31st Dec - cloudy am, light rain from mid-day, mod SW, 11C

Shawell; morning

The sunflower seed field only held about 15 Chaffinches, 6 Yellowhammers, 8 Reed Buntings and a Greenfinch.

Shawell sandpit/ Landfill;

All the regulars, nothing new.

30th Dec - Light rain am, then lighter cloud, mod SW, 11C

Shawell;

I found a bird food/cover area holding c 100 Chaffinches, plus a Brambling, a Greenfinch, two Reed Buntings, a Yellowhammer and Linnet.

I suspect more will be found when checked again earlier in the day.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Red-crested Pochard, drake still present.  Nothing else new.

29th Dec - sunny spells, cloud increasing, mod WSW, 8C

DIRFT/AS pools; morning.

Five Shelducks (another was at Shawell sandpit), Wigeons, Shovelers,  Teals, Mallards and 308 Lapwings.

c50 Linnets.

Shawell Sandpit/landfill; morning.

A few Gulls, inn the sandpit, more distantly, Ian had already picked out 1W Caspian we see regularly (called 'pinky').  Several Red Kites and a Sparrowhawk passed over.

Single Shelduck, three Gadwall, nine Tufted, nine Wigeon, c 100 Teal plus Mallards.

Eyebrook reservoir; afternoon.

Four drake Smews seen (nine Smew had been reported, plenty of Goldeneye and other usual winter ducks.  Two Great Egrets and Grey Heron.

Two Ravens, single Red Kite.

At the bridge feeder a Great Spotted Woodpecker.  One Tree Sparrow at dam gate feed station.

28th Dec - cloudy, rain till 1430, mod SSW, 11C

no reports today.

27th Dec - ground Frost. High cloud, thickening, rain late evening, 6C, light S, becoming mod/blustery SSW pm

WIlley;

New fresh Barn Owl pellets under one of my boxes in the hay barns.

DIRFT/A5 pools; morning.

Notables were six Shelducks, 223 Golden Plovers, 82 Lapwings and a Little Egret, plus usual ducks.

I found the corpse of a Falcon/Hawk on the A5 verge, it was ringed, BTO metal ring No. GY19983.  Details have been sent off, looking forward to the response.

Shawell Lagoons, morning.

Very quite, a few Tufties, a Great Crested Grebe and two Red Kites over.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Notables were two Red Kite, female Pintail, drake Red-crested Pochard, three Teal and seven Goldeneyes.

26th Dec - 6C, light WSW, sunny mostly. Ground frost last night.

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

A few Ducks, Teal, Wigeon and Mallard on the we meadows.

15 Goldfinches feeding on the Teasels and a Stonechat near the 'bat' house.

A few Redwings, Fieldfares, Blackbirds and a Song Thrush feeding near the entrance,.

25th Dec - cloudy, light S, 9C

Husbands Bosworth sandpit, morning

A quick look when passing, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted and Wigeon present.

Eight Stock Doves feeding on the ground.

24th Dec - sunny am, cloudy pm, light S, 8C

Stanford reservoir; morning.

Notables included - the Red-crested Pochard drake, Red Kite over, Cetti's Warbler in main reed bed, 11 Lesser Redpoll feeding along by-pass, also two Goldfinch and four Bullfinch.  A Raven, Goldcrest and Jay seen too.  

Shawell sandpit/landfill; afternoon.

38 Red Kites counted, c40 Ravens

c100 teal, 14 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 5 Tufted Duck, Mallards, 8 Wigeon, Mute Swans 2.

Female Sparrowhawk flew through

132 Lapwings flew around.

Shawell Starling Roost

The majority gathered on the landfill before going to roost.  A murmuration from 1600-1610h.

Estimated 30000 present.

23rd Dec - rain till 1330h, then cloudy, light SW, 8C

Willey, morning.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew ove the home paddock, not seen one for ages.  Otherwise nothing new to note.

22nd Dec - misty at time, cloudy, dull, drizzle, damp, v light SSE, 8C

Willey, morning

One male Bullfinch seen in home paddock top hedge, only a few Redwing and Fieldfare about.

