31st Oct - sunny spells, light ESE, 10C

Willey; last evening (0850h) I spotted a Hedgehog walking along the side of the wall disappearing round the corner passed the village hall.

Today - plenty of activity at the feed station was quietened as a Sparrowhawk zoomed by. Coal Tit, Nuthatch, plus Blue and Great Tits, at least 20 House Sparrows, Greenfinch and Chaffinch. A Few Redwing and Fieldfare were around the Hedges and Trees.

Shawell Lagoons; a look here this morning. Plenty of Gulls but practically all were on the water so ring reading was not possible.  An adult Yellow-legged Gull was standing amongst Herring Gulls.  A single Great-crested Grebe, Grey Heron, 6 Teal and 46 Lapwings were present.

Cotesbach Landfill; a look here next. most notable were the 24 Red Kites present and manoeuvring around each other.

Bittesby; a walk over this mostly arable and wooded area this afternoon. Unfortunately it is an area that has been approved to warehousing development despite local objections.  The farmland was in the Higher Stewardship scheme for at least 7 years and received several million pounds to improve habitats over this time.  This happened and changes in wild life was evident, now much will be lost when development occurs.
Two Kestrels were hunting, a Great-spotted Woodpecker flew along the hedge, quite a few Meadow Pipits were on the stubble, a flock of c50 Goldfinch on the Teasel patch.

30th Oct - sunny spells am, cloudy pm, 10C, light-mod Easterly

Stanford Reservoir;  in a South Kilworth Garden a Black Redstart was seen photographed yesterday, however it has not been seen seen since, I had a look in the area and draw a blank too.

At the settling pool 2 Little Egret, a Kingfisher and 2 Little Egret.  On the reservoir a drake Goldeneye has now joined the imm and female.  Pochard 35, Gadwall, 20, Teal 2, Wigeon c100, plus Tufted and Mallard.  A Willow Tit was in the waterside Sallows, a few Redwing and Fieldfare were around. Two further Little Grebe were at the dam.

A Jay called loudly along the by-pass path, a Kestrel landed on the telegraph pole and 2 Red Kite were ‘playing’ over the adjacent field. A roving Tit flock, comprised of Long-tailed, Blue, Great and Goldcrests.

29th Oct - chilly start, sunny spells, light-mod NE, 10C

Willey; a few more Redwings around this morning, and Skylark heard overhead to the west.

Stanford Reservoir; a look mid-afternoon, not much around really.  5 Shoveler flew over. The Gull roost is now starting to build..

28th Oct - Night frost, sunny spells, cloudier pm, 9C, light NE

Apparently the Hooded Merganser has been seen and photographed today with a narrow metal leg ring which means it is extremely likely an escapee so wont be accepted as a truly wild visitor.

Willey; checked the feed station about mid-day. House Sparrows were numerous today c30 and one Tree Sparrow. Jackdaws were also visiting in numbers c25. A couple of Pheasant and two more in the lane adjacent were visiting.
At one time there were 13 Great Tits on the feeders, a Great-spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch visited too.
A couple of Redwings flew in to a tree top which helped me spot the flock, c25, of fieldfare heading over quite high SW.

27th Oct - ground frost, sunny, light SW, 12C

At last a decent sunny day after so many dull days and rainy days.

Cotesbach Landfill; A look this morning, 4 Red Kites, usual Ducks (Teal, Shoveler), 3 Little Grebes and surprisingly a Common Sandpiper feeding along the edge. It was disturbed by a Kestrel and flew off out of view.

Rutland Water (Egleton reserve); a drake Hooded Merganser was found on lagoon 2, it was showing well, the question is always it a wild bird or escapee - not leg rings were seen and it behaved like for a wild bird.
On lagoon 1 a red head Smew and 6 red head Goosander, several Great and Little Egret, a Stonechat plus other expected ducks etc.
Birds on Lagoon included c250 Golden Plover, a Dunlin and Redshank, Pintails. At lagoon 4 birds included a Green Sandpiper and 3 Snipe.  On south arm III several Goldeneye could be seen.

26th Oct - rain all night and day, 15C, light SSW

The rain made things pretty miserable with little about today.

Willey;
A couple of pasture fungi species in the rain.

