present.  A Green Woodpecker was calling and flying around.  A mixed flock of Swallows, Sand and House Martins dropped in before moving off again.  A single Greenshank and Common Sandpiper were in the narrows island area.

21st Aug - cloudy, dull but mild, 19C light breeze SE

Willey; this morning a Fox sneaked across the pasture to the old railway.  There were only about 25 Swallows on the wires, but others were flying around the fields, so unsure whether some have gone or not.  A Nuthatch and Coal Tit were vocal in the Church area.

Watermead CP North; I ventured here in the afternoon to see a Spotted Crake that has been around a couple of days.  After a while I had several good views of it on the mud-Reed fringes as it fed and wandered along before dissapesring in to the Reed bed.  Also present was the Pectoral Sandpiper, presumed the one from Cropston reservoir I saw last weekend, this has been here a few days too.  Plenty of Lapwing and 2 Common Sandpipers added to the wader variety.
A roving Tit and Warblers flock were in the Hawthorn bushes, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, plus Long-tailed and Blue Tits.

20th Aug Norfolk - sunny am, cloudy late pm, light SW, 20C

Cley Marsh NWT; a sunrise visit again, 3 Green Sandpipers were flying over calling, so I thought there may be new bird in. In fact nothing new was found and generally little was moving about. A mixed flock of about 20 Ringed Plover a Sanderling and Dunlin flew in and settled on the shingle bank before heading off.  Plenty of Juvenile Shelduck around, quarrelsome Avocets, Coot, Teal and Moorhen.

Walsey Hill NOA; I next had a walk around the observatory area and pool.  There was a nice flock of Chiifchaffs and Willow Warblers with Blackcap working the thicket Blackthorn.  Two male Sparrowhawk were having a dispute near the confers, while 2 Jay called loudly.  A Little grebe was on the pool but not much else.

Wells-next-the sea; later I visited the harbour entrance area, the tide was well out.  There were plenty of waders feeding out on the mud and sand - Knot, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Grey and Ringed Plover..  Also, 60 Sandwich and 3 Common Terns.  A single Brent Goose was also spotted, presumably an injured bird that has summered here as no wintering returning flocks have been reported yet. 

 Sandwich Terns

Warham; 5 Swifts and House Martins were flying over the village while having lunch in the pub garden.

Titchwell RSPB; a late afternoon walk here along the main path to the beach.  The only new bird from Friday was a Great (white) Egret that flew in. A Cettis Warbler was heard calling and a few Chiffchaff in the bushes around the car park.  A Little grebe was also spotted on the open water.

19th Aug Norfolk - sunny spells scattered showers pm, 19C steady WSW wind

Cley Marsh NWT. A sunrise visit to the marshes reserve and shore area.  The wind was clearly hampering the bird activity with little moving about. On the marsh lagoon the usual birds were found but very few waders other than Black-tailed Godwits, Ruff and Redshank. A distant small wader flew off before getting a view to identify, a Little Stint was seen later, so I wonder!  Later I went to the shore down the Beach road, on the way down a Wheatear flew across on to Eye field.

From the screen behind the shingle bank the pools held many Teal, Gadwall and a few Shelduck. Four Snipe were found around the edges, either feeding or resting.

A bit of sea watching did not produce too much either, a couple of Fulmar and 9+ Gannets went past, with a few Sandwich Terns fishing and flying passed.

Later afternoon for a spot of sea watching did produced a distance interesting bird that looked like a large Shearwater, but impossible to tell. A single Little Tern was fishing, otherwise just Gannet and Cormorant.

Kelling water Meadow; I visited here the area looks really good for migrants, but not today.  Feeding on the Thistle and weeds was a flock of 20+ Goldfinch and 7+ Linnets.  A single Blackcap was heard in the brambles.  A good number of Sand Martins and some Swallows were feeding over the pools, whilst House Martins were around Kelling village still.  To Kestrels hunted the rough fields and a small flock of Starling were present.

On the meadow pools were Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, an Egyptian Goose, and 2 Avocet.

