31st May - sunny after cloud cleared, 22C, light breeze

Willey; a small flock of Starlings c25 in thew sheep fields this morning.

A Spotted Flycatcher watched feeding in the wood where they have usually breed.

An area of old pasture with Buttercups and other wildflowers along the Moors lane.

Cotesbach Landfill;  nothing new.  Two Egyptian Geese, Gadwall pair, no Tufted Duck though, two great-crested Grebes still.  Shelduck family still OK, plus two other adults.  Green Woodpecker called frequently. Buzzards, Redd Kites and Ravens as usual.

Bittesby; walked over during the afternoon to see what progress with the 'development' much has been re-moulded, but still areas untouched and could be attractive to migrants.  However, it was good to see a  well hidden Hare feeding in a weedy area, he'll need a new home in the future at some point.  Several Skylarks were in territory in this area.

Mere Lane Lake; a Mute Swan pair with a nest, Little Grebes 'trilling', Coots with young and several Reed Warblers very active singing and chasing each other. Also, Chiffchaff and Blackcap.

A Dragonfly was spotted briefly for a record shot, a Large Red Damselfly.

30th May - sunny after a cloudy start, light E, 21C

Cotesbach Landfill; few Gulls and fairly quite.  The Shelduck family still eight, plus two other adults also in the sandpit area.  A drake Gadwall, an Egyptian Goose, plus other regulars.

Stanford reservoir; No Golden Oriole today.  This afternoon four Common Terns, much interest in the new raft.  A Cetti's Warbler sang and a pair of Bullfinch in the orchard area.  Plenty of Warbler song and activity, plus a female Chaffinch gathering food.

29th May - mostly sunny, light E, 22C

Stanford reservoir; the main event was the discovery this morning, by Chris Hubbard, of a Golden Oriole calling and singing a little in an adjacent wood very near the main reed bed, in Leicestershire.  I could hear it well and sometimes tantalizing close to the wood edge, but never got a glimpse of it.  Never-the-less a good bird to hear and have on passage.

On the dam was a Common Sandpiper and two Oystercatchers flew over westward calling.

Warks Turtle Dove site; I visited a place I have watched Turtle Doves over the last few years, alas none were seen today.  There was some disturbance today, and some habitat changes to hedges and thickets, but will try again in a few days.

28th May -

WIlley; I noticed a couple of Linnet on the ground and hedge near the Allotment field/bridge track this morning.  Also, this afternoon a Bullfinch flew over home calling.

Cotesbach landfill;  The Shelduck family only numbered 8 ducklings today (-1).  17 Red Kites were seen together at one time.  A couple of Egyptian Geese, not together though, but still hopeful of young appearing soon. 

Hanging Houghton;  I visited the valley area this evening hoping to hear the Quail, however it did not sing.   

There were Skylarks and at least one displaying Meadow Pipit, plus several Linnets and Yellowhammers, Pheasant and Red-legged Partridge. 27 Stock dove were feeding on a recently cultivated area.  A couple of Carrion Crows alerted me to a Fox hunting along the field headland.

27th May - sunny periods, light SE, 19C

Cotesbach landfill; a look this evening.  The Shelduck family still all present, plus three other adults, a pair and single bird.

Some Gulls were still present, one Herring Gull was colour ringed -  I'm still trying to read from photos.

26th May - mostly cloudy, a few as[pots rain am, light W/NW, 13C

The weather forecasters say we are on the cusp of long awaited warmer-sunny weather, we shall see.

Willey; I've been regularly see two Grey Herons around the ponds to the east, one of them the 'dark' Grey Heron I mentioned the other week.

Cotesbach landfill;  all the regulars.  However, best was a Shelduck pair with nine duckling in the sandpit area.  These looked very young and may have hatched only a few hours ago.

DRIFT/A5 pools; a look this evening, very quiet.  Notable was a single Ringed Plover.

