29th Feb - rain clearing early morning, sunny spells, SW mod wind becoming strong/gusty pm, 7C

Cotesbach landfill; a look this afternoon, however there was not too much of note, just the usual ducks, a Grey Heron and a few Gulls.  On the field adjacent the mixed flock of Linnet, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Reed Bunting was still present and keeping very low on the ground  due to the strong wind.

Stanford Hall; a look here over the lakes and park land. c100 Wigeon were feeding around the lakes.

Stanford on Avon; a pair of Shelduck was on the flooded pasture, 3 Mistle Thrush (a pair and single) were feeding, also 5 Little Egret, a Great Egret at the lake and several Grey Herons.

28th Feb - rain started 0800h, then steady/heavy at time, sunny spells late pm

No Obs today

27th Feb - sunny spells am, sunny pm, 6C, light-mod SW

A rare better weather day, ahead of storm Jorge heading to the UK tomorrow.

Alas, another busy day, but it was good to see two Buzzard pairs next to the village in territorial dispute, it was quite dynamic to watch.

26th Feb - mostly sunny spells, ligh-mod SW, 7C

Willey; a busy day. A Song Thrush was singing near home most of the morning, a Grey Heron flew over towards the brook early morning.  The Goldcrest was singing around the Church area, as were Greenfinch.

25th Feb - sunny spells and showers late afternoon, 7C, mod NW

Cotesbach landfill; a look after lunch, a reasonable number of Gulls in, but most were just sitting on the water and looking 'worried'.  It soon became obvious why, the Falconer was flying his Gyr type over the tip area and it occasionally coming close to the water area. An adult Caspian was visible among the flock.  A couple of Green Sandpiper flew over and one settled on the far side bank.

The adjacent field which is just being prepared for sand excavation was holding a good mixed flock of Finches, Buntings, Skylark and Meadow Pipit.  Chaffinch, c50 Linnets, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting were present in numbers, 10+ Skylark.  The weather took a turn for the worst, must explore this field further.

24th Feb - rain until mid-day, cloudy, mod-blustery SW, 11C

Willey; another very wet day. A Goldcrest was singing throughout the day in the Church Yew.   On the feed station c30 House Sparrow and a single Tree Sparrow, several Yellowhammer and Chaffinch, plus other usual species..

23rd Feb - gusty westerly, strong at time, showers, sunny spells, 11C, but feeling cool

Cotesbach; a look along Sandy Lane and pools, the wind was awful so small birds were deep in cover. Notable were a pair of Shelduck.

Cotesbach Landfill; very few Gulls.  48 Tufted Duck, a few Shoveler and single Pochard. Not much else.

Shawell Lagoons; a look here, the Great-crested Grebe pair still on the north lagoon and a single on the south lagoon.  A single Snipe was visible in the reeds, the 7 more flew in.  A couple of Cormorants and Mute Swans now up to at 8.

Stanford Hall; a Nuthatch calling near the main entrance.

Stanford Reservoir; a mid-afternoon visit here, nothing new, 4 Bullfinch were in the Blowers Lodge bay area.

22nd Feb - mostly cloudy and mild, 13C, blustery SW, showers late

No birding obs today, went to Malvern to a Vintage show.

However, its always great to see, once you enter Worcestershire, the trees with so much Mistletoe growing in them, it looks like bundles have been put in the trees.  Also, many trees in blossom, especially wild plum.

At Upton upon Severn the floods were still extensive with much of the Severn valley under at least 6 feet of water.  It will take a long time to dry out.  No sign of the weather drying up yet either.

21st Feb - mostly cloudy, fresh SW, 9C, feeeling cool

Cotesbach landfill; a check here first thing this afternoon, few Gulls.  Not so many Teal or Shoveler now either, a single female Pochard and 4 Linnets over.

