10th Oct - sunny speels am, cloud increasing pm, mod-breezy at times, 14C

Willey; mid-day 4 Swallows and a House Martin over the village.  A Sparrowhawk came through earlier, disturbing those birds at the feed station, which had included c20 House Sparrows, Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Chaffinch and others.

A Stoat ran across the Coal pit lane near the roundabout about 1330h.

Rutland Water; I haven't visited here for months, but news of a Lesser Scaup made me set off this afternoon, and even if I didn't see it there is always birds to see there.  Like the Stoat that ran across the path as I walked past lagoon 2.  Found I Lagoon 3, so much time searching for it from the Shoveler and Buzzard hides did not find it.  Even after a couple of hours it was clear it was not on this lagoon, Tufted Ducks had been flying off in small groups all the while, so it must have left with one of these.  While looking other birds included the usual ducks, Large and Little Egrets, Marsh Harrier and Snipe.

One Tufted Duck had a turquoise nasal saddle - 6C.

On Lagoon 1 at least 7 Great Egrets, many Little Egrets and the Spoonbill.