30th June - sunny spells, light SSW, 19C

Shawell lagoons; a look here thos afternoon, coincidently Carl turned up so did some Gull watching together.  A adult Yellow-legged Gull was seen among the LLBGs.
A couple of colour ringed LBBGs were:

black/whote 0AX0  (adult)

Green/white  C:42   (3CY)

Cotesbach Landfill; a look here next.  Highlights included a 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull and a Little Egret.

I could only see six of the Shelduck ducklings, so maybe we've lost one.

Stanford reservoir; this afternoon news was coming in that a good number of Common Sandpipers weree on the move today, by late afternoon 13 were reported on the dam here. 

I went for a look in the in the evening and found 15 on the dam, this equals my previous highest number seen here.  Also present were three Oystercatchers (not the  Landfill bird - this has a limp, so easily spotted).

29th June - cloudy, mod windy SW, 16C - cool feeling

Shawell lagoons; not much around aprt from the Gulls to search through.  A Yellow-legged Gull landed in front of me and a colour ringed  LBBG was spotted - V.4C3.

Cotesbach landfill; The Shelduck family still OK, single Pochard with the Tufted Duck salso. 
A female Greenfinch flew close to me and started to feed on the hedgerow, hopefully gatherring food for young.

28th June - sunny spells, breezy, 19C

Cotesbach Landfill; nothing new, Oystercatcher, Little Grebe, Swifts, House and Sand Martins.

Stanford reservoir; 100+ Swifts were feeding hectically in the wind both high and low. A Common Sandpiper was on the dam, along with a Grey Heron.  A Red Kite, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were seen.
Many birds were sheltering from the wind, so Warbler activity was low, but Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Garden Warbler were seen, Reed/Sedge Warblers heard.

In the evening Chris found an interesting Tern that showed a 'black' bill, so I had to go and have a look.  It certainly did appear different in a number of ways but didn't really have enough to convince us it was anything other than a dark-billed Common Tern.  The bill in good light was actually a very dark 'red'.

27th June - sunny spells, showers, breezy, mod SSW, 19C

I spent some time searching the area around Newton for a White Stork that had been reported in the area, however no luck. But, there are many places it could be!

Cotesbach landfill; a look here after lunch, a Green Sandpiper, Little Grebe, Shelduck family and 22 Red Kite were the highlights.

Stanford reservoir; here a Common Sandpiper was on the dam, six Grey Wagtails in the spillway - being chased by Pied Wagtails.  A male Pochard was new in.  Four Common terns present.

Plenty of Swifts and hirundines overhead.

26th June - sunny, humid later some cloud, light SSW, 28C

Willey; this morning Three Red Kite, a Kestrel and two Buzzards hunting over grass fields being mown to the east.

Shawell lagoons; a look this evening, plenty of Gulls until three Foxes started to scavenge along the shore making them move off to roost.
I did read one colour rind, a LBBG, green/white N:C23.

Cotesbach landfill; in the sandpit area, three Teal (2 drakes)), Oystercatcher, Shelduck family, single Pochard still, plus all the other usuals.

25thn june - hot, sunny, light E/ESE, 31C

Shawell lagoons; a female Teal was flush from the hidden shore by a Red Kite passing over.  Four Yellow-legged Gulls present this afternoon. 
A colour ringed LBBG, (1TH)  last seen 12th June, was present again.  Last time it seemed to have an injured leg, today it was standing OK.

Cotesbach landfill; tweo Green Sandpipers in the sandpit area were new.  Twelve Red kites from the watchpoint.

24th June - sunny, hot 30C, light S

Nothing n otable today, I think everything was in the shade, apart from the insects.

23rd June - Sunny, hot, 27C, light S

Willey; a Hobby flew low over me this morning as I came down the lane passed the allotments.

Misterton; checked here after lunch for Sptted Flycatrchers, didn't find any but they could ahve been in the private areas.  Treecreepers, Bullfinch, Grey Wagtsils, Moorhen feeding young and Green Woodpecker were among some seen.

