28th Feb - -6C last night. Sunny spells, snow showers light, 0C, light NE, cold

Willey;  37 Lapwing, Starling and Fieldfares again on pastures, they are on a leeward side of a field hedge and the sun catches the ground making it a tad soft in a few spots.

The very cold weather, snow cover and frozen ground will begin to affect our wildlife survival.  We have a few more days yet before conditions ease.

27th Feb - -4C last night, sunny spells and snow flurries, light-steady NE cold, 1C

Willey; this afternoon the Lapwings were again feeding on the pastures to the east, 34, with them c130 Starlings and 12 Fieldfares.

Shawell Lagoons; water not frozen so attracting plenty of Gulls, a Herring Gull carried a yellow ring Y.F38.

Also present were 6 Canada Geese, c60 Wigeon, 2 Pochard, 3 Teal, a Mallard pair, 2 Great-crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant and 6 Mute swans. A Buzzard flew over and spooked the Gulls as it always does.

Ground snow cover is very variable locally from none to a little, nationally some places have had several cm with more on the way.

26th Feb - good frost last night. Sunny am, sunny spells pm with short snow flurries but not covering the ground that is now fairly frozen. Steady NE wind, cold oC

Willey; a busy day but worth noting that c25 Lapwing and c30 Starlings fly on to the pasture to the east of the village next to the .Coal Pit Lane.  Presumably the ones seen a few days ago.

25th Feb - good frost last night, sunny, cold easterly, 4C

We are in for a spell of cold easterly weather coming over Central Europe from Siberia, maybe the coldest spell for many years - we’ll see what comes.

Stanford Reservoir; this afternoon a Red Kite flew over eastward. 12 Teal, a Shelduck pair, 2 Goosander, 6 Goldeneye were present with plenty of Pochard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall and Wigeon.  A mixed flock of Redwing, Fieldfare and Starling were feeding on the adjacent pasture. A female Kestrel was hunting, flying over a small party of ground feeding Chaffinch that took no notice.
At the feed station a few more Chaffinch, a Pheasant and Mallard pair were helping themselves to spillage. A Rat was also present - future Barn Owl meal.

A Muntjac doe was in the scrub, whist a Fox sat on the bank eyeing the duck on the water below.

24th Feb - frost last night, mostly sunny, 5C, but cold easterly blowing

Willey; at least 10 tree Sparrows on the feeders this morning.  John M spotted a flock of lapwing on the field just east of the old railway track, we've not had any this close for ages, they were once an abundant winter visitor and frequent breeder in the parish.

Brandon Marsh; a visit here after lunch was pleasant, from the Teal hide a jack Snipe and 2 Common Snipe were watched feeding in the reed edge.  Plenty of Teal and Shoveler, Gadwall - some displaying, Shelduck pair, Goosander pair, Wigeon c60, Lapwing 55, Grey Heron, 2 Water Rail, Buzzard and 2 Stock Doves. A Lesser Redpoll was washing in a pool then dried in the sunshine.  The feed station was attracting plenty of Tits, including 1, maybe 2, Marsh Tits, Chaffinch and a Reed Bunting, 2 Nuthatch were in the area.  A Mistle thrush was along the entrance drive.

23rd Feb - frost last night, mostly sunny, 4C, cold light easterly

Shawell Lagoons; I initially had a look at the landfill area but the Iceland and Glaucous Gulls were not showing there, so I thought they may be resting at the Lagoons.  There was plenty of Gulls present but not the white-wingers.
Also present was 206 Lapwing, a single Snipe and Shelduck. A small flock of Wigeon, 4 each of Gadwall and Mallard, 5 each Mute Swans and Canada Geese.

22nd Feb - cloudy until mid-pm, cool easterly light, 5C

No obs today.

21st Feb - cloudy, very light northerly, 7C

Willey;  0730h a Male Pied Wagtail was back on the old pan tile roof singing, waiting for a mate to return from their winter travels.
At. 0800h, John M reported seeing a Barn Owl fly out of an hovel shed across the fields where I recently sited a nest box.  Late morning 2 Grey Wagtails flew over the farmstead areas in the village.

Cotesbach Landfill/quarry; After lunch I went to see what Gulls were around, hoping for white-wingers.  There were several thousand Gulls were present so searching through them was a challenge.  Apart from the Gulls, 6 Red Kite were present flying around the area, sometimes together.

After some scanning through the Gulls I found an adult Iceland Gull sitting on a distant earth bank, unfortunately something flushed them and they all flew up.  Once some had settled down, many leaving, I found another Iceland Gull, a second winter, I managed some record photos of this one.

