31st Dec - broken cloud, 14C, mod SW

Willey; c50 Redwings and two Buzzards around the Perkins fields area.

Stanford Reservoir; am.  Chris found three White-fronted Geese (adult and 2 juvs) in Keepers bay, so I popped over to see them, good views, also the Pink-footed Goose.

Stanford Hall, On the way back I checked here and found that the White-fronts and Pink-footed had made their way here and were showing well on the parkland.

Shawell Sandpit; pm. Pochard 3, Wigeon 3, Lapwing 95, plus all the other regulars.

A colour ringed Caspian Gull was spotted by Ian, XJNE, he saw this in early November too.

30th Dec - cloudy, some occasional light drizzle, mod SW, 14C

Shawell Sandpit/landfill; am.  Lots of Gulls over the landfill and in the sandpit, nothing new spotted.  A few Lapwings were present, but these get pushed out by the Gulls.  Waterfowl included an Egyptian Goose, a Shelduck, 10 Wigeon, 25 Shoveler, a drake Pochard with several Tufted Ducks, 100+ Teal.

Last year (2020) was the first time I recorded Egyptian Goose at the sandpit - on six occasions, this year I've seen them on 60 occasions.  So, they seen to be settling in to this part of the Midlands, maybe a nest next year?  Ravens were very active, I counted 30, and no doubt a few more out of view.  Six Red Kites around the site. 

Harborough Magna; a check on the sunflower field.  Still the finch flock, c200 Linnets, c30 Bramblings, c30 Chaffinch, also Greenfinches, Yellowhammers and Starlings in tree tops.

Lilbourne Wet Meadows; these are now quite flooded and should produce some good birds. c120 Wigeon, a few Teal and Mallards today.  The hedges/trees  held a good number of Redwings, Fieldfares, Starlings and c12 Goldfinches.

29th Dec - light rain early, clearing to broken cloud and evenn hazy sun late pm, light-mod SW, 13C

A5 Pools/DIRFT; c350 Lapwings, c25 Shoveler 

Stanford res, pm, inlet fields, then along Leics bank from inlet to main reed bed area.  Birds included - 6 Shoveler, 4 Teal, Goldeneyes, I Little Egret, 2 Raven, 2 Jay, Coal Tit, female Bullfinch, 3 Brambling over.

28th Dec - rain early, then cloudy, light WSW,9C

Eyebrook reservoir; pm.  The water level is currently low due to the level being reduced for works.  

Highlights - 

Near Stoke Dry; the imm female Ring-necked Duck was feeding with Tufted Ducks out in the open.  Three, maybe four female Smew were present nearby too.  All the usual common winter ducks were present, including six Shelduck, Pintails, and a female Red-crested Pochard.

At the inlet  three Avocets were feeding (unusual in winter) and 14 Dunlin.

Island area - three drake Smew.

Feed station gate - eight Tree Sparrows.

27th Dec - light rain/drizzle, thick cloud/mist all day, very murky, 8C

A very murky, damp dull day again, not ideal out and about.

Willey; Four Ravens in Hurls Furlong hedge trees this morning.

A5 Pools/DIRFT/; a look this morning hoping that something new in due to no workings going on, but just expected birds, a coup,e of Gadwall were in -  not seen here for awhile.  125 Lapwings

Shawell Sandpit; Practically no Gulls present today due to the holidays.  226 Teal was a good total, probably a few more out of view in the vegetation.  18 Shoveler, 6 Tufted, 1 Pochard, 2 Wigeon, Gadwall 2.  106 Lapwings.

Harborough Magna; a check of the sunflower seed field after lunch, still full of Finches, c 200 Linnets, 30 Chaffinch, c30 Bramblings, 4 Yellowhammers, c15 Starlings, a Kestrel and Buzzard.

Magna Park South; a check of the undeveloped area which has shallow pools and vegetation, most notable was 7 Dunlin feeding.

26th Dec - steady rain last night, cloudy, Misty, damp, drizzle, 7C, light E

Lutterworth; a couple of Red Kites over the by-pass/golf course (1130h) and another next to the canal fields at North Kilworth.

