30th April - a frost last night, warming to 17C, sunny, light SSW

 A5 Pools//DIRFT; morning. Not much around but a Common Sandpiper and a pair of Oystercatchers.

Shawell sandpit/landfill; morning.  Two White Wagtails still,  Seven Gadwall today.  Two Lapwings.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.  Four Shelducks.   A Red Kite was trying to pick something off the water, whilst being hassled by a Common Tern.  A Garden Warbler in the orchard area.

Soar Brook Lake; afternoon.  Three Yellow Wagtails, five Pied Wagtails, eight Goldfinch together.  Oystercatcher pair, three Greylag Geese broods and a Coot with single youngster.  Three pairs of Tufted Ducks, a Great Crested Grebe.

28th April - cloudy, 10C, light NE

Shawell sandpit/landfill; late afternoon.  Shelduck, Gadwall 2, a Dunlin, Green Woodpecker, two White Wagtails, nine red kites.

Husbands Bosworth sandpit; evening. three Lapwings, two Little grebes, Gadwall drake, three Shelducks on adjacent pond,then flew over. two pairs Tufted Ducks.

A Lesser Black Backed Gull with the out 3/4 primaries pure white - not seen that before!

28th April - Cloudy, light N E, 11C

Shawell sandpit/landfill; evening. 16 teal, Shelduck pair, four Gadwall, a Yellow Wagtail, eight Red Kites

A5 Pools/DIRFT pools; Wigeon 2, Shoveler 2, a Redshank.

27th April - cloudy, light-steady NE, 11C, feeling cool

Willey; this evening a Kestrel hunting over the fields behind the church.

Shawell sandpit; evening. Eight Red Kites, a Yellow Wagtail, two pairs Gadwall, 16 Teal and Shelduck pair.

c20 House Martins and c15 Swallows plus a single Sand Martin over the pools.

26th April - sunny spells, light NE, 15C

Willey; a Kestrel was over the fields each side of the allotments, 1430h

Stanford reservoir; evening.  24 Yellow Wagtails gathered pore=roost on the dam.  A few, c15 each Swallow and House Martins.  Three Goldeneye (one drake) and single Wigeon - drake.  

A5 Pools/DIRFT; 2000h.  a single Curlew, a Yellow Wagtail, otherwise just the regulars.

25th April - Sunny spells, light/mod NE, 14C

Shawell sand pit; late afternoon.  First Yellow Wagtail for site this year.  Seven Red Kites, seven Gadwall, 14 Teal, a Grey Heron, moderate number of Gulls at he tip.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; early evening.  Four Oystercatchers, two Wigeon (drakes), Shelduck pair, Two Teal, four Shoveler.,

First Yellow Wagtail  for site this year, several Pied Wagtails, two White Wagtails.

Lilbourne Meadows; Greenshank, Redshank, Lapwing displaying, 34 Teal, three Shoveler, three Gadwall, Shelduck pair.  One Little Grebe.  The four Oystercatchers from A5 pools dropped in. - territorial behavior.

Thirteen Starlings all feeding, some taking food away to nests.

24th Aporil - sunny, 17C, but still a keen/strong NE making quite unpleasant and cool

 A5 Pools/DIRFT; am.  Greenshank, Redshank, Dunlin, a Lapwing and Little Egret were the notables.

Lilbourne Meadows; am. another Greenshank and Redshank, Shelduck pair, a lapwing.

Shawell sandpit; Very quiet, no Gulls.  A Shelduck pair. Thirteen Ravens apparently playing in the wind, a singing Lesser Whitethroat in the lane hedge and a singing Goldcrest in the spinney.

Stanford reservoir; late afternoon.  Nine Yellow Wagtails on the dam, Cuckoo calling main reedbed area.

23rd April - sunny, keen-strong NE, 17C, but feeling cool

WWT Welney;  I visited here this afternoon as I was in the area and it proved most interesting despite the wind.

The highlight was the discovery of four Glossy Ibis feeding near the Lyle hide, good to see these birds during the Spring in their adult plumage.