Soon after I spotted a smart juvenile Glaucous gull, this was closer and I again managed some record photos.

20th Feb - sunny spells, northerly freshening at times, 8C

Willey; a short check along Pen lane to see if the Merlin was around drew a blank, but a Sparrowhawk and female Kestrel were present.  A flock of Fieldfare c80, Starlings and a few Redwings were feeding on a maize stubble field.

Nice to see 10 Tree Sparrows and 5 Yellowhammers with the other regulars at my feed station.

19th Feb - dull, cloudy, light occasional short showers, mild 10C, NW light

Willey; while travelling along Pen lane I flushed a male Merlin off the low lane side hedge, it flew across the field low and settled in the distant Ash tree.  Ideal winter territory - must check another day.

18th Feb - Mostly cloudy, light S, 8C

Eyebrook reservoir; I made a trip here for the afternoon.  There was 1000+ Lapwings and 5 Golden Plover with them one the adjacent fields, and a good sized flock of Starling. On a distant field a Linnet flock, c100, was feeding, other 'small birds too but not identifiable from my views, probably Skylark and meadow pipits.
A Red Kite was overhead

On the reservoir the highlight was 3 Smew, 2 drakes and 1 female.   Duck numbers seemed low, although plenty of Teal and Goldeneye.

At the inlet bridge feed station 2 Marsh Tits were busy feeding.  At the gate feed station there were 15+ Tree Sparrows, 4 Yellowhammers and several Chaffinch.

Sometimes Stonechat winter here but one hasn't been seen for awhile so I checked the area A nice male flew up and perched briefly before disappearing. While watching the shore line a Water Rail appeared out of the reeds, I tried for a photo but it was very quick and distant, so not well resolved.

17th Feb - mostly cloudy, light southerly, 7C

Misterton; this morning around the church area there was Song Thrush, Treecreeper,Chaffinch, Coal, Blue and Great Tits singing.   great-spotted Woodpecker was drumming with a female close by. 15 Goldfinch were feeding in the high tree tops.

Shawell Lagoons; early afternoon I had a look here, there were plenty of Gulls, but these were spooked by something and most left.  On the shore were 245 Lapwing, a Pied and Grey Wagtail.  On the water 169 Wigeon, 4 Teal, 1 Gadwall, 19 Tufter Duck, a Cormorant and Great-crested Grebe.  A Kingfisher whizzed across the water.

Stanford reservoir; I moved on to here hoping to see if any scarce Gulls come to the Gull roost later.  While waiting 5 Goosander were spotted  in the Blowers bay area with several Goldeneye nearby.

16th Feb - -2C frost last night, mostly sunny, high thin cloud, light SW, 7C

Willey; mid-morning I checked the feed station for awhile.  Tree Sparrows numbered 10, the highest count so far this winter,  Chaffinch, Greenfinch, single Goldfinch and Yellowhammers were present.  Blue, Great, single Coal Tit and 4 Long-tailed Tits were visiting. A female Great-spotted Woodpecker   fed on the fat balls for awhile.  Jackdaw, Magpie, Collard Dove, Dunnock, House Sparrows and Blackbirds were others present. A Sparrowhawk caused a slight panic as it zipped through the feed area, but caught nothing.

A Red Kite drifted over slowly westward, a single Buzzard over, then 2 others together circling a little to the east - territorial display should be come frequent now.  Fieldfare and Redwing were on the nearby fields, occasionally flying into the old railway tree line.

Cotesbach Landfill; a look here after lunch, plenty of Gulls, 10,000+, but no white wingers.  These seen to have been on the scarce side this winter, but still time for more. Two Red Kite were in attendance circling around the area.

15th Feb - mostly sunny, 7C, light WSW

Draycote Water; a look here this morning prior to a wardens meeting.  There was very little out on the water, a few Goldeneye, common ducks, 3 distant Goosanders,  Great-Crested Grebes, a Little Grebe and a few other common species. Along the bank there were several Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits.
A couple of Greenfinch were singing from the thorn bushes and a number of Chaffinch were stunning themselves, but no sign of the Hawfinch that has been present recently.

14th Feb - cloudy, rain showers, breezy, 4C

Albert Village; a juvenile Black-throated Diver has been present on the lake since Monday, and despite the miserable weather was again reported today so after lunch I went to see it.   At first I could not find it, another birder texted me where it was earlier and fortunately it was in the same area.    I was the furthest point to it, so.after awhile decided to go round to the side it was hoping to get a photo, I checked as I went, still there.  However, when I got to a nearer viewing point it had vanished, I could not find it again.
The weather was horrible really so not much else was around including plenty of Gulls, a single Little Grebe, several Great-Crested Grebes, a Pochard, Tufted Ducks and Mallards. A Oystercatcher was roosting on the island.