Stanford-on Avon;  The Pink-footed Geese were not found this afternoon, but very fortunately while scanning the field the 'Nordic' Jackdaw came in to view.  This was really lucky, not too far but I was viewing through some brash, still I took some record photos as quickly as I could, which was good as it soon moved off with some Jackdaw.  The silver stripes and black facial markings are quite clear.

It was first reported several days ago, and I have searched several times, with several hundred Jackdaw in the area, feeding on the adjacent non-harvested maize fields.  I had a very brief view the other day, and wasnt expecting to find it again.

20th Feb - rain set-in early untill late afternoon, then sunny spells, 7C, mod W breeze

Willey; I checked my feed station area early pm. Plenty of House Sparrows feeding but no Tree Sparrows spotted. God number of Great and Blue Tits too, a Coal Tit dropped in and was later singing from the thick hedge.  A male great-spotted Woodpecker came to the nuts for a short while.
Several Chaffinches and a Yellowhammer on the ground.

c15 Redwings flew over low northward.

Greenfinch are singing well now, this morning six flew from the Church lane, with others heard nearby.

19th Feb - touch of ground frost, cloudy, light rain from later morning, light-mod SW, 7C, cool pm

Willey; a busy day, no significant obs, the Canada Geese pair flew over, so I’m guessing they have taken up residence on the usual pond again this year.

18th Feb - blustery SW, 8C, mostly cloudy, shopwers late afternoon

Cotesbach landfill;  early afternoon a look here, more Gulls today, some activity on the far side of the tip helped.  Scanning the sandpit water area I found a 'white-winger' which I took to be an adult Iceland Gull, but it did have an apparent short primary projection, but to me everything else said Iceland.  I managed a few record photos before it quickly flew off in a group of other Gulls back to the tip area.

Stanford-on-Avon - monument field; 9 Pink-footed Geese still present.

17th Feb - sunny spells, blustery SW, 10C

Willey; this morning a Jay was being hassled by a Carrion Crow in a Hedgerow tree to the west.  A small number of Redwing were in the nearby spinney and feeding on the pasture.

Cotesbach landfill; a look here after lunch, disappointingly there is still no tipping while the capping and pipes are completed, so Gull numbers were very low, maybe 100 tops.

Still a pair of Ravens, a Red Kite, several Buzzards, a Grey Heron,2 Green Sandpipers and c70 Lapwings, plus other usual water-birds kept one looking.

Stanford Hall; a check here next.  The 9 Pink-footed Geese were still present with the Greylags. Three Little Grebe spotted on the main lake, a Mistle Thrush pair feeding and a Great Tit singing.

Monument fields; the drake Shelduck from yesterday still feeding on the field flooded area.

16th Feb - rain at time, fresh SW, 8C

Everywhere is sodden after yesterdays rain, most fields have pools and standing water, rivers/streams full overflowing.

Shawell Lagoons; a look this morning. A pair of great-crested Grebes on the north lagoon and a single on the south.  Two Snipe were on the edge of the reed area.  A Heron and 5 Cormorants were fishing.

Cotesbach landfill; very little activity here today, although Tufted Ducks were up at 45 and 31 Coot.  Shoveler and Teal were at 14 and 19 respectively. A single female Pochard was having a nap on the water.  A pair of Mute Swans were chasing off another single bird.

Stanford Hall Park; during the afternoon in the light rain a check here for the Geese.  A Grey heron an 5 Little grebes were on the park land, partly flooded.

Percy Pilcher Monument fields; Most hf the Canada and Greylag Geese were feeding in this area, the 9 Pink-footed Geese were with them.  A drake Shelduck was feeding at a flood pool.  

A couple of Fieldfare and Mistle Thrushes were feeding on the pasture, along with Rooks and Jackdaws.

15th Feb - gusty strong southerly winds, frequent rain, mild 12C

Storm Dennis is passing over the country this weekend, pretty miserable conditions, gusts up to 40 mph forecast and spells of heavy rain.

Willey; this morning a fresh Barn Owl pellet spotted under a Hay Barn.  I have a Barn Owl box in the adjacent barn, I wonder if it's sheltering in there.  I'll have to put my camera up - when the storm has passed.

