30th Sept - sunny spells until rain from 1530h, 17C, light SW

Willey; 12 Swallows again around stables and back fields.

Cotesbach landfill; a quick look in the rain, no Ruddy Shelduck seen, a Grey Heron present otherwise usual birds, one Red Kite.

Shawell lagoons; juv Ruff still present, 55 Lapwing and 3 Snipe out feeding.

Colour ringed LBBG - V.37L present.

29th Sept - rain until mid morning, then showers, 19C, mod SW

Willey; 9 Swallows around back fields/stables in the rain first thing.

Bittesby mere lane lake; a look here just before mid-day as the rain stopped.  4 House Martins flew over moving off south. Linnets and Reed Bunting heard, Long-tailed Tits inn hedgerow, Mute Swan pair with 2 well grown juvs.

The 'green' arable farm land is now changed forever. We'll see how wildlife adapts to the changes, plus the surrounding tree planting that has occurred.  These photos show the new pools at the end of the massive warehouse that has just been built along the Mere lane, the lake is behind the right hand side hedgerow.

These show the flooded area and weedy field next to the lake (the other side to the warehouse).

Cotesbach landfill; a look here after lunch on the way to Stanford reservoir; the sand pit area now well full of water after last nights rain.  The Ruddy Shelduck still present with the Canada Geese.  Otherwise all the usual birds present, a single House Martin feeding overhead.

Stanford reservoir; the rain has filled the reservoir and plenty is running down the spillway making it unsuitable for birds to be feeding in.  In general the rain and showers have made it a fairly quiet day with just the expected species being seen.  Several Meadow Pipits and Linnets on the adjacent weedy fallow field, with a Kestrel hunting there too.

Shawell Lagoons; a look here next, the juv Ruff still present and 74 lapwing, not many Gulls today as the landfill was not open.

The first Gull I looked at had a yellow ring HD610, I was just about to photograph the Gull and have a good look at it when it flew off.  Fortunately, Carl saw this bird yesterday and considered it to be a Yellow-legged Gull.

28th Sept - mod -breezy SW, 19C, sunny spells, cloudy later afternoon

Willey; 6 Swallows around the back fields this morning still.  Roving Tit flock, Blue, Great, Long-tailed and Chiffchaff in hedgerow near the barn.

Cotesbach Landfill;  0930h - 12 Shoveler, ~25 Teal plus Mallard, Tufted, Little Grebe Canada and Grey Lag Geese on the sandpit pools. AGreen Sandpiper was searching along the edge of an island. Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, 3 Red Kites and 2+ Buzzards over the area.  Then c150 House Martins came over and stayed feeding. A flock of at least 100 Linnets fed on the weeds along the bank. Meadow Pipits around, 5+ and several Pied Wagtails around.

About mid-day Carl called to say he had spotted a drake Ruddy Shelduck with the Grey Lag Geese here, presumably the one seen at Stanford reservoir recently, I went back for a look.

Stanford reservoir; a look here after lunch, a Common Sandpiper on the dam, Grey Wagtails on the spillway, a Sparrowhawk in the railway hedge, Blackcap and Chiffchaffs around.
A male and female Stonechat on the adjacent weedy field.
Several Red Admiral flying.

Shawell Lagoons; a late look here, 71 Lapwing, the juv Ruff still, a Teal and Gulls, 2 Gull colour rings read.

LBBGulls -  Blue V.U4C (Danish), Black J722A (Norwegian) - both have been seen here before.

Stanford reservoir - last Tuesday (24th). a bug landed on my note pad, which I photograph with the phone camera, just had it's ID conformed as Pantilius tunicatus, late-season species found on Birch. 

27th Sept - showersd, sunny spells, mod WSW gusty at times, 17C

Willey; 3 Swallows over the village 0830h feeding.

Shawell lagoons; I had a look at the north lagoon late afternoon, the juv Ruff was still present.
A couple of colour ringed near adult Less-black Backed Gulls - yellow 2d7B and black J105H (no photo).

26th Sept - sunny spells, breezy SW, 17C

Willey; this morning I saw 4 Swallows, then at 1715h there were 7 sitting on the wires, most were juveniles, presumably the last ones this year to leave their nests.