Other birds included three Greenshanks, Ruffs, Avocets, Black-tailed and one Bar-tailed Godwit, a displaying Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, a single Snipe

Several Whooper Swans, Shelducks, Teal, Gadwall, a female Pintail and drake Garganey,   

Two Marsh Harriers, several Little Egrets and a Grey heron.

22nd April - sunny, mod-keen NE, 17C, but feeling much cooler.

Shawell sandpit; the main sighting was an Iceland Gull, found by Ian Bartlett, about 1600h.  I manged to get there in time to see it well.  The bright sun and keen wind, plus distance made it difficult to photograph, but certainly made it stand out from the crowd.

21st April - sunny spells, mod ENE, 17C, but feeling cool

A5 Pools/DIRFT 3;   evening. a couple of Greenshanks, Shelduck pair, a Yellow Wagtail.

20th April - sunny periods, light-mod NE, 17C

Willey; more Swallows arrived back over the weekend and are now busy at their nest sites.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon; a Cuckoo was calling, two Lesser Whitethroats and a Grasshopper Warbler singing in  Blowers Lodge Bay area.  Six Yellow Wagtails on the dam.  Goldeneye pair and single Wigeon drake still.  Green Woodpecker on the field ant hills.

Shawell sandpit; evening.  Egyptian Geese pair present.  Single Shelduck, two Gadwall pairs.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; evening.  One Greenshank, two Common Sandpipers, single Lapwing, a drake Wigeon, Gadwall, and Teal.

19th April - sunny spells, light N, 15C

 Willey; 

Well this morning whilst checking the sheep/lambs a rather large black cat walked along a fence-gateway and into the hedge line.  I had to look twice as it was clearly all black, moved stealthily and interestingly at least twice the size of a feral cat.  Its tail was pretty long and quite thick.  It took no notice of the Sheep that it walked past in the gateway area and most sheep didn't notice it, but several did and they, with their lambs, followed it staring at its position as it moved down the hedge line/ditch - they way they do to protect their lambs (many animals will do this so that the predator knows it has been seen).  I have never seen Sheep do this before for a feral cat.

So unexpected, that I;m left a little bemused by what I saw - was it a very large cat or black Cougar???

18th April - Sunny spells, light WSW, 16C

A5 pools/DIRFT; am . Two Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Lapwing, two  Oystercatchers.  Plus the usual mixture of ducks.

Altho9ugh there is a lot of development activity and road changes taking place this area is still attracting birds, the picture shows the current pools area., a strange location with warehousing going up all around, but rumoured this area will be left - we shall see.

Even Skylark  set up territories still.

Stanford reservoir; pm. a look here this pm, an Oystercatcher on the dam, a drake Shoveler and Wigeon, plus Gadwall, Tufted and Mallard.  No new warblers, three Yellow Wagtails and four male Reed Buntings feeding in the spillway,.

17th April - sunny, thin cloud, light-mod SSE wind, 19C

Stanford reservoir;

The White-tailed Eagle roosted in an adjacent wood, then left there at 0620h, it was SAT-tracked heading roughly SE in to Northamptonshire during the day.

 I did a full circuit during the afternoon.  A few Whitethroats, Sedge and Reed Warblers.  Goldeneye - drake and female, two drake Wigeon, six Shovelers.  6+ Yellow Wagtails.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; 1700h.  Greenshank (been around a few days), Redshank, Oystercatcher, Lapwing 2, Shoveler 15, Teal 2, Gadwall5.  

16th April - sunny, 20C, light SE

Shawell sandpit; am - again nothing new.

Rookery survey - I spent the afternoon counting the Rooks nests in 10 K square - SP58.  I have one Rookery left to count tomorrow.  Its looking like the number will be slightly down on last year, but not worryingly so.

Whilst do this I never heard a Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat or see a Swallow - most odd.

Stanford reservoir;  at about 1745h the call went out from Chris that there was a White-tailed Eagle present and was sitting in a tree.  I got there ASAP and managed to see it in the tree before it took flight and disappeared below the tree line out of view.  I didn't manage a photo before it flew off, but Chris did get record shots.   We are not waiting to see if it was a satellite tagged bird, maybe the one that flew over unseen a couple of weeks ago.