Stanford reservoir; I ventured here after lunch as it  looked as if the rain/wind may ease off, however it didn't and there was very little to see. A Kestrel was flying around and calling. Passerines were absent and little on the water.  To reservoir was overflowing with water flooding down the spillway in to the river which was full to the brim.

25th Oct - cloudy, some light rain am, SSE increasing pm gusty, 15C

Willey;  a Sparrowhawk was being hassled by Corvids this morning of the fields to the east.

Stanford reservoir;  a quick look this afternoon in the gusty wind. Most passerines were keeping low and deep in bushes, a female Blackcap was spotted, along with a mixed roving flock of Tits. A few Redwing and Fieldfare were flying around.  Nothing new on the water, c25 Pochard flew in.

Cotesbach Landfill; moist birds sheltering from the wind, 3 Little Grebes, 12 Shoveler plus c25 Teal.  Two Red Kite were being  blown about as were the Gulls over the tip.

24th Oct - mist and cloud, then rain mid-day for awhile, broken cloud later. 11C, lght W

Willey; little time today.
I did notice a Kestrel hovering over the pikel paddock area before lunch.  A hen Pheasant is now attending the paddock feed station.  A Mistle Thrush eating the Church yew berries, only a few Redwing around, no Fieldfare seen here yet.

23rd Oct - very mist, clearing by mid-day, sun, then clouding over, 13C, light SE

Stanford reservoir; a look here after lunch.  c150 Fieldfare were on the bushes and feeding in the cultivated field, about 5 Redwing too. Several parties of Long-tailed Tits, with Blue, Great and Goldcrests were roving. A Cetti's Warbler was heard in sub-song.

On the recently sown adjacent field 28 Stock Doves and few Woodpigeon, Rooks and many Jackdaws were feeding.  9 Goldfinch were on the game crop nearby.

On the water, a juv and female Goldeneye were present, only 9 Pochard, 18 Wigeon and many Canada and Grey Lag Geese.  A good number of Gulls including several Common Gull.

A Little Egret and Grey Heron were at the inlet river pool.

A good selection of Fungi are fruiting, here's a few examples.

Pearly Webcap (I think!)

                                                                                    Angel's Bonnet?

22 Oct - mostly sunny, mod SW, 13C

Norfolk -
Titchwell - I spent some of the morning looking around here, many of the expected species were present. A reasonable flock of Bearded Tits near the path, A Rock pipit flew on to brick work at the corner of the volunteer marsh and a  bathing Water Pipit with Meadow Pipits was close to the Parrinder Hide.  Plenty of Starlings flying around in groups.

A skein of Pink-footed Geese flew over and good number of Brent Geese were on the marshes and flying around.

Waders included Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits, Grey and Golden Plover, Sanderling, Dunlin, Redshank, Avocet, Lapwing, Oystercatcher and Turnstone.  On the sea very little, a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers were noted.

Thornham Harbour area; the most notable records were a flock of c150 Linnet which contained a leucistic individual with quite a white body, head with a pink flush to the breast. Two Twite were found feeding in the vegetation.  A Peregrine made a attempt to catch prey out on the marsh.

21st Oct - cloudy, mod-brisk northerly, 12C

Norfolk -
Cley; morning - Much Gannet, Guillemot and Razorbill movement, a Little Auk flew passed rapidly westward. Wigeon, Eider, Common Scoter, Pintail and Red-throated Divers all flew west. A Short-eared Owl was spotted out to sea, hopefully it made it ashore.

Another look late afternoon; 4 Grey Partridge were in the field by the car park.  A Little Auk was on the sea close to the surf.  Movement was still going on as the wind blew

Holkham marshes and woods;
Egyptian Geese, Brent and Barnacle Geese (4), 2 Great Egret, Curlew and Lapwing were on the fields. A distant Buzzard sat atop a bush looking for prey.  Two Great Egret were in the pool area.

Lot of Tits, Goldcrest and Treecreeper,  4+Jays were busy collecting nuts. 3 Little Grebes seen on the pool.

20th Oct - mostly cloudy, mod NW, 12C

Norfolk
Friary Hills; a walk here before breakfast.  The wind wasn't a good direction for passerine migrants.  There were plenty of Blackbirds feasting and a good movement of Greenfinch.  A single female Blackcap was spotted.