Leicester Abbey Park - I had a look here whilst in Leicester. I was surprised to find 8 Little Grebes, 7 on the river near the weir and one on the pond.  Plenty of Magpies in the park.  Goldcrest and Long-tailed Tits, also one great-spotted Woodpecker.

Shawell lagoons; a look here from 1600h.  A juvenile Ruff was present feeding, it was seen here yesterday too by Carl.  78 Lapwings and plenty of Gulls until a Grey heron flew among them and then most Gulls left.  I did read 2 colour rings though.

                      Yellow HXNPA                                                 Blue D=X

25th Sept - sunny spells, showers, 18C, light SW

Willey; 6 Swallows seen today, several Chiffchaffs singing around the village.

Stanford reservoir; a look late afternoon, generally quieter than of late. the usual duck, including a few more Wigeon present, a single Teal, a few Shoveler and Gadwall. Roving Tit flock with Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs. A Great-spotted Woodpecker flew over the reservoir.  On the spillway was 4 grey Wagtails.

24th Sept - rain am, showers, some heavy pm, light-mod WSW, 17C

Willey; some seen flying in the rain, later 6 on the wires.

Stanford Reservoir; late afternoon a gap in the rain so a look here.  A Hobby hawking over the hide point, a Sparrowhawk flew over the res.  8 Grey Wagtails and about 14 Moorhens in the spillway.
A large roving Tit flock, mostly Blue and Great, also Treecreeper, Lon-tailedTits, 2 Coal Tits, Goldcrest and nearby a Willow Warbler.

23rd Sept - sunny spells, becoming cloudy, light rain late afternoon, light-mod breezt S, 18C

Willey; A fall of Meadow Pipits last night in the Perkins fields, 50+.  A single Jay in the nearby spinney.   6 Swallows around the village mid-morning and a Chiffchaff singing.

Stanford reservoir; late afternoon visit. A Hobby hawking low in the dam area, plus the juv Little-ringed Plover still on the dam.  Otherwise all the expected other birds on the water and around the bushes.
A few Butterflies were spotted out.

22nd Sept - mostly cloudy, rain spell early afternoon, light SSW, 18C

Willey; Only 2 Swallows seen this morning near parsons close-stables.
John M told me he flushed 2 Snipe the other day from a nearby pond the other day.

Stanford reservoir; at look here from 1500h. juv Little ringed Plover on the dam still.  Wigeon now at 83, 4 Gadwall and 2 Shoveler, Great crested Grebes 33+.  On the spillway 6 Grey Wagtails and 7 Moorhens.  Plenty of Chiffchaffs roaming with Tits, Nuthatch, Goldcrests, Nuthatch and Treecreeper.

Canada Geese flew in from fields, with them the drake Ruddy Shelduck.  A Kestrel was around too.  Both Green and Great-spotted Woodpeckers were seen.

21st Sept - Sunny, light-breezy SE, 25C

A glorious sunny day and very warm, things are about to get unsettled though, like Autumn !

Willey; 3 Swallows seen today on the wires.

Stanford reservoir; late afternoon, the juv Little ringed Plover seen this morning by Chris was still present, also 3 Hobby were hawking around the reservoir again.  6 Grey Wagtails on the spillway (now drying out and becoming less attractive to Sandpipers.  Still a good number of Chiffchaff, only one Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat seen.

Cotesbach landfill;  sandpit area - 48 Teal, 13 Shoveler, Wigeon 1, 4 Little Grebe and a Jay flew over after gathering food to store from the spinney.

20th Sept - 20cC,sunny, light breezy SE

Willey; 1030h, 7 Swallows over the village.

Stanford Reservoir; a look this afternoon. Now up to 44 Wigeon and 7 Gadwall.  Three Hobby hawking over the reservoir, great to watch.  Seeming less Warblers around, although several Chiffchaff still.  A Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Sparrowhawk hunting along the boundary hedgerow.  A single Little Grebe near the dam.

Cotesbach Landfill; a look here next, plenty of Gulls and usual ducks, 6 Red Kite. A new arrival was a Little Egret.

19th Sept - sunny, 21C, very light NE

Willey; 6 Swallows around this morning.  ~1700h about 30 Starling were hawking insects over the village.

Croft Hill; rather quiet, only a female Blackcap eating berries and a Raven over the quarry.

