31st August - cloudy, dull at times, light NNE, 15C

Shawell sandpit; evening. Three Green Sandpipers feeding, four Little Grebe, five Mute Swans, plus Teal and Shoveler.

Two Hobbies appeared, an adult food passed then the second bird sat in a tree to eat the item.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; evening. An interesting selection of waders, two each of Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Curlew, a Redshank.  I spotted a small wader, smaller than Dunlin, which eventually I could see better and confirmed it as a Little Stint.

30th August - cloudy, light NNE, 17C

The lack of sunshine continues making it feel more like Autumn than late summer.

Willey; I've only seen 20 Swallows flying around today, they maybe spending more time over the fields looking for food as its cool, or I wonder if some departed yesterday, we'll see.

Shawell Sandpit/Cotesbach Landfill; morning.  Not much different than yesterday.  Five Red Kites and 20 Ravens were noted.

A5 Pools;  two juv Little Ringed Plover, a juv Ringed Plover, a Redshank, Common Sandpiper.

Rutland Water; afternoon.  plenty of birds around the lagoons, including on L1 a Greenshank, two Curlew and a Ruff, Little and Great Egrets, Grey Heron, the usual selection of duck and a few Egyptian Geese.

There was not much on L4 whilst I was there but L3 was productive.  Black-tailed Godwit, Green and Common Sandpipers, several Ruff and Snipe, Curlew and a juv Little Stint (just disappearing fromview).  Several Common Terns, plenty of Sand and a  few House martins.  The principle bird was a Glossy Ibis which had been present a couple of days or so, it was showing well preening. 

29th August - cloudy, dull at times, light NE, 18C

Willey; this morning c60 Swallows on the wires (0730), a Red Kite again over the Perkins fields area (0830h), and a Redstart again in Hurls furlong field hedge, same site as the other day.(0900h).

Blacktoft Sands RSPB; today I decided to do a 'twitch' and go to see the White-tailed Lapwing which has been here for the previous two days.  It was showing close and well from the Townend hide.   Other waders were present too, including Ruff.

28th August - cloudy, sunny intervals later, 19C, light NNE

Shawell sandpit- Cotesbach Landfill; morning.  Two Pochard (m+f) were new in, four Tufted Duck, one Gadwall 23 Teal, 12 Shoveler, 30+ Mallard, plus 92 Canada and c60 Greylag Geese.  Four Little Grebes and three Mute Swans.

Seven Red Kite, 15 Ravens together, very few Gulls though.  A couple of Lapwing along the shore.

Shawell Lagoon; afternoon. 79 Lapwing, my fist autumn flock here this year.

A5 Pools//DIRFT; late afternoon. A nice selection of waders included, Common Sandpiper, two Dunlin, Redshank, a Ringed and three Little Ring Plovers (juvs), two Snipe, 16 Lapwing.  A couple of Shoveler with the Mallards.

27th August - cloudy, 18C, light N

WIlley; morning.  c40 Starlings feeding on Sheep, pasture on Perkins fields.

In the afternoon a walk around the Hurls Furlong field I found two Redstarts, one each side of the field.

Shawell sandpit; evening.  two Green Sandpipers feeding on one pool.  Shoveler 8, Teal 19 and four Little Grebes, one Lapwing, very few Gulls. 

26 August - cloudy am, sunny spells pm, 18C, light N

WIlley; a Redstart (fem/imm) was spotted along the fence/hedge in the Perkins fields.

Stanford reservoir; evening.  quiet, but recently in were five Wigeon, also present four Little Grebes (1 ad/3 juvs), five Raven flew over eastward.  A Cetti's Warbler called from the undergrowth.

25th August - cloudy, often dull, light N, 19C

Willey; still a good number of Swallows about, including some which looked like they had just fledged.

Shawell sandpit; evening. A large frog on the footpath. Only two Little Grebe seen, but seven Shoveler.  A Yellow-legged Gull was showing well.

24th August - cloudy, 20C, light ENE

 Willey; female Sparrowhawk flew down the Main Street and into a garden this morning.

Shawell sandpit; evening. Three Green Sandpipers.  Mallard numbers up today, 65. Seven Shoveler and four Little Grebes, one adult and three juvs.

23rd August - cloudy, clearing to sunny periods, 22C, light ENE

Willey; a Red Kite first thing over the fields to the west (Perkins area).

