Willey; 0900h Raven over the Sheep fields to the east checking them out. late morning the same or another over fields to the west.
Cotesbach Landfill; checked the area after lunch. Many Gulls again, a third year Yellow-legged Gull was spotted.
Teal at 81 is my highest count here, the water level reduction seems to be attractive to them. The Shelduck, 23 Shoveler and two Pochard. Four Red Kites and a Buzzard were around and four Meadow Pipits flew over to the far bank.
Starling roost site; checked this site this evening, c25000 can to roost.
Magna Park South; c60 Golden Plover and c100 Lapwings mid afternoon.
Cotesbach Landfill; hundreds of Gulls back afternoon the closure. All the usual, plus an adult Yellow-legged spotted by Carl.
Stanford reservoir; Bullfinch 2, Goldfinch 2, Treecreeper, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrest, Nuthatch feeding along Leics bank. Kingfisher flying along waters edge, two Water Rails heard. Teal 3, Pochard, Tufted, Mallard, Gadwall were all present. Also, the four Black-necked grebes still.
Magna Park South; 108 Golden Plover and c 200 Lapwings on the development area.
Cotesbach landfill; 27 Shoveler, 44 Teal, the drake Shelduck was back from yesterdays visit to Shawell Lagoons. Three Red Kites, 20 Stock Doves came in to roost in the spinney.
J
Cotesbach Landfill; the Shelduck and two Pochard were still present, otherwise nothing new in the rain. A Snipe was seen flying off.
Husbands Bosworth sandpit; a look in the pool area at the lane junction whilst passing. Teal, 22, Mallard, Tufted Duck, single Shoveler and Little Grebe.
Stanford Reservoir; late afternoon, the four Black-necked Grebes were feeding in their favourite weed area with ducks and Mute Swans. Four Shoveler flew in to Blowers Lodge Bay.
Willey; this morning, to the west of the village, two Ravens were on their regular circuit of the Sheep fields, a Kestrel flew over, whilst Rooks and Jackdaws made their way to feeding areas. A Green Woodpecker called near the spinney..
Cotesbach Landfill; a look here after lunch, new birds included a Shelduck and seven Pochard.
The 'Nordic' Jackdaw was showing well, I have a suspicion there may be two, but need to see them at the same time to be sure. Teal and Shoveler were present as usual. A couple of Red Kite were seen, probably more over the far side of the landfill.
Well, at last the winter Solstice, so slowly daylight will lengthen - great.
No time for obs today, although I did notice a Kestrel on the telegraph wires along the lane near the Claybrooke Magna mill brook.
WIlley; a check of my feed station near mid-day, not too many visitors today. A Coal Tit and Tree Sparrow, single Great Spotted Woodpecker, four Collard Doves were noted, plus the usual Blue and Great Tits plus House Sparrows.
Shawell Lagoons; a look this morning, about 70 Lapwings, four Cormorants, six Teal and single Great Crested Grebe were notable.
Cotesbach Landfill; in the sandpit area were 175 Lapwing (usually at the lagoons but the lower water here makes it more favourable), Teal and Shoveler, Red Kite and a few Gulls as usual.
WIlley; first thing a Raven was flying westward over the fields.
Shawell Lagoons; a look here this morning, c300 Lapwings, a couple of Cormorant, Teal, Tufted Duck, a Great Crested Grebe, two Snipe on show and c 200Gulls.
Cotesbach landfill; very quite here except for 55 Teal and 15 Shoveler.
Stanford Hall; a look across the park and lake on the way to the reservoir. There was seven Little Grebes on the lake, along with the usual duck and Geese.
Stanford reservoir; Four Black-necked Grebes still, Kingfisher at outlet flew off along the river. All the usual wintering Ducks, including three Goldeneye and two Teal. Grey and three Pied Wagtails and a Meadow Pipit on the dam. Four Lesser Redpoll were feeding on the weedy area, Bullfinch in the bushes nearby and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard.
Cotesbach landfill; late afternoon, 61 Teal, 19 Shoveler.
Starling roost; checked the roost site, it has moved a little further to a close new area, estimated 20000 coming in. Not much murmuration before dropping in to roost. Two Sparrowhawk hunting as Starlings come in to roost. Some quick phone pics today.
Cotesbach Landfill; a look in the sandpit area this morning did not produce much. Most Gulls were distant as were the Red Kites. Shoveler 23 and 43 Teal were noted.
The 'Nordic Jackdaw' was seen again among c50 Western Jackdaws that were feeding on the sloping bank sides around the sandpit area.
Willey; Had a look around my feed station area, all the usual attendees, although there seemed many more Great and Blue Tits - maybe hungry after yesterdays rain.
Plenty of Redwing and a few Fieldfares, mostly feeding on Holly berries, fortunately still plenty to eat. More than six Blackbirds were feasting on the Sloes.
Cotesbach Landfill; I had a look here in morning and lighter rain, however therre was very little present which was a bit unusual, but with no tipping and reduced water level in the sandpit area maybe not surprising. Of course the ever present Red Kites were noted.
Shawell lagoons; next as look here. Today Lapwing numbered 316, a few Snipe on show, 10 Teal, 29 Tufted, a Great-crested Grebe and Cormorant were noted.
Shawell lagoons; a look after lunch, highlight was 287 Lapwings, and 24 snipe visible in the reeds. Plenty of Gulls here today, especially Great Black-backed. c40 Wigeon, 17 Tufted, 6 Teal, 64 Canada Geese, a Great-crested grebe and Cormorant.
Cotesbach Landfill; very few Gulls, 24 Teal, 2 Mallard, 6 Shoveler, 3 Red Kites and Green Woodpecker was heard near-by.
Stanford Hall; checking through the Geese here, a single Barnacle was found.
Stanford reservoir; a quick check here in case unusual Swans or Geese had dropped in (two Whooper Swans were seen to fly passed this morning (Chris Hubbard), alas none were found.
Although the weather had brightened showers were still occurring locally as witnessed by this 'hanging' portion of a rainbow.
 | 11 Jun 2016 | Pitsea Landfill Site, Essex | |
 | 15 Dec 2018 | Cotesbach Landfill Site, Leics | |
| 10 Dec 2020 | Cotesbach Landfill Site, Leics |
Cotesbach Landfill;
The colour ringed Herring Gull I saw in the 7th Dec was Z1WT, it was ringed by the North Thames Gull Group, aged as a 4th year or older adult, details are:
| 15 Oct 2016 | Pitsea Landfill Site, Essex | Ringed | |
| 05 Jan 2017 | Beddington SF, Greater London | |
| 07 Dec 2020 | Cotesbach Landfill Site, Leics |