Street Ashton; afternoon

c50 Linnets on bird food/cover near the Fosse junction

Stretton under Fosse; afternoon

c 70 Redwings feeding on the Malt Kiln Farm fruit and veg area, but no finches seen

Monks Kirby, afternoon.

c15 Linnets, 10 Chaffinch and 5 Greenfinch and Nuthatch heard near Newnham Paddox entrance.

21st Dec - cloud am, becoming sunny, 8C, light SSW

Stanford Hall; afternoon.

Checked the Geese here, nothing new.  

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Red-crested Pochard, drake still, Goldeneye five (3m/2f) Great Egret and Little Egret, Cetti's Warbler sang main reed bed.  

20th Dec - Sunny spells, light S, 8C

Shawell sandpit/Landfill;  mid-afternoon.

10 Gadwall, Teals, 2 Wigeons, c12 Shovelers, three Mute Swans, six Red Kites.  Plenty of Gulls over the landfill site.

19th Dec - cloudy, 13C, mod S/SSW blustery 20mph

 Thaw last not, ground not frozen today.

Stretton-under-Fosse - c 20 Chaffinches on the sunflowers at Malt Kiln Farm.  Four Bramblings have been reported, so need to check another day.

18th Dec -Frost -2 last night. Today cloudy, light rain pm, dull. Light SE picking up during pm, 2C - warming very slowly through the evening and forecast to through he night.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.  95% frozen over.

Reduced number of water birds due to the frozen water, those present were gathered on few open patches.  However, the Coots had definitely not moved off with many present.

Four Little Grebes, c30 Shovelers, three Goldeneye, 40+ Gadwall, also Pochards, Tufted, Mallards and Mute Swans.  The drake Red-crested Pochard was also present.

Two Red Kites, Ravens, a few Redwings and Fieldfares.

Among the Gulls standing on the ice I found a CR Herring Gull, A8JT (orange/black).

17th Dec - Frost -2C last night. cloudy am, sunny later, light S, 3C

Willey;

It seems to me, despite the cold weather there seems very few passerines about.  Very few House Sparrows have been seen over the recent weeks.  Not sure if this is real, time will tell.

Mistle Thrush, Blackbirds, Redwings and two Song Thrush still coming to the Church Yews.

Shawell sandpit/landfill; afternoon.

The pools were 95% frozen over, so duck numbers well down, c40 Teal, 12 Shovelers and c20 Mallards, and five Mute Swans.

A few gulls were on the ice, coming and going from the landfill.  Several colour rings were read (with Dale) , including Herring Gull F=F which I also saw here in January and last December.

A very 'white' gull was also present, thought most likely a Herring Gull.

16th Dec - Last nigh frost -7C. Sunny, light N, 0C

Willey; morning

Church area - 6 Greenfinches, Mistle Thrush, 5 Redwings, 2 Song Thrushes, several Blackbirds all feeding around the Yew trees.

15th Dec - frost last night -8C, the coldest we have had for a very long time. Sunny, 1C, light NW

Willey;  a couple of Ravens heard this morning to the east of village.

Hinckley; 1400h

A look around St. Mary's, thn park and war memorial areas.   Two Mistle Thrushes and a few Redwings on the Yews eating berries.  15 Greenfinches in the trees too.

Seven Lapwings flew over low, SW.  On the pool c35 Mallards and four Moorhens.

14th Dec - frost -4C last night. cloudy am, then sun, light Ne, 1C

Lubenham, 1000h

Two red Kites over Foxton Road.

Shawell sandpit/Landfill; early afternoon.

Plenty of Gulls, Ian and I read several colour ringed Herring Gulls and one LBB Gull.

14 Red Kites, Ravens, duck numbers currently low (sandpit pools 50% frozen over.

Two of the CR Herring Gulls Y:J31 and 7X9B

13th Dec - frost -2C last night, cloudy, light N, 0C

Willey; 1330h

32 Golden plover and 11 Lapwings on arable field along Pailton road again.

Harborough Magna - St. Marys

c30 Chaffinches on the bird food field.