14th Feb - cloudy increasing, light rain late pm, 10C, light- mod SW

No obs to report today.

13th Feb - sunny spells, occasional short shower, light W, 8C

Willey; a couple of Canada Geese over this morning, looks like pairs are starting to leave the flocks for territories.  A Coal Tit singing in Church Horse Chestnut mid-day.

Cotesbach landfill; still no serious tipping going on, Gulls hanging about, nothing notable this afternoon.  Only two Red Kite.

Stanford Hall; 9 Pink-footed Geese still, also about 50 Redwing, one Mistle thrush and one Fieldfare feeding on the parkland.

Stanford monument fields; water back up after last nights rain.  18 Lapwing, plenty of Common and Black-headed Gulls feeding on the wet pastures.  Loads of Jackdaw about, raiding the un-harvested Maize fields.

12th Feb - Ground frost, sunny spells, mod westerly, 7C, cool again

Willey; mid-day, a look at the paddock feed station. Five hen Pheasant, a male and female Great-spotted Woodpecker, c 30 House Sparrows and only one Tree Sparrow.  15 Jackdaws and six Magpies were raiding.

Cotesbach Landfill; after lunch a look here, most notable was the 3W Kumlien's Gull resting on the water.

Stanford Hall Park; the nine Pink-footed Geese are still present with the Greylags.  5 Little Grebe and Wigeon on the main lake.

11th Feb - brisk-strong westerly, 7C but feeling 0C, sunny spells, occasional wintry short showers pm

Unpleasant weather, but busy anyhow.

10th Feb - sunny am, wintry showers pm, &C, mod-fresh westerly at times.

Cotesbach landfill; Very few Gulls as no tipping in operation and the recent filled area has been capped.   In the sandpit area there was three Green Sandpipers feeding.  Teal, Shoveler, Tufted Duck and a few Teal were present.

9th Feb - storm Ciara sped through the country today.

The storm over all the country. Winds here 40-50 mph - strong and gusty, rain showers, some heavy, but mild, 11C.

No fun out today.

Will the storm bring any North American birds, like American Herring Gull??

8th Feb - sunny spells, light-mod Southerly, 9C

Market Harborough; first visit was to the farm here where a Black Redstart has been seen on a number of occasions. For the first 30 mins no sign but a Red Kite and 13 Golden Plover over were notable.  Then another birder spotted it very briefly, fortunately it then showed well feeding on a trailer.

Shawell Lagoons; nothing much at the landfill site or sandpit, fortunately Carl text to say he had spotted a Barnacle Goose here, Obviously, we don't know the origin of it, but a first site record for me, so I had to take a look.  Also present c200 Lapwing and 15 Teal and a Great-crested Grebe pair.

Stanford Hall Park; On the way to Stanford reservoir I stopped her to see if the Pink-footed Geese were present.  These turned up yesterday on a field adjacent to the reservoir, then moved here with the Greylag and Canada Geese.  The 9 P-F Geese were present and showing well.

Stanford reservoir; I made it to the reservoir to stake out the Gulls roost, las night and this morning Chris found a juv Glaucous Gull.  However, this evening no unusual Gull was found.
A flock of 13 Long-tailed Tits flew passed on their way to roost. A Sparrowhawk flew over and a Kestrel was chased off by a corvid.

7th Feb - mostly sunny, light-mod SSE, 8C

Willey; Mistle Thrush singing from the church Horse Chestnut this morning.

Cotesbach landfill; late morning Carl text to say he had a 3W Iceland Gull, I was able to see it  flew from the sandpit area back to the landfill tip, a striking bird.
Two Green Sandpipers were also seen in the sandpit area.

Stanford Reservoir; 9 Pink-footed Geese were reported on an adjacent field this morning, I didn’t make it then. This afternoon I checked the Geese around Stanford Hall, but the Pink-footed weren’t with the Canada and Greylags there.  Next checking the reservoir - they weren’t found there either.  Nothing else new on the main reservoir, at the inlet a Little Egret and Kingfisher.