Croft Hill; afternoon.  Five Spotted Flycatchers, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff and Blackcaps.  Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker with Chaffinches in the Oak wood.  Two each of Peregrine and Raven over.

Shawell Sandpit; evening. Four Green Sandpipers feeding.

A5 Pools; evening.  Two Ringed Plovers, Two Little Ringed Plovers - juvs.  Grey Heron and Little Egret.

22nd August - cloudy, light WNW, 18C, light rain/drizzle late afternoon

Soar Brook Lake; morning.  Two Little Egrets, a Little grebe, three Lapwings, a Cormorant, 40 Canada Geese and 41 Mallards.

Mere Lane Lake area; morning.  Not too much on the lake, the Mute Swans with one juv still and a pair of Little Grebes feeding two young.  Reed Warblers still present, plus a Whitethroat and Willow Warbler.

21st August - cloudy, some light rain showers, light SSE, 18C

Shawell Sandpit/Cotesbach landfill; morning.  A Greenshank was present, one was reported yesterday, then Carl spotted a second bird, both were juvs, a good for record here.  10 Red Kites.  

A5 Pools; late afternoon.  Four Ringed Plover, juv Little Ringed Plover, two Common Sandpipers and a Dunlin.  A Little Egret and Grey Heron. A yellow-legged Gull, adult.  Two Little Grebes.

20th August - mostly cloudy, light SW, 21C

 Willey; 30+ Swallows around home and on wire 0800h, plus two juv House Martins.

Several Greenfinches around the church lane and at least 40 House Sparrows on the village street after spilt grain.

A Hobby at mid-day chasing the Swallows, but failed.

Croft Hill; I had a look here this afternoon.  Several Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff and Blackcaps, two, may three, Spotted Flycatchers.

19th August - cloudy, light SW, 20C, some light rain showers evening

Daventry reservoir; evening.  Birds included a juv Spotted Redshank (too distant for good photos), four Common Sandpipers, three Green Sandpipers, a few lapwing, lots of Gadwall, Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, a single Swift and two House martins for a while, a Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler in the bushes.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; evening.  I heard there was a Ruddy Shelduck seen here this afternoon, so on my way back I stopped and had a look.  I found it, a female, presumably the one which had been at Draycote seen yesterday, but missing today since early morning the from there.

18th August - mostly cloudy, light W, 20C, a few sunny spells late pm.

Willey; a Raven was flying a calling around the nearby fields on several occasions today, maybe a casualty in the local Sheep fields.

Draycote Water; I visited here during the afternoon, particularly to see the immature Ferruginous Duck which has been present a couple of days or so.  It was found in it's usual area and very close to shore, sometimes sitting on the rocks giving very good views.  Known to be un-ringed.

Other birds included a Ruddy Shelduck, Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, a Yellow-legged Gull, Green Woodpecker, Swallows, House and Sand martins.

17th August - cloudy, light W, 17C

Willey; 0800h eight Curlew flew over N towards Ullesthorpe.

Another Hedgehog road casualty near the village junction on Coal Pit Lane.

Stanford reservoir; evening. Generally quiet.  Female Red-crested Pochard still present, Green Sandpiper heard in flight near dam. two Grey Wagtails in spillway.  Several Common Terns and juvs still present.

16th August - cloudy, light - mod WNW, 18C, sunny spells evening

Generally a quiet feeling day.

Willey; a couple of Meadow Pipits in the long grass, Hurls Furlong, and a Skylark.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.  Quiet, the pools are drying rapidly at the moment, a female Sparrowhawk perched up for awhile.

Shawell Sandpit; evening.  Eight Shoveler, six Teal, two Gadwall and a female Grey Wagtail.

15th August - mostly clody, light-mod WSW, 20C

Cotesbach Landfill; 22 Ravens this morning enjoying the wind and flying in groups.  Three Red Kites.

Shawell Sandpit; Four Shovelers, six Teals, a Green Woodpecker.  In the spinney a roving party of Tits, Chiffchaffs and Treecreeper.

Stanford reservoir; a walk here this afternoon.  a Common Sandpiper, six Yellow, 2 Grey and several Pied wagtails on the dam, as well as four Common Terns.  Nearby about 20 Swallows, one Sand Martin and three House Martins.    Along the by-pass a mixed roving Tit and Warbler flock.