12th Dec - frost -2C last night. Today cloudy, light E, 0C

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Drake Red-crested Pochard present.  Nothing else new.

Surprising so few Goldeneye, yet.  Only two drake seen today, maximum has been four.

11th Dec - -2C frost last night. Thick cloud, some fog, very light NE, 0C all day

Willey; 0910h

A Muntjac was crossing slowly the Coal Pit  lane from the allotments field to the Long Spinney, it was followed by very small fawn (Muntjacs don't have a rutting season).,  The fawn stopped in the middle of the road - in front of my vehicle - the doe had made it to the Spinney.  A car sped past in the other direction.   I got out to see where the fawn had gone but could not find it so moved off.

On returning a little later the fawn had become a road-kill - it must have tried to cross again..  However, the carcass had been spotted  by a Red Kite that was stooping down, as well as Carrion Crows.

Soar Brook Lake (WeBs count day).

The lake was 90% frozen over.  8 Wigeon, 2 Tufted, 26 Mallard, a Little Grebe, A Cormorant, several Coot and Moorhens.  95 Lesser-black Backed Gulls, 80 Black-headed Gulls, 5 Herring Gulls and 1 Great-Black Backed Gull.   Very little else around.

Mere Lane Lake

95% frozen over.  4 Little Grebes, several Moorhens and Coots, one Tufted Duck and Mute Swan pair.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Conditions poor, with very low visibility  Among the duck visible a single drake Red-crested Pochard was spotted.  

10th Dec - frost again last night -4C. Today sunny, light N, 3C

 Magna Park - morning

Close to the end of Woodby Lane a single Lesser Redpoll feeding in tree, later 10 Goldfinches.

A Green Woodpecker called near the lake.  L:ake completely frozen over.

Stanford Hall, afternoon.

Ruddy Shelduck female still present.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon-dusk  9Keepoers Bay 75% frozen over).

About 20 Long-tailed Tits along Leics bank.

Seven Red-crested Pochards today, three drakes/four females.

Two Goosanders flew in (drake and female).

9th Dec - frost last night -4C. Today clear sunny, very light N, 3C

WIlley; 

On an arable field just along Pailton road there was 35 Golden Plovers and 15 Lapwings.  I did notice them yesterday as I passed too.

Stanford Hall; afternoon.

The female Ruddy Shelduck was feeding on the parkland with Canada Geese and a Great Egret was at the lake.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

The main reservoir still ice free, only about  a third of Keepers bay frozen.  Nothing new found.

Only a drake Red-crested {Pochard present, others seemed to have moved off for now.

c14 Shovelers, one female Goldeneye and two Teal among the other ducks.

Sun down over the reservoir

8th Dec - -4C last night. Clear sunny, 2C, very light N

Harborough Magna, early afternoon.

Only c 30 Linnets present and a few Chaffinches.  Still no Bramblings as last year.

Shawell sandpit/Landfill, afternoon.

The pool area was about half frozen over,  Still plenty of Teal  13 Gadwall, only one Wigeon, four Tufted Ducks, 13 Red Kites.

Plenty of Gulls but vast majority were distant, although c20 Common Gulls were on the pools.

7th Dec - Frost last night -2C. Sunny, light No, 3C

We are in for a coltish spell, what will that bring?

Stanford Hall; afternoon.

Nothing new, the goose flock is still mostly Canada Geese, the Greylags haven't been flock here as much as last year yet.

At least three Little Grebes on the lake, a small flock of Wigeon too.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.a

A quickest look around the dam and inlet areas.  Nothing new, fairly quiet.  Only a couple of Goldeneye were spotted.  The Greylag goose flock was on the adjacent arable field, but held no wild visitors.

  

6th Dec - mostly cloudy, some fine drizzle, dull at time, light N, 6C

No new obs today.

5th Dec - mostly cloudy, some drizzle/short showers, light NNE, 7C

No obs today to report.