25th May - cloudy am, sunny spells pm, light-mod W, 15C

 Cotesbach Landfill;  during the afternoon a look here, the usual Gulls, including a Yellow-legged Gull.  Two Egyptian Geese, about 20 Red Kites over the tip. Two broods of Mallard now, a two and a five.

Stanford Reservoir; this evening a walk around the dam and orchard area.  Fairly quite, but plenty of Warbler activity with several Garden Warblers and Whitethroats singing well, plus a single Lesser Whitethroat.

A Chiffchaff pair was watched taking food to a nest, as were a pair of Red Buntings.  C40 Swifts were feeding overhead.

24th May - sunny intervals and scattered showers, 11C, light S-W-NNW

 A busy day, but I managed to look at Cotesbach Landfill after lunch.

Tipping had resumed today and Gull numbers, plus other scavengers were building nicely.  In the sandpit and tip areas were:

Red Kite 22, Ravens 4+, Shelduck two pairs, Mute Swan pair,  a Lapwing, a Grey Heron, Buzzards 3, Stock Dove and other regulars.

23rd May - cloudy am, with wind becoming mod and very blustery pm, with rain, 12C

 Another very unseasonal windy, wet and cool Spring day.

Cotesbach Landfill; this morning, no Gulls again.  Five Shelducks, 10 Red Kites, a Raven and three Egyptian Geese were present again

DIRFT/A5 pools; Not too much showing at the pools early pm.  Two Ringed Plovers were present though, and c 40 Swifts.

22nd May - cloudy until early evening then a few sunny intervals, 13C, light NW/W

Cotesbach and Shawell Lagoons; both very quiet, no tipping all week probably due to the windy weather, just the usual birds around.

A quick look in the sandpit area about 1745h produced a green Woodpecker carrying food and the single Ringed Plover, (found early afternoon by Carl) was still present.

DIRFT 3/A5 pools; best here was six Sanderling and two Dunlin.  Plenty of Swifts overhead. A single drake Gadwall and Kestrel were noted.

Brandon Marsh; a visit here this afternoon.  I only saw one butterfly, an Orange-tip.  Six Ringed Plover, two Dunlin and three Little Ringed Plovers.  A Cuckoo was singing, plenty of Swifts, not too many Sand Martins though.  Warblers on the whole were quiet, only singles of Garden Warbler and Willow Warbler singing. Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, two jays in the woods.  In all about 45 species were noted.

                                            Chiffchaff singing

21st May - cloudy, light rain on/off all day, mod SW, 10C

Another autumnal feeling day as low pressure moves over the country.

DIRFT 3 pools/A5; I had a look here late afternoon hoping for an interesting Gull (i.e. Baltic) bit as with the Cotesbach Landfill today very few Gulls were present.  However, the highlight was 10 Sanderlings busy feeding.  

Lilbourne Meadows; next a look over the wet meadows area.  Two Yellow Wagtails, Moorhen, Coot, Gadwall, Shelducks, Mallard, Tufted Ducks, a couple of Black-headed Gulls, Canada Geese, Swallow, House and Sand Martins, three Stock Doves, Chiffchaff were all seen around the area. 

20th May - cloudy until midday when freshened, blustery at times and rain started, continued untill night, 12C, cooler at times when raining.

Cotesbach Landfill; a check here in the morning and after lunch but conditions were pretty poor.  c 70 House martins were in the sandpit area feeding low over the water along with Sand Martins and Swallows, otherwise very little else was around.  

Gulls were feeding on the tip but numbers were generally low, those in the sandpit area were mostly sitting low out of the wind, generally little activity compared to a normal day.

19th May - sunny periods, light NW, 15C

Stanford reservoir; this morning the main task was to help prepare and launch a new Tern raft, many thanks to all those involved in construction etc and to Severn Trent Water for funding it.  By the afternoon three Common terns were already on the their new gravel nesting bed.

While doing this a Hobby, Sparrowhawk and Red Kite was noted in the dam area, plus a Common Sandpiper on the dam.

Cotesbach landfill; the Kumleins Gull was present about 1300h.