On the water the female Red-crested Pochard was present still, one a drake Pochard was noted with the Tufted Duck and a single Shoveler on the dam. Six Comment Terns over the water was the maximum I saw.  

14th August - sunny spells, light SW, 20C

Soar Brook Lake; notables were -  two Little Egret and Cormorant, a Grey Wagtail pair, two Lapwings and a Little Grebe. 15 Goldfinches feeding on seed heads.  

Mere Lane Lake; a Little Grebe pair feeding youngsters, a Mute Swan pair with one large cygnet. 

A5 pools/DIRFT; evening.  a single Ringed Plover, Curlew and Common Sandpiper, c 30 Starlings.  

Lilbourne Meadows; six Green Sandpipers and a Snipe.

13th August - sunny spells, mod SW, 22C

WIlley; checking the Buddleias and wild flower areas around the village I didn't find the Camberwell Beauty, but I did see several of each - Red Admiral, Peacock, Large White, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma (1).

12th August - sunny spells, cloud increased pm, brief showers evening, light SW, 20C

Willey; I heard today that a Camberwell Beauty was spotted by a visitor to the village a couple of days ago on a Buddleia bush.  Sighting is reliable as the person is a volunteer counting butterflies for the Wildlife Trust.  Hopefully, it can be seen again - by me!

A Skylark was in the long grass in Hurls Furlong again first thing.

Shawell Sandpit; evening.  Very quiet, a Common Sandpiper was feeding, a single Shoveler, five Teal, three Tufted Ducks. At least 10 Ravens were noted, many flying together in circles.

A5 Pools//DIRFT;  a Common Sandpiper, three Ringed Plovers, a juv Little Ringed Plover, a Curlew, two Little Grebe and five Yellow Wagtails.

11th August - sunny spells, light-mod SSW, 22C

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.  On the dam two Common and one Green Sandpipers, along with Common Terns, and Gadwalls including juvs.  A Tufted Duck family was just off shore.

A good number of Yellow Wagtails, up-to 20, but very active flitting about on the dam and adjacent Sheep field, also Grey and Pied Wagtails.  A Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker were heard.  Goldfinch and Linnet families were present feeding on seed heads on the dam.

Four Shoveler and a single drake Pochard were noted.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.  a new species here for me, a Water Rail, was creeping along the edge under cover, until chased by a Moorhen.   Six Green Sandpipers and five Snipe were out.

10th August - sunny spells, mod WNW, 21C

Willey; mid afternoon 66 Swallows on the wires near home, with some others flying about.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; afternoon.  A Little Ringed Plover, three Ringed Plovers.  A wood Sandpiper was good to see.  Three adult Yellow-legged Gulls, before the whole flock scared off by workers.  A Little Egret.

Another look in the evening produced three Common Sandpipers, and four Yellow Wagtails.

9th August - SUnny spells and short showers, light-mod WSW, 18C

A busy day, about 35 Swallows on the wires near home first thing and most of the first broods in and out of the sheds a lot today (I wonder if [hope] they are learning where to return to?!).

A5 Pools/DIRFT; evening.  four Common Sandpipers, three Ringed Plover, two Little Ringed Plovers, a Dunlin, two Curlew.

A Grey Heron a few Canada and Greylag Geese, ducks were only Mallards.

Plenty of Yellow Wagtails, I counted 30, but so busy flitting about I suspect there were more.

8th August - mostly sunny spells, mod SW, 19C

Shawell Sandpit; morning. Two Common Sandpipers, Shoveler count up to 11, three Teal, 39 Mallard, Greylag Geese 109.  A couple of Ravens over the adjacent landfill and three Red Kites.

Eyebrook Reservoir; afternoon.  Waders were a Greenshank, a Black-tailed Godwit, two Dunlin, three Green Sandpipers, two Little Ringed Plovers, a Common Sandpiper.  Several Little Egret, a Great Egret and Grey Heron.  The usual ducks, nothing new, Common Terns including juveniles. 

A Red Kite came over high, spotted and Kestrel hovering and dived towards it.  A Hobby was hunting over the adjacent field.  A couple of Yellow Wagtails around the inlet shore.  