Shawell lagoons; this evening I checked here; a CR Lesser Black backed Gull, red/black G9CT.

A adult Yellow Legged Gull settled close and a seconded summer was preening in the flock.  A single Cormorant and a Fox searching the shore line.

Cotesbach Landfill; New in was a female Pochard, a returnung bird as they don't summer here.  Teal, Oystercatcher, Little Grebe, Shelduck family (now getting quite big and losing their duckling appeal)  Several pairs of Coots have breed, many feeding young now.

22nd June - sunny periods, 22C, light-breezy S

Cotesbach Landfill; a look this evening mainly in the sandpit area.  The Teal drake and Green Sandpiper were on one pool.  The Oystercatcher on another islet.  Five red Kites present.  Shelduck family OK. 


A Stock Dove from yesterdays Stanford reservoir visit;

21st June - sunny spells, breezy SW, 20C

Cotesbach Landfill; this morning single Green Sandpiper still, two Little Grebes,  a Hobby over, four Lapwings, c10 Red Kite,

Stanford reservoir; a walk around the whole reservoir this afternoon.   A Stock Dove was on the dam bank, Several Cormorant and a Grey Heron on the dam, later Pied and three Grey Wagtails were in the spillway.   50+ Swifts feeding over, plus House and Sand Martins.  A Marsh Tit was seen and heard in a roving Tit flock, a Little Egret flew along the bank and seven Common Terns were over the water.

Common butterflies were about including Large, Small and Essex Skippers.

Lots of Toadlets and froglets were moving on the side path around the reservoir.

20th June - sunny spells, light SW, 20C, humid, showers late afternoon

The longest day has arrived, its been a funny year so far with the Corona virus pandemic and the weather breaking many records fior lots of rain, lack of rain, sunshine hours and wind direction.  What will the second half of the year bring?

Cotesbach landfill; much the same, although a Green Sandpiper and Teal (drake) were new in (found by Carl).  A good number of Sand Martins (50-100), a few Swifts plus House Martins and Swallow. 

A single Oystercatcher, c10 Red Kites, the Shelduck family still OK.  Three Goldfinch flew over, Pied Wagtails collecting food and taking it away, also a single Grey Wagtail spotted.

19th June - light rain/drizzle untill late afternoon, then sunny spell, light SW, 16C

Willey; a Cormorant flew over early, may not be exciting for some, but once we never saw them here, but now they move between the lakes and reservoirs.

Shawell lagoons, a evening look at the north pool, rather quite though, a couple of Lapwing were resting on the dried mud.

Cotesbach Landfill; a look here next.  Again fairly quite, loafing Gulls making their way slowly to Draycote to roost.  Sometimes spurred on by a Grey Heron flushing them from the islets.
The Shelduck and 7 ducklings still OK.  An adult Little Grebe and juv again - they must have bred here somewhere.
Only a single red Kite (1900h) and a Buzzard doing flights over it's territory, usually pestered by the carrion Crows.

18th June - rain until late afternoon, murcky, light SE, 13C, sunny spells eveing

Stanford reservoir; after lunch a look here hoping something may drop in during the rain or mist - it didn't.  Eight Grey Wagtails - families-  on the dam. Swifts and hirundines did drop down low, c50 the former and c100 House Martins, plus Swallows and Sand Martins.

Shawell lagoons;  a Oystercatcher was feeding with only a few Gulls present today. A single Shelduck dropped in briefly before heading off southward.

This bug was in the window, need to check it's ID.

17th June - sunny spells, light E, 22C, humid, thunder late afternoon

Cotesbach Landfill;  a look here after lunch, very similar to recent visits. An adult and juv Little Grebe, 13 Red Kite, Oystercatcher and Shelduck family.

Black-tailed Skimmer (f), a Hairy Caterpillar (Peacock Butterfly) , Small Skipper.