Walsey Hills; the morning highlight here was a Yellow-browed Warbler that was showing quite well despite the cool fresh wind blowing through the sallows, also a juv WIllow Warbler.

Kelling Water Meadow; it always interesting to walk down the lane to the water meadow, even when not much is about, again due to the wind.  Another Willow Warbler in the thick hedge, a Kestrel hunting and Red-legged partridge on the harvested potato field. At the pool Curlew, Wigeon and Teal, with Skylark, Meadow Pipits and other finches about.
A 1st winter Stonechat was busy feeding from the brambles.

Cley; sea watching; there was a pretty moderate NW blowing all day that certainly made much movement with many Gannets and Auks heading east. Ducks, Red-throated Divers, Kittiwake, Little Gulls and Skua sp were moving.

19th Oct - sunny spells, light-mod W, 12C

Willey; this. morning first thing a Chiffchaff singing in Church Lane.

Then headed off to Norfolk via a vintage auction in in Cambridgeshire.

Cley; a late look,  towards sunset time from the shelter over the sea.  Not too much around, the odd Common Scoter, a flock of Brent Geese, Wigeon  and the usual Gulls.  On the Eye field behind you could hear Lapwing and Curlew.

18th Oct - sunny spells, mod-breezy S/SW, 12C

Stanford reservoir; a look this afternoon, blowy conditions, many duck and Geese in the lee of the dam.  This pair of Pintail were sheltering, the male is in eclipse plumage.  Wigeon and Gadwall were there too, Pochard (12) and Tufted Duck were in the shelter of the Sallows further along the shore.  I counted 239 Canada and estimated 450 Grey Lag Geese.

Few passerines around due to the wind, but a single Chiffchaff was with Long-tailed Tits. a flock of c15 Goldfinch flew passed.

17th Oct - sunny, becoming cloudy, light-mod SSE, 12C

Willey; a single Swallow flew around late morning.

Stanford Reservoir; mid- morning. Small numbers of Redwing and Chaffinch on the move, 9 Skylark over.  Only one Chiffchaff seen, A Red Kite and 2 Kestrels around.  A Kingfisher on the tower railings and 2 Little Grebe nearby. Several Pied Wagtails around and 1 Grey Wagtail on the dam.

A Red Admiral was on the wing and soaking up the sun.

16th Oct - cloudy am, sunny spells later, 14C, light W

A busy day but a quick look around.

Willey; a quick look at the feed station after lunch, now 2 Tree Sparrows present - hopefully numbers will build.  Greenfinch and Goldfinch and Coal Tit were also present.  

A few more Redwing were around today, with some small scale movement SW.

A butterfly flew passed, probably a Small Tortoiseshell.

Cotesbach Landfill; plenty of Gulls on the water in the sandpit area and many more feeding on the tip,   4 Red Kites were flying around the area too.  The number of Starlings on the filling have increased in recent days to at least 400.

On the sandpit waters were 7 Little Grebes, 3 Wigeon, 12 Shoveler and a good number of Teal, plus the usual other Ducks and Geese.

15th Oct - cloudy, abit brighter late afternoon, light SSW, 13C

Willey; a Raven headed over at 1315h towards the Moors fields.

Stanford reservoir; a look after lunch, dam area to blowers lodge bay.. The Ring Ouzel was still present, this time in the orchard corner thicket, only brief views and alarm call heard.
10 Gadwall on the dam, nothing new on the water.  At least 6 Chiffchaff still present, 6 Starling and several Goldfinch flew over, only a couple of Redwing seen.


All the wet has triggered Fungi to fruit - hopefully a good autumn for therm.

Shawell Lagoons; a look here next.  No Ruff today, so maybe its moved on.  Very few Gulls present too, even though they were tipping at the landfill, maybe most were feeding still.

I did read some colour rings:-
Lesser Black-backed Gulls
HDU - seen on 31 August too, has lost a foot.
J837L - seen on 3rd Oct too, has a data logger.
7R:W - seen on 2nd Oct too.

Black-headed Gull - blue/white 2R26 - not seen by me before.

 HDU

 J837L - logger just visible

 7R:W