18th Aug Norfolk - sunny spells, a few scattered light showers late afternoon, 20C, Light SW

Titchwell RSPB; stopped off here during the afternoon.  Always a good place to see a selection of birds. Plenty of Black-tailed Godwits, Grey and Golden Plover, Knot, Turnstone, many Ruff, Dunlin and Redshank were notable waders.  Several Sandwich and a couple of Common Tern were on the mud islands.  A Grey Heron and Spoonbill roosted close to each other.

17th Aug - showers very early morning, clearing to sunny pm, 22C, SW light-mod SW

Willey; mid morning about 100 Swallows were sitting on the telegraph wires, with others flying around.  Then a flock of about 20 House Martins flew over southward feeding.

Stanford reservoir;  a late evening visit produced a Greenshank and a Snipe on the flooded islands.  AWhitethroat popped out and in to cover again, otherwise much the same as usual.  Three Sand Martin were still present and I spotted 2 Swifts feeding quite high, flying in the sunset.   A Tawny Owl called from the adjacent wood, then another began calling from the trees boarding the inlet car park.  The Owls call on a lovely still evening is great to hear and quite melodic.

16th Aug - sunny spells, light mod Southerly, 20C

For a change the SW/W became a southerly for most of the day, unfortutely the Jet streM is not moving enough to stop further Atlantic fronts heading out way.

A busy day so no obs to report.

15th Aug- sunny periods, light westerly, warm 22C

Willey; at 0910h a Hobby flew low south behind the Parsons Close houses with the Swallows ~60, giving it a lot of attention and then flying high as they do for a Hobby.  A Green And Great-spotted Woodpecker called several times from the BH wood and Long Spinney respectively. A Nuthatch was calling loudly from the old railway track, while about 30 Starlings were feeding on the permanent pasture behind the houses.

Stanford reservoir; an afternoon look here. The Black-tailed Godwit was still,present and 2. Green Sandpipers.  The higher number of Shoveler and Teal were present and a couple of Gadwall.  More than 100 Lapwing were roosting on the flooded island areas.  A Kestrel was hunting over the rough areas and fields.

14th Aug - sunny spells, some light rain later, light SW, 18C

Willey; about 30 Swallows were on the telegraph wires this morning as the day warmed.  There are more than this around the village, others were feeding around the area.  A Coal Tit was calling from the church Yew tree.

Stanford reservoir; an evening visit, pretty cloudy and light rain starting so not too good for finding things.  As I approached the gate I noticed a very young Fox cub sneaking about on the verge looking rather apprehensive, it disappeared under the field gate out of view.

The water is still high, covering the muddy shore, so waders are having a hard time to find a place to land and feed, however I did find a Greenshank, a Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Common Sandpipers.  The Shoveler numbers have increased to 20, 16 Teal too.  More than 120 Greylag Geese are visiting the reservoir at the moment.   A Little Egret was resting in the inlet vegetation.

13th Aug - sunny periods, 20C, light breeze SW

Shawell Lagoons; A look here this morning was worthwhile, 2 Black-tailed Godwits were resting on the shore and Green Sandpiper next to them.

A Kingfisher flew over the lagoons, a one maybe 2 Little Grebes and a female Tufted Duck with 2 young ducklings were notable.

Cropston reservoir; After lunch I decided to go here to see the reported Pectoral Sandpiper found this morning.  On arrival at the Bradgate park car park I had to walk to the reservoir inlet area.  On the way there a very obliging Yellowhammer was on the ground only a few feet from lots of day walkers.

At the inlet the Pectoral Sandpiper was found feeding on the mud, along with several Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwing.  The heat haze, distance a light made getting a decent photo impossible, but with a little imagination the following do show a Pec Sand (juvenile).

A Sparrowhawk flew over, a Green Woodpecker called and a Nuthatch was heard.  From the causeway 6+ Little Egret, 4 Grey Heron, 2 Mandarin Duck, 2 Common tern  and 2 Grey Wagtail were notable.