7th August - Sunny spells, mod SW, 19C, occasional brief shower

Willey; a Spotted Flycatcher spotted on the edge of the BH wood, other birds flitting about so I presume that the family still present.

Shawell Sandpit; morning; not many Gulls present but Carl spotted a juv/1st winter Mediterranean Gull, which quickly flew off and then a juv Caspian Gull showing well.  Shoveler, Little Grebe and a Common Sandpiper were present.

Husbands Bosworth Sandpit; afternoon. Not much present in the only remaining pit area, five Little Grebes though.

Welford/Sulby reservoirs;  a check here as the water is currently low, despite walkers can get close to flush birds..  Three Grey Herons, two Common Sandpipers, three Shoveler, a Gadwall, two juv Yellow Wagtails.

Stanford reservoir; a walk along the Leics side from the inlet to the dam.  Notables were a female Red-crested Pochard, three Shovelers, 10 Gadwalls, a Little Egret, c 15 Common Terns, a Common Sandpiper, Grey, Pied and Yellow Wagtails and Kingfisher.

6th August - sunny spells, mod S, 20C

A5 Pools/ DIRFT; evening; notables - 6 Little Ringed Plover, a Ringed Plover, teo Common Sandpipers.  Several Linnets feeding on seed heads, four Skylarks.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.  Seven Green Sandpipers, two Little Grebes.

5th August - sunny spells am, becomong cloudy, showers - rain later, 18C, light-mod SE

Stanford reservoir; late afternoon. A Common Sandpiper, 15 Pied, 3 Grey and 4 Yellow Wagtails on dam/spillway.  Gadwall family, 4 Shovelers, 2 Little Egrets a Grey Heron.  

Six Linnets feeding on the dam weeds, included juveniles, a Red-legged Partridge nearby.  Swallows, House and Sand Martins overhead.

4th August - sunny spells, 22C, light breeze.

Willey; I counted 45 Swallows on the wires at lunch time, many juvs, all carefully preening - must be ready for the off, which is not too far away.

A couple of Sky;arks were flushed from the grass in Hurls Furlong, which is good as we don't have so many Skylarks around now nearby developments have occured.

Shawell sandpit; Notables this morning were a Little Egret (my first here this year) and Common Sandpiper.  Not so many Red Kites currently,

A5 Pools/DIRFT; evening. A adult Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, two Common Sandpipers, and two Little Egrets.

Lilbourne Meadows; two Snipe, five Green Sandpipers and the female Redstart still present.

3rd Aug - cloud and some mist first thing, clearing during the morning to sunny spells and 19C, light SE

Willey; First thing I counted 40 Swallows sitting on the wires or roof tiles (warming up) with other out and about.   The Spotted Flycatcher family was seen and heard in the BH wood still.  Two Bullfinches flew over the lane in to the hedge from the allotments hedgerow mid-morning.  A couple of juv Buzzards were calling and following a parent over the fields to the east.

Shawell sandpit; a Common Sandpiper this evening.

A5 Polls/DIRFT; evening.  Two Curlews, an adult Ringed Plover, four Little Ringed Plovers, a Common Sandpiper.  4+ Yellow Wagtails, a Little Grebe, only five Lapwings.  Greylag Geese increased to 88 now.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.  The female Redstart still along the hedgerow and a male showed too.  

Six Green Sandpipers, five Snipe out feeding, and 27 Lapwings flew in.

2nd August - sunny spells, light variable breeze, 19C

Shawell sandpit; a couple of Common Sandpipers this evening.

Stanford reservoir; evening. 

On the dam, a Common Sandpiper, three Yellow and 10+ Pied Wagtails, the Gadwall family, plus usual residents.  A couple of Red-legged Partridge flew in, a Grey Heron on the overflow wall and a Little Egret near the point.  Off the point two Little Grebes.

Swallows, House and Sand Martins were feeding in the area, and a couple of Linnet were heard flying off.

A mixed Tit and warbler flock moved through the waterside Willows.

1st August - light rain during the morning, clearing to broken cloud/sunny spells, light breeze, 19C

Shawell sandpit; morning. three Common Sandpipers.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; morning.  Three each of Common Sandpipers and Little Ringed Plovers.  An Adult Ringed Plover and a Little Grebe.  Two Yellow Wagtails, a Grey Heron and a Little Egret. A handful of Starlings feeding.