Shawell Lagoons;  visited here, Carl was already there reading colour rings.  Several Yellow-legged Gulls (juvs and adults) present too.  

Black JA94Y Ringed in Norway

Also present a female Shelduck and 2 Wigeon.

18th Sept - sunny, light W-NW, 19C

Willey; about 12 Swallows around this morning, 4 still going into the stables.

Stanford Reservoir;  Ruddy Shelduck.  Great-spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch with a mixed Tit flock moving through. 3 Bullfinch in the thorn bushes, over the area 2 Hobby.  A Common Sandpiper on the dam.


Comma Butterfly and many common Dragonflies out (ideal for the Hobby).

17th Sept - sunny, 18C, light NNW

Willey; 4 Swallows still visiting the stables this morning and at 1400h 12 were over the village.  Several Chiffchaffs around the village too.  6 Meadow Pipits in Hurls Furlong pasture field.
A Fox walked down the side of the barn field hedge where the lambs are, taking no notice.

Cotesbach landfill; a Common Sandpiper, 5 Red Kites, a Kestrel plus the other usual ducks, Little Grebe and Gulls.

Stanford reservoir, an afternoon visit. surprisingly I found a 1st winter Redstart (male) in the same area as a couple of days ago, maybe the same bird.  Plenty of Chiffchaffs still, plus a Whitethroat.  3 Red Kite around and 3 Ravens calling and circling high.  a Common Sandpiper on the spillway, with Grey Wagtails.  A Jay flew over the spillway.   A Coal Tit was visiting the main feed station.

16th Sept - cloudy, light rain early, light NNE, 16C

Willey; at about 0900h 25 Swallows on the wires, they must have been around the fields yesterday.  A Chiffchaff or two were singing from the hedges and trees, 10 + Collard Dove were around the village, some singing.

Stanford Reservoir; a look late afternoon.  A good number of Chiffchaff, with 2 Willow Warblers and at least 3 Lesser Whitethroat along the Northants side towards the old hide.  A Hobby and Sparrowhawk were hunting.  20+ House Martins overhead.

A large flock of Canada and Greylag Geese flew in including a Ruddy Shelduck (Chris had 2 on the dam early afternoon), this was the second bird (less white head), at least 335 of the former and c200 of the latter.

15th Sept - sunny spells, light SW, 20C

Willey; only 2 Swallows seen this morning, still entering stables so may have young to fledge yet.

Cotesbach Landfill; in the sand pit area mid-morning a Common and Green Sandpiper, several Buzzards up, 4 Red Kite and male Sparrowhawk over.   Teal, Shoveler, Tufted Duck and Mallards present along with Little Grebes, Canada and Greylag Geese and the usual 6 Mute Swans.

Two Meadow Pipits flew over south, 2 Great-spotted Woodpeckers in the spinney.  About 50 Starling along with Gulls were on the landfill area.

14th Sept - sunny, 21C, light SW

Willey; only 20 Swallows seen today - counting down!

Cotesbach landfill; this morning the usual ducks and geese, but nothing new nor any Wood Sandpipers.

Shawell lagoons; after lunch I touched base with Carl here who was already busy reading colour rings, quite a good number today with several ringed in the Channel Isles.  This is an example of what to look for.

Stanford reservoir;  a look here especially on adjacent fields for 'chats' - I didn't find any, however I did find a male and female Redstart.  They were very active in a hedgerow never staying in one place long enough to photograph. 

A new bird on the reservoir today was a Ruddy Shelduck.  Other notables included a Hobby and  Lesser Whitethroat.

The ringers this morning ringed 614 bird, which included 448 Blackcaps and 70 Chiffchaff - just amazing, you would never know this number (and more) of birds were passing through the area.

A Fox with prey (a Carrion Crow) was heading straight towards me before going in to cover.

A group of large Fungi were fruiting too. 

13th Sept - mostly sunny, 18C, light N

Willey;  about 30 Swallows around today and Meadow Pipit heard on stubble field.

Cotesbach landfill;  3 Wood Sandpipers still at 1800h, they were less busy and not feeding as frantically as before, maybe they are refuelled now, they weren't seen after 1830h.

A couple of Foxes were around the sand pit area too.