White-tailed Eagle (C Hubbard)

Latest info;

The bird is G819, a 2CY female, from the IoW release scheme.  

15th April - Sunny, light SE, 20C

Shawell sandpit/landfill; am; a look but seemingly very quiet, nothing new. A couple of Shelduck, plenty of Ravens, 10 Red Kites, Teal and 3 Gadwall and a Little Grebe.

14th April - mostly cloudy, light SW, 15C

Lilbourne meadows (am). Nothing new here today, a couple of Shelduck, two Shoveler and Gadwall respectively, plus the regulars.  A Raven was heard nearby and three Skylarks were flying around.

Stanford reservoir; evening.  Two drake Wigeon, six Shoveler, a female Egyptian Goose with the Mute Swans, 17 Yellow Wagtails, four male Reed Buntings feeding on the ground in the spillway, close to each other but wary.  A pair of Swallows visiting their usual nest site.  Two m ale Grey Wagtails chasing each other.,

13th April -cloudy am, showers pm, light SSW 15C

Willey;  2010h, I heard Fieldfare calling and looking up high, there was c35 (and a couple of Redwings) flying northward slowly, they then circled back and headed southwards.

Shawell sandpit, highlight this morning was a single Black-tailed Godwit feeding.

Honey Hill, Cold Ashby;  I decided to pop down the road to Northants to see the reported Ring Ouzels, possibly up to 5.  When I arrived a couple of birders had been watching the Ouzels, but two others had started to walk through the field where they were and flushed them - needlessly.   A heavy shower came through and all the other folks left, I sheltered and when it stopped raining I searched, viewing from the path again.  

I spotted a male Wheatear and Blackbirds but no Ouzels.  However, scanning the next area of the field, there they were, in fact SIX Ouzels all out feeding on the field.  Further 5 Wheatear were also feeding on the field.  So, in the end good views were had.  Four males and two Females.  They often disappeared in to the thick boarding hedgerow  for a while.

12th April - cloudy, 15C, generally light SSW, odd short shower

Stanford res; pm.  Regulars plus 3+ Willow Warblers around Northants side, 9 Yellow Wagtails on the dam grass, 6 Shoveler, 2 Goldeneye.  Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming.

Peacock, Brimstone and Orange-tip Butterflies out now a bit warmer.

11th April - high cloud, mod SE, 14C

Willey;  a couple of Jays flew out of the Long Spinney,  near the Perkins field area, 0830h.

A couple of Red-legged partridge on the village street next to the allotments, 1530h.   A Swallow seen several times again.

c50 FIeldfares flew over the Pailton road, 1030h.

Stanford reservoir; late afternoon.  highlights were a couple of Yellow Wagtails, initlaly one bathing at a puddle, then two in the spillway.  Also, at least 8 Hirundines which included 4 House martins, 2 Swallows and 2 Sand martins.

Buzzard, Red Kite and Raven too.  Two Shovelers.

10th April - slight frost last night. Sunny. becoming high cloud during the day, light SSE, 13C

WIlley; first Swallow of the year around the village.

A5 Pools/DITFT; am.  new birds here included a Green Sandpiper and Redshank.  

Lilbourne wet Meadows; Nothing new here today, just the regular water birds, including 3 Shelducks and 4 Little grebes.

Stanford reservoir; pm.  more Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps around now, no other warblers found though.   A Bullfinch pair.  10 Tree Sparrows at the feed station. 

Single Shoveler and Wigeon, 67 Goldeneyes.  A couple of Ravens about, hassling a Buzzard sometimes, a Kestrel too.  

9th April - Frost last night. Sunny spells, light nagging NW, 10C, feeling cool, isolated showers pm.

Shawell sandpit/landfill; 1000am  Nine Gadwall, four pairs and a drake, which is a good number for this site.  Less Shoveler and Teal present then in previous weeks, a full count soon.    Three :Little Grebes.

Four Buzzards, included a pair mating in a Spinney tree, three Red Kites.