18th May - sunny spells am, showers forminmg pm, 14C, light NW

Cotesbach landfill; this morning 4 Ringed Plover and five Shelduck were present and the Kumlien's Gull.

DIRTF 3/A5 Pools; Popped down to see if the Baltic Gull was present, Carl had gone ahead and when I got there Mike Alibone and Carl were watching the Baltic that was asleep, after a while it flew off with other Gulls.  From the plumage and importantly colour-ring information from Mike's photos Carl was able conform it was a Baltic Gull ringed in 2019 in the Horsvaer colony in Norway.

17th May - showers developing, sharp and sort, 14C, light NW

Misterton; a nice collection of woodland birds with Blackcap, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Grey Wagtail collecting food for young as were other common species.

 Cotesbach Landfill; all the usual, notable this evening the Kumlien's Gull again.

16th May - sunny spells am, showers pm, light S, 13C

Cotesbach Landfill; a look this morning - very quiet. Two Egyptian Geese and a Shelduck pair.  A couple of Lapwing and two Ravens over, plus other regulars.

15th May - cloudy, light rain/drizzle at times, light ESE, 12C

Willey; a Hedgehog road casualty this morning at the junction with the Coal Pit Lane.   A Lesser Whitethroat singing in the hedge Perkins area.

Cotesbach Landfill; this morning in the sandpit two Great-crested Grebes, an Egyptian Goose, two Lapwings and 22 Red Kites.  

Stanford reservoir; a walk here during the afternoon.  Plenty of garden Warblers and Whitethroats singing, despite the poor weather , other usual Warblers too.  A pair of Yellowhammers were near the dam and a pair of Linnets in the Orchard area.  A Kestrel and Hobby were seen hunting.

18 Common Terns were around the reservoir, hopefully they can hang on until further new nesting rafts are positioned next week.  A single Common Sandpiper was on the dam, along with a female grey Wagtail.

14th May - mostly cloudy, light WSW, 13C

Cotesbach landfill; this evening the Gadwall pair, a Lapwing and three Shelduck were in the sandpit area.

The Kumlien's Gull was again on show.

DRIFT 3 development area/A5; a look at the pools area this evening, a Little Ringed Plover and Curlew and Lapwing.  Three Shelduck, Tufted Duck pair and Mallard.  A Grey heron was present too.

13th May - cloud am, showers and rain later, 5C, cooler in rain, light NE

Claybrooke Parva; a look around he cemetery area.  Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Goldcrests were all collecting food for young.  Four Goldfinches, at least two male Greenfinches singing and several Chaffinch were about.  A Tawny Owl was roosting in the usual spot. 

Misterton; a check here produced a great Spotted Woodpecker with food, a calling Nuthatch and Treecreeper, plus a singing Song Thrush.  On the lake a Grey Lag Goose with goslings and a Canada Goose pair incubating on their nest.

DRIFT 3/A5; I popped here to see the near-summer plumed Knot, Sanderling and Dunlin which had been reported, all were still present at 1600h.

12th May - sunny periods, light SSW, 16C

Cotesbach Landfill; the Kumlien's Gull was present again this evening among the other Gulls resting in the sandpit area.

Lilbourne Meadows; looked over the wet meadows from the Bridle way this evening.  The Lapwing chick was busy feeding being looked over by its parents.  Also, 3+ Gadwall, Mallards, 2 Shelducks, 4 Mute Swans, Grey Lag and Canada Geese.  Two Grey Herons flew in, 6 Moorhens, and 6 Coots, one on a nest, also a Little Grebe.

Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat singing too.

11th May - another day of showers,light-mod SSE, 15C, but mostly much cooler

Cotesbach landfill; a look this evening (before the rain!).

Only notable was the Kumlien's Gull was on the water in the sandpit area, no doubt having fed at the tip and now, getting ready to return to Draycote to roost with the other Gulls. An Iceland/Kumlien's Gull was reported at Draycote earlier today, probably this bird.

The Canada Goose has hatched, I could see three goslings tucked under the wing.  The Gadwall pair was also present again.