6th Feb - frost last night -2C, sunny, very light S, 9C

Frolesworth Manor lake; had look here this morning, nothing notable. Plenty of Skylark territorial behaviour on adjacent stubble field. Few finches and buntings in the game cover areas, a noisy Jay in hedgerow.

5th Feb - sunny, 3- 8C, light westerly

A visit to north Norfolk for the day, in a field at the end of the Thorney by-pass c30 Swans were spotted and convenient layby allowed me to pullover and view.  They were all Whooper Swans, also plenty of Lapwing.

On the way to the coast a very short detour took me to Sedgeford where an Eastern Yellow Wagtail has been wintering on a 'muck' heap.  It was present and took no notice of the birders watching from the gateway.  It has been confirmed as an Alaskan (or Blue-headed) Eastern Yellow Wagtail.
Red-legged and Grey Partridges were in the fields here.

On the coast I stopped at Thornham Harbour and had a good walk there. On the Pastures towards Holme a Peregrine was on the ground with prey, plenty of Brent Geese and a couple of marsh harrier.  Skylark were around and Linnets, Meadow Pipits too. Ten Twite were present, they took some finding and were very mobile.

Next a look around the Choseley barns area, a Chinese Water Deer walked across the open field.  15 Linnets were on a small piece of game cover. Further distant a mixed flock of Bunting and Finch were feeding along a hedge, 10+ Yellowhammers at least.

Finally to RSPB Titchwell. This always provides a good variety of birds, the first was the usual Water Rail in the open ditch. Waders included Dunlin, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwit, Grey and Golden Plover, Avocet, Turnstone, Curlew and Redshank. A small flock of Common Scoter and a single Red-breasted Merganser flew past off shore.

In all today I notched up seeing 70 species.

4th Feb - cloudy, fresh westerly, 7C

No obs - busy

3rd Feb - sunny am, cloudy pm, mod westerly, 9C

Cotesbach Landfill; I visited here as Carl had seen a 3W Glaucous Gull, however when I got there the Gulls were quickly spooked by the falconer flying his bird on the landfill area. Many left and other wheeled high and did not settle.
The only saving grace was 3 Red Kite showing well.

2nd Feb - sunny spells, light SW, 12C

Shawell Lagoons, this morning 3 Egyptian Geese on the bank, first site record and only the second for SW Leices.  Also present were 143 Lapwing, Great-crested Grebe pair, 3 Moorhen, 3 Cormorant, a Grey Heron, and other usual ducks, including one drake Pochard.

Cotesbach Landfill; main sighting were 2 Green Sandpiper, a single Red Kite, 29 Lapwing a Grey Heron and a singing Mistle Thrush near the derelict house.  Coot now number 22, often regarded as boring, but this represents bird movement to here, so where have they come from? If these are moving then what else is migrating too.

Willey; a check of the feed station, 6 Tree Sparrows still, plus all the recent regulars (Chaffinch 4, Yellowhammer 2), GSWoodpecker.

1st Feb - sunny spell, mod-gusty SW, 11C

Willey; late morning a Red Kite was over the fields near Muswell Leys entrance.

Cotesbach landfill; Very few Gulls, less than yesterday.  A drake Shelduck was present in the sandpit area (Carl told me here had seen to pairs earlier), otherwise all the usual Duck species, 2 Red Kite.

Evington -Stoughton; I decided after lunch to visit an area which I really do not know, also I was told of the site where  Ring-necked Parakeets can be reliably seen in this area.  I did fine the tree belt where they reside, 5 were present, perched up in the wind on an out branch of a tree hanging over the footpath.  Also, c25 Redwings were feeding on the stubble field along with a few Chaffinch.  A Treecreeper was working along the hedgerow.

Stoughton; along the Gaulby lane c70 Fieldfare were feeding on pasture.