Husbands Bosworth sandpit; a look about mid-day.  Teals, Gadwalls, Mallards, a Canada Goose and 4 Little Grebes.

25th Dec - rain early, then cloud and mist, rain evening, light E, 6C

 Willey; the feed station was generally quiet this morning, three Chaffinches, House Sparrows and a couple of Greenfinch, Dunnock, Robin, Jackdaws, Magpie.  

A few Redwings flying around the area.

24th Dec - cloudy, misty, damp clearing slowly to light cloud, rain late afternoon, 8C, light E

Soar Brook lake; am. 264 Lapwings, Wigeon 23, Tufted 1, Teal 1,Mallards, Grey Heron,  Little Grebe 5, Greylag c50, Canada 12, BH, Common and Lesser Blacked Gulls.  c15 Siskins in the brook Alders.

Shawell Sandpit; pm.  Thousands of Gulls over the landfill area (not closely viewable) and a good number in the sandpit, although nothing new spotted.

21 Red Kites present. 100+Teal, a few Shoveler, 4 Wigeon, 5 Stock Doves flew in to the Spinney. Several Ravens.

23rd Dec - misty, damp cloudy start, remaking dull, 9C

Willey; Raven heard calling,0900h, near the Church fields in the mist.

Harborough Magna; a look over the sunflower seed field at the finch flock. I could see 17 Bramblings in the hedge, certainly more out of view. c150 Linnets, 30 Chaffinches, 2 Yellowhammers, a single Greenfinch.  A Buzzard flew in to the trees and a Sparrowhawk flew on to the wires - looked the same bird as the other day - so probably after these finches.

22nd Dec - frost -3C last night. Cloudy, light SE, 3C

A5 Pools/DIRFT;  a look after lunch as I've not been for a while.  A few Wigeon, Teal, Shovelers, Mute Swans and BH, H, LBB Gulls, plus a Snipe hiding along the edge vegetation.

Shawell Sandpit;  Many Gulls here and many mostly at the adjacent landfill site.  Ian had spotted a coloured Caspian and lost it, however I found it again, read as D1P5 (red/white) probably ringed in Poland. 

Teal 100+, Shovelers, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, single Shelduck, four Ravens, 4+ Red Kites.

A Fox made its way to the waters edge, as soon as the Teal saw it they all headed directly towards it and followed it as it walked around the pool edge.  Clearly, a great defensive action to make sure everyone knows the Foxes whereabouts.

21st Dec - light cloud, light S.E., 5C

Stanford Reservoir; A look here this afternoon produced a single Whooper Swan, asleep on the water.  Movement of Whoopers had been noted through a number of locations in the Midlands this morning.

Three Shovelers, a female Goosander, plus the usual winter ducks.

A Great Egret was resting near the hide point, and a Grey Heron too.

A single Chiffchaff was seen, along with a Long-tailed Tit flock. A Few Redwings and Fieldfares were noted too.

20th Dec - cloudy, dull, light NE, 5C

Soar Brook Lake; pm. A visit here to get a WeBs count as yesterday was so foggy.  Wigeon 15, Mallard 16, Coot 15, Moorhen 12. Cormorant 3, Little Grebe 4, Black-Headed, Common, Lesser Black Back and Herring Gulls.  On the field 168 lapwing and 15 Golden Plovers, plus a Grey Heron.

Harborough Magna, c1500h.  I checked the sunflower field, 27 Bramblings counted, certainly a fee more in the hedges/cover.  c200 Linnets, clearly more here, some in from the other local bird food areas where I have seen them.  c30 Chaffinches and 4 Yellowhammers.

19th Dec - a foggy day with poor visibility remaining throughout, almost still, 2C

An official WeBS count day, but the visibility was hampering counts.

Mere Lane Lake; a couple of Shoveler, Little Grebes, Mute Swans, Moorhens  and 13 Coots we’re visible, no Water Rail answered their call played.  Three Reed Buntings in the reeds.