Middleton Lakes; pm.  a visit here this afternoon, highlights were:-

A Bittern frequently 'booming'.  A Spotted Redshank, 2 Ringed Plover, 6 Redshanks, a Greenshank, a Snipe, a Little Ringed Plover,  6 Avocets, 3 Shelducks.

Nuthatch, Treecreeper.

8th April - Frost last night. Sunny spells, 10C light N wind -cool

Shawell Sandpit/Landfill;   14 Red Kites,  Gadwall 6,  Goldfinch 3.

7th April - gusty (40mph), NW, 9C, sunny interval with frequent showers

WIlley; male Sparrowhawk circling over the village, 1625h, drifted off SE.

Stanford reservoir;  a look after lunch, not brilliant conditions.  Six Swallow were battling the wind and feeding, also one Sand Martin.  Pied and Grey Wagtails were around the dam.  Single female Goldeneye seen.  Two Grey Herons and a Little Egret at the inlet area.

6th Aporil 0- cloudy, odd shower, mod-gusty W-SW, 10C (feeling cool due to wind)

A busy day, so a few quick checks this evening.

Lilbourne Meadows; usual ducks, including two Shelducks.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; a couple of Wigeon with Shoveler (c20), Teal, Gadwall, Mallard and two Mute Swans.  A single Little Grebe.

Shawell Sandpit;  18 Canada Geese, Shoveler (8), Gadwall 2.  Three Linnet feeding in the weeds, 8 Pied Wagtails.

At least 20 Ravens over the landfill area.

5th April - high cloud, mod-fresh Westerly, 13C

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.  Very quiet, the wind not helping things.  Several Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps or two singing a little.  Two Goldeneye, a Shoveler and three Wigeon  spotted.

Good to see a minimum of 14 Tree Sparrows at the feed station.

A Muntjac was feeding along the path.

4th April - No frost. Light rain first thing, light-mod Westerly, 12Chen cloudy,

Stanford reservoir;  a look this evening - pretty quiet, one Swallow feeding. Two Grey herons, a Little Egret, a Buzzard sitting on the dam bank.  Two Goldeneye.  Single grey Wagtail and several Pied on the dam/spillway area.

3rd April - Frost -4C last night. Warming slowly through the day to 9C, but cloudy, light NW, still feeling cool

WIlley; a single Fieldfare atop the Ash tree next to Hurls Furlong gate first thing.

A5 Pools/DIRFT,  Black-tailed Godwit still present his morning.

Shawell Sandpit; highlight was a Ruff (a female I think) this morning, Spring records are very unusual here.

Eyebrook reservoir, pm.   a look here this afternoon.  A single Swallow was seen.  The Slavonian Grebe was still present.  A flock of c40 Fieldfare flying around and in field tree-tops.  Single Little Egret, Raven over, a couple of Shelduck, plus other regulars.

2nd April - Frost last night -3C, sunny am, a few wintery shoiwers pm, light N, 8C

Shawell sandpit; highlight was 8 Shelducks present.  One Redwing feeding by spinney, also two House Sparrows in the hedge (opp Redland building). Two Goldfinch, two Meadow Pipits, plus the usual Teal, Shoveler, Tufted Duck and Mallard.

WIlley; Red Kite low over the back paddocks (1120h).

Stanford reservoir;l pm. Highlights were -  c40 Fieldfares, 15 Redwings, 2+ Jay, 13 Shoveler, 11 Goldeneye, 26 Wigeon, 2 Pochard, a Grey Wagtail pair + one other, one Little Egret and two Grey Herons

DIRFT/A5 Pools; pm.  Highlights here were two Curlews, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Dunlin.  Shoveler, Teal, Wigeon, 6 Mute Swans also present.

1st April - Frost -2C last night. Sunny am, wintery showers pm, mod N, 7C, feeling cold

Shawell sandpit/landfill;  a look late afternoon. 

Two each of Canada and Greylag Geese, Single Shelduck, 31 Shovelers, c70 Teal, 2 Little Gr2be, 2 Red Kite and 2 Buzzards.  7 Pied Wagtails.  Usual Gulls around.