WIlley; Another exceptionally very warm day.
A Green Woodpecker was in the Church yard, and another calling nearby. Several Chiffchaffs in suitable areas.
Cotesbach Landfill; At least 10 Ravens, usual Ducks, new were a couple of Little Grebe and Oystercatcher.
Stanford reservoir; a look this morning, disappointingly quite. Five Goldeneye, three Gadwall and three Pochard (2m, 1f) seen and a single Grey Heron.
Several Chiffchaff singing, also more Reed Buntings back in territories. Grey Wagtail, pair on the dam.
Fist Peacock butterfly for the year.
General; Small Tortoiseshells and Brimstones seen at several local places.
Stanford reservoir; a look here, however, it was very quiet with little change from my last visit.
The notable sighting was the Russian Lesser-white Fronted Goose (a juv), which was found last evening by Chris. It was again with Greylags on the adjacent wheat field.
It was not very obliging for photos this evening, but some record photos taken.
Theddingworth, a Ring Ouzel was seen first thing this morning before flying off towards the hills.
A good number of Fieldfare and Redwings were moving through and stopping to feed this morning. A Greenfinch was searching through a hedgerow, maybe nest prospecting? A Mistle Thrush was also feeding on the pasture.
Cotesbach; a walk along Sandy lane produced several Linnets in the tree tops, and Treecreeper busy searching for food plus other common species. Greenfinch and Chaffinch were singing.
Willey; first thing c50 Redwings flew from Ash trees near barns, heading SW.
About 10 Stock Doves around the barn complex, hopefully nesting again this year.
Willey; a look at the feed station mid-afternoon. Present included -four Chaffinch, House Sparrows, a couple of Greenfinch and Collared Doves, Blue and Great Tits, a male Yellowhammer dropped in, a hen Pheasant pecked around the feeders.
A Goldcrest was singing in the church yews, Rooks were going back and forth between the Rookery and fields.
Willey; a flock of, c 40 Fieldfares and a couple of redwings flew over northward, 0845h.
Cotesbach landfill/sandpit; a look here after lunch, rather quiet, all the regulars plus two Oystercatchers. A couple of Red Kite and three Shelduck.
Cotesbach landfill; Not many Gulls around this afternoon, may be restricted tipping occurring.
A flock c20 Golden Plovers flew passed NW, otherwise all the regulars still present. A Chiffchaff moved along the boundary hedge.
14.06.2014 Norway, Rogaland, Yttre Sandsfjord, Jelsa, Suldal 59.12 N 6.02 E09.03.2018 Great Britain, Leicester& Rutland, Cotesbach landfill site52.26 N 1.13 W15.03.2018 Great Britain, Derby, Poolsbrook Country Park, Staveley53.15 N 1.21 W
No Obs today.
A CR Gull I spotted yesterday, yellow/black PdotW37 was a Polish ringed Caspian Gull. I concentrated on the ring reading and I didn't concentrate on the bird identity, however it sat down and tucked its head under the wing facing me, as it was with a group of Herring Gulls I assumed it was one of these. Always a challenge when ring reading as you often you don't have too much time to read it and it's really interesting to read it if you can, you can then be 'sure' of it's identity.
This Gull has been seen here several times previously - Carl Baggott.
Cotesbach landfill/sandpit;
Yesterdays Russian ringed Herring Gull was seen here in 2018 too by Carl.
Today, this afternoon. Eight Red Kite and several Buzzards were present. Duck included Mallard, Tufted, Shoveler, Teal (46), Teal, Shelduck (3), Pochard (2), Wigeon (7).
Two+ Ravens were around, a couple of Stock Doves flew into the spinney, a Green Woodpecker was heard several times.
Cotesbach Landfill/sandpit; a look after lunch, again just the regulars again.
I did spot a near adult Herring Gull which was colour ringed, white/black KL47, which Carl believes was ringed in Russia, so wit will be very interesting to see the ringing data. Compared to the nearby Herring Gull it had a discernibly 'bolder' grey tone, middle photo.
Willey; only time today to check feed station after lunch. A couple of hen Pheasants picking up the food rejected by the Tits, which included a Coal Tit. A single Tree Sparrow and a couple of Chaffinch.
Not seen any Fieldfares for a few days, only heard a couple of Redwings too. I expect their northward movements will soon be evident and bring more around here.