Soar Brook Lake, the visibility was even worse here,  most of the area was not visible at all,  Mute Swans 2, Mallard 17, Little Grebe 2, Coot, Black-headed and Lesser black Back Gulls could be seen or heard.  

c6 Siskins were in the brook Alders and a few Redwings.  

18th Dec - thick cloud, early fine drizzle, some mist, still, 6C

Magna Park Lake;  a WeBs count at this small lake this morning, a couple of Mute Swans, two eacxh of Tufted Duck and Mallard.  The inlet area has always looked potential habitat for Water Rail, so I was pleased today when one answered it's call which I played briefly.

A Sparrowhawk flew over and settled in a tree, in the bushes nearby three Bullfinches were seen.  Further along the perimeter trees I noticed birds feeding in Alders, which were c35 Lesser Redpolls and a couple of Goldfinches.

WIlley; the feed station area was checked midday.   Currently the number of visitors seems to be down, maybe a mild weather effect.  A male and female Great Spotted Woodpecker came, a few House Sparrows, Great and Blue Tits, a Coal Tit too.  

A single Greenfinch on the nearby hedge, c30 Redwings flew in to the trees.

17th Dec - thick cloud, fog rolling inearly pm, 6CX, very light SW

Shawell sandpit; a look after lunch, unfortunately fog rolled in and visibility became restricted making Gulling difficult.  A Shelduck and single drake Pochard were present among the usual Ducks.

Stanford hall Park; a large flock of Canada and Greylag Geese, plus c100 Wigeon.  A Mistle Thrush was singing.

16th Dec - thick cloud, very light SW, 11C

Harborough Magna; checked the sunflower seed field, mixed finch flock still present, I counted 29 Brambling today.

Street Ashton; I checked a bird food margin here near the Fosse junction, c 170 Linnets were feeding on the Millet seed, plus Chaffinches, two Reed Buntings, a Yellowhammer and a few Redwings (c40) and Fieldfares in the hedgerow.

Soar Brook Lake; 15 Wigeon, two Teal, several Mallards, four Little Grebes and four Cormorants.  On the adjacent field 170 Lapwings and c80 Greylags were feeding.

15th Dec - cloudy, light SW, 11C

Willey; a Mistle thrush was singing a short while this morning near the Church.,

14th Dec - light cloud, light SW, 12C

Harborough Magna, sunflower field.  Still a nice mixed finch flock present including 10 Brambling. 

13th Dec- cloudy, light SW, 11C

Shawell sandpit, 1400h.  Plenty of Gulls present today, Ian spotted a CR Caspian Gull before I arrived and an adult Yellow-legged Gull flew on to the water.

18 Red Kites and a single Buzzard, 18 Shovelers, plenty of Teal. and the single Shelduck again.  There seems less Ravens around at the moment

12th Dec - light broken cloud, light S, 12C

Harborough Magna; am.  I checked the sunflower field this morning, still plenty of Finch activity, 20 Brambling, 20 Chaffinch, 15 Greenfinch, Linnet c50, Yellowhammer 2, Reed Bunting 1 and a Jay was in the hedgerow.

Street Ashton; not too far away another field headland has been planted with bird food, this was attracting about 30 Chaffinches, c 70 Linnets, a Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting.

Eyebrook reservoir; pm.  a look here this afternoon, hopefully to see a Smew, alas none were found.  Highlights included good views of the Ring-necked Duck, 4 Scaup, and 3 Green Sandpipers and Siskin flock.

11th Dec - cloudy am, light rain/dull/mist pm, light SW, 6C

Shawell sandpit; am. c150 Teal, 19 Shoveler, single Shelduck, 10+ Red Kites, five Common Gulls, relatively low number of other Gulls.  However, after I left Carl spotted a juv Iceland Gull flying over.

Harborough Magna; pm.  After lunch I visited a Sunflower field I had spotted here.  Sure enough it was attracting Finches and Buntings.  The weather deteriorated so these numbers are only indicators and will be much higher.  Linnet c50, Greenfinch 20+, Brambling 10+, Chaffinch 20+, Yellowhammer 2+, Sparrowhawk 1.