13th Feb - cloudy and showers most of the day, SE fresh at times, 5C

Busy day.

Willey; a mixed flock of about 70 Fieldfare and Redwing flew over the village lane east this morning.  A Grey Wagtail was Flying around too.

Late afternoon the Grey Heron was doing its pond circuit again.

12th Feb - sunny morning, broken cloud afternoon, 6C, light SW

Willey;  a pair of Mistle Thrush were feeding on their usual pasture to the west.  Some 40 Fieldfare and 20Redwing were flying over the village at various times during the day.
A brief look at the feed station mid afternoon produced at least 15 Great Tits present, plus several Blue And a Coal Tit.
A Grey Heron flew low over the field and may have settled on the pond behind Parsons Close.

11th Feb - sunny am, sunny spells pm with wintry showers, brisk westerly, 5C

Willey; a Great-spotted Woodpecker was drumming plenty this morning in the BH wood.

Stanford Reservoir; a Red Kite flew over eastward. The usual duck species plus a drake Shelduck.  A Green and Great-spotted Woodpecker were present.  A flock of about 30 Chaffinch moved along the adjacent field and border hedgerow.

10th Feb - frosty start, rain from 0800h till 1500h, dull and very damp, temp rising during the day late pm to 7C

Sibbertoft; while here this morning a small flock of Redwing flew over the village in the rain.

Shallow Lagoons; with fine drizzle coming down I had a look here and at the nearby landfill.  There were few Gulls around. On the Lagoons  a Grey Heron, 10 Teal, 22 Tufted Duck was about it.
In all a miserable days weather.

9th Feb - few sunny spells, NW wind increasing, feeling cold, 4C

No obs today.

8th Feb - cloudy, damp late pm, 5C, brick westerly developing, feeling cold

Saddington reservoir; A Red-breasted Merganser was reported here the last 2 days with the Goosander, so I grabbed a moment to go and look for it.  It was showing quite well on the very choppy water staying with the Goosanders, often feeding or preening.  A nice flock of Wigeon and Tufted Duck were present on this small reservoir.  A Red Kite and then a Buzzard flew over.  In the distant arm of the reservoir at least 3 Grey Herons were present, with Cormorants and Common Gulls, a Great Egret then showed well.

7th Feb - frost last night -5C. Sunny, v. light westerly, 3C

Stanford reservoir; I had a short visit here after lunch, it was very quiet, plenty of Wigeon and Gadwall present and other usual wildfowl, plus 4 Teal.  A Buzzard flew over the adjacent field and a Sparrowhawk was hunting along the willows. A flock of Fieldfare were feeding on the top road pasture.  Still plenty of Tree Sparrows at the feed station.

6th Feb - a dusting of snow first thing, broken cloud, v light NW, 2C

Frolesworth manor lake; I had a quick look here as passing this morning.  Disappointingly no finch/Bunting flock on the game cover which they like.
On the lake were Tufted Duck, a Great-crested Grebe pair, several Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. Eleven Cormorant sat in the adjacent Tree top. A couple of Buzzard were present too.

5th Feb - Frost last night, sunny periods, light NE, 4C

Willey; a nice selection of birds ar the feed station this morning, including 6 Tree Sparrows, 5 Yellowhammers, several Chaffinch and a Coal Tit.  ~30 Fieldfare were Flying about too.

4th Feb - sunny am, clouding over with a few wintry short showers, 5C

Willey; a flock of c 70 Fieldfare flew over the village from the old railway tree tops.

Ravensthorpe reservoir; had a walk round here this afternoon.  One the small side there were several Grey Heron and a Great Egret.

A Raven flew over calling, with several excited Magpies nearby in the trees.  I then spotted 3 drake Mandarin Duck on the far side near the trees.

On the main side there was a collection of he usual ducks, Gadwall, Wigeon, Tufted, Teal, Mallard and at least 9 Goldeneye.  For quite a while now, with the Mute Swans there is a juvenile Whooper Swan.  It seems in good health, but I wonder whether it can fly or not, no doubt time will tell when Spring arrivals and it should fly away.  Its not afraid of people either, often coming in close when people feed the Mute Swans.

A Grey Wagtail was feeding near the dam, a Jay called in the woodland nearby.