4th Dec - cloudy, light NE, 5C

DIRFT; morning.

A look at the cleared development area, which is covered in pools, a few Shoveler, Mallard and Teal and a small collection of Gulls.  

A number of flocks of Golden Plovers were flying around and later a larger flock, c500 looking to land but the nearby Scramble bikers were in action today, so the Plovers departed.

                                            Distant large flock - look closely

Shawell Sandpit; early afternoon.

Main sightings were 20 Red Kites, 11 Wigeon, 88 Teal, 2 Pochard, 6 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Ducks, several Ravens.

Stanford Hall, afternoon.

Ruddy Shelduck with Canada Geese still.

Quite a pale Grey Heron standing near the lake.

The albino 'white' Grey Squirrel was seen briefly, as you can see, I just got its tail!

Stanford reservoir; mid-late afternoon.

An adult and a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull came into roost (spotted by Chris Hubbard).

Only one drake Red-crested Pochard seen.

A nice Fungal growth on a stump.

2nd Dec - cloudy, dull, misty cool morning, clearing little. 4C

Willey;

A Little Egret feeding around cattle yards, 1100h, muddy gate area.  First farm record.

Stanford Hall; afternoon.

Checked the Goose flock, only Canada and a couple of Greylags, however a Ruddy Shelduck was sitting among them

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Red-crested Pochards increased again to nine (6 drakes).  four Goldeneyes, four Teal, and a few Shovelers around, plus all the other usuals. Four Little Grebes, Red Kite over.

Chris Hubbard checked the adjacent arable field at the inlet and among the Greylags were three White-fronted geese.

 An interesting Fungus, to keep an eye on, at the dam grass area.

1st Dec - cloudy, very light SW, 6C

Hinckley; morning.

A look around St. Mary's church, Argent's Mead and war memorial area.  Most birds being drawn by the Yew trees/berries.

Five Greenfinches, 2+ Goldcrest, two Song Thrushes, tow Mistle Thrushes and seven plus Blackbirds, most in a Rowan tree eating berries.  On the pool were c 30 Mallards and two Moorhens.

A passer-by reported a Peregrine was present a couple of days ago on the Church.

30th Nov - Mist start, clearing mid-morning, some brightness until pm, then thick cloud and dull, 7C, light SW

Willey;

A busy day.

Usual birds around the Church and lane on the berries.

The cemetery is always a good place for fungi, noticed this one below today.  I believe a Dyer's Mazegill.

29th Nov - Misty, dull, damp all day, 5C, very light SW

Harborough Magna/St. Mary's area; late morning.

Checked the Bird food fields, c100 Linnets, and 20+ Chaffinches.  I didn't see and Brambling, as last year, but visibility was low and maybe just not visible.

Plenty of Redwings and Fieldfares in the area too.

28th Nov - Misty/fog first thing, clearing slowly to mostly high cloud, a few breaks, very light SW, 8C

Willey; mid-day.

A lot more Redwings coming to the berries around the Church and lane (Yew, Sloes, Hawthorn and Holly).    Blackbirds seemed more numerous too.

Three Starlings were after Sloes, they were very fussy which ones they ate!

150 Fieldfares around the adjacent field too.

A couple of Fungi spotted in the Church Lane, one maybe a Scarlet Bonnet.

27th Nov - cloudy, very light SW, 11C

A5 Pools/DIRFT; morning.

Nothing new on the A5 pools than the other day.  On the prepared development are at the back c 450 Golden Plovers.

Shawell sandpit/Landfill; morning.

Not many Gulls as no tipping occurring.

Seven Red Kites, 11 Gadwall was a good count for here.  Four Wigeon and seven Tufted Ducks, a good number of Teal and Mallards, plus 11 Shovelers.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Red-crested Pochards now down to five (three drakes).  All the usual ducks, five Teal, four Little Grebes.  One Great Egret around.

Along the by-pass path c300 Fieldfares, two Goldcrests with Treecreeper and Long-tailed Tits.

A Kestrel, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Bullfinch (male) near the Leics feed station.