10th Dec - mostly sunny, light-mod WSW, 5C

 Willey; usual birds at the feed station, a new one for this winter today was a bright male Yellowhammer.

C40 Redwings, but only one Fieldfare.

9th Dec - mostly cloudy, light SW, 6C

 Shawell sand pit/landfill; pm. 21 Red Kites, 12+ Ravens, c150 Teal, two Shovelers.

8th Dec - mod-gusty SW until mid-day, 5C, cloudy, bright pm.

 A Red Kite was battling the wing near Foxton, Leics and a Kestrel was hovering over the road verge near North Kilworth this morning.

7th Dec - storm Barra passed over the country. Cloud your and increasing wind, S during the morning, rain later and pm, heavy short spell heavy rain, 6C

Willey, 

Collared Dove, 12, on the street next to the ‘pen-fold/allotments’ this morning.

Colour ringed Herring Gull, 7D4B.  

The ringer has sent details of yesterdays colour ringed Herring Gull I saw at Shawell, it was originally ringed at a landfill site in Yorkshire, so is still visiting landfill sites after all this time.

                                    Age

  GR53361            N      3                       21/08/15  CB    Rufforth Waste Disposal site, York

                         S       7    Sighted         05/01/17  MFJ   Titchwell, Norfolk (163 km, SE, 1 yr 137days)

                         S       7    Sighted         30/10/17  MFJ   Titchwell, Norfolk (163 km, SE, 2 yrs 70days)

                         S       7    Sighted         10/12/17  MFJ   Titchwell, Norfolk (163 km, SE, 2 yrs 111days)

                         S      10   Sighted         20/09/19           Bain Landfill Site,Lincolnshire (116 km, SE, 4 yrs 30days)

                         S      10   Sighted         08/01/21           Cress Marsh, Stallingborough, North East Lincolnshire (80 km,                                                                                                      ESE, 5 yrs 140days)

6th Dec - light rain am, broken cloud pm, light W, 4C

Willey;  a nice fruiting fungi in the Perkins Sheep field this morning, not uncommon.

Shawell Sandpit; pm.  No landfill tipping today so Gull numbers on the low side.  Still, worth searching through, a CR Herring Gull was spotted, 7D4W.  The leg with the colour ring on was slightly injured.

c150m teal, single Shelduck, two WIgeon,nine Red Kites, plus other regulars.

5th Dec- cloudy, some drizzle am, 7C, mod NW

Willey; a hen Pheasant visited the feed station this morning, along with a Coal Tit, 25 House Sparrows, 11+ Great Tits and other regulars.

Shawell sandpit; am.   The Single Shelduck was again present feeding.  Only a few Gulls, 144 Teal, four Red Kites, Ravens again.

4th Dec - sunny, light-mod WSW, 7C

Misterton; am. a look here particularly around the Beech trees, but surprisingly quiet.

A5 Pools/DIRFT, pm. A small number of Shoveler, Teal, Lapwing and Gulls were present.

Shawell Sandpit; pm.  170+ Teal, 12 Shoveler, Mallards and Tufted Ducks, a low number of Gulls.  Ravens were doing their thing in the breeze, I counted 30, then Carl checked out the landfill area and managed a count of 45, plus two more over the derelict house gave a total of 47, which is the highest count to-date.  I expect we may exceed this at some time in the near future.

Stanford Hall Park, pm. The Canada and Greylag Goose flock has grown considerably now and feeding on the grassland, an Egyptian Goose was present.

3rd Dec - cloudy, dull, damp, Misty, light SW, 7C

Willey; five Greenfinch on the feed station and a Coal Tit, otherwise not too many visitors.

Shawell Sandpit; pm.  Nothing new, the Shelduck was showing again.

A colour ringed Herring Gull, Ydot601 (yellow/black) a York bird.

2nd Dec - Frost last night -2C, sunny, light SW, 4C

 No obs to report

1st Dec - cloudy, odd shower am, light rain pm, 9C, light-mod WSW

 No obs.