30th May - sunny sdpells, cloud increasing pm/evening, light S, 14C

Willey; two Red Kites over the grass fields being cleared late afternoon.

Stanford reservoir; a Black tern was spotted this morning and remained most of the day.  Another was reported a Draycote reservoir.  There has been very few passing through this Spring so far.

A5 Pools/DiRFT; evening.  three Ringed Plovers.

29th May - light N breeze, 14C, sunny spells - mostly aftyernoon

Willey; The silage grass cutting in the fields next to the village attracted 7 Red Kites, 6 Buzzards and a Kestrel during the day.  

Shawell Sandpit; early afternoon.  Two Egyptian Geese (pair), two Kestrels hunting together, Shelduck pair, Little Grebe two, c10 House Martins and three Swifts present.

One Speckled Wood, not seen too many of these yet.

Stanford reservoir; 

An Oystercatcher flew on to the dam.  at least 17 Common Terns, many on the raft.

Colour ringed Common Tern, blue/white U19 (see previous record a couple of weeks ago of U21).

Several Garden Warblers still singing well.  The drake Wigeon still, although it look like it may have a damaged left wing. 

28th May - mostly sunny, 17C, light NW

Warks - Turtle Dove site; another visit here, again blank.  Will try again later in June - but not looking hopeful to find any.

A5 Pools/DIRFT (late afternoon).  Three Little Egrets, 14 Ring Plovers and a Dunlin.

27th May - Sunny, mod NW, 17C

A5 Pools/DIRFT, evening.  several Ringed Plovers and three Dunlin, otherwise quiet.

26th May - cloudy, becoming breezy, mos/gusts, SW/W, 17C

Shawell sandpit/landfill; evening.  

Three Gadwall, two Shelduck, two Canada Geese broods, 5+ Sand Martins, c15 House martins and two Swifts.

A Yellow-legged Gull among the Lesser-black Backed Gulls.

A colour ringed gull (yellow/black) P:8P1, thought initially a Herring Gull, but also some head features of a Caspian Gull.  Carl believes from a mixed colony in Poland, so maybe a hybrid.  It had quite bleached wings too.

Details are in, from a 'white-headed Gull' colony in Poland.

25th May - sunny spells, light - mod W, 17C

Willey; two Mistle Thrushes on Sheep pasture in the Perkins area this morning.

Warks - past Turtle Dove site - checked a historical site this afternoon, none found, will try another day.

A Hare walked through a gate and gave me the eye.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; evening.  Ten Ringed Plovers and four Dunlin.

24th May - sunny spells, 18C

Willey; a Green Woodpecker in the drive this morning and a Starling family, noisily flying over the village.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening. Nine Ringed Plover, a Dunlin, Shoveler pair, 15 Gadwall, a Grey Heron.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; evening.  Ringed Plover 4, Dunlin4, Little Egret 1.Shelduck 2.

23rd May - sunny spells, cloud increasing, light rain evening time, light W, 18C

A5 Pools/DIRFT; evening.  fairly quiet.  Nine Ringed Plovers, several Swift overhead

Lilbourne Meadows; male Yellow Wagtail, two Little Egrets, three Shelducks.

Shawell Sandpit; evening.  An Oystercatcher, a few Sand Martins, single Red Kite

22nd May - Sunny spoells, cloudier afternoon, light SW, 20C

Rutland Water;  At least 3 Cuckoos around lagoons 1-3.  Plenty of Black-headed Gull chicks in the colonies opposite Plover hide. 18 Ringed Plovers and 3 Dunlin on lagoon 4.  

A Nightingale was heard twice, plenty of Warblers song, especially Garden Warblers.

52 species noted altogether.

21st May - Sunny periods, 18C, light SW

No obs today

20th May - Sunny spells, becoming cloudy, light becoming mod/breezy SW, 18C, a few sharp showers late evening

Misterton; early afternoon.  Treecreeper family busy feeding, plus other usual birds.,

Lilbourne Meadows; no sign of the garganey this evening, but 21 Ringed Plovers and 4 Dunlin.

A5 Pools/DIRFT;  16 Ringed Plovers.

19th May - mostly sunny periods, light SW, 19C

Willey; 

Spotted Flycatcher singing back in usual territory in the BH wood this afternoon..

Kestrel (1000h) hovering over church lane paddock area.  Pied Wagtail feeding a fledgling on old shed roof.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening. Drake Garganey still present (reported this morning).  Four Shelducks, several Gadwall.  Kestrel and Sparrowhawk hunting.  

A5 Pools/DIRFT; 21 Ringed Plovers, many Tundrae race, five Dunlin, Little Egret.  Oystercatcher family feeding.

18th May - sunny spells, cloud increasing, 22C, light S, shower evening time.

Willey; a Red Kite drifted over eastward, 1000h

Stanford reservoir, afternoon.  A Red Kite and displaying Buzzard over the adjacent field.  A Hobby was feeding overhead.  The drake Wigeon was again at the point.

Several garden Warblers were singing along the path from the dam to the orchard area.  A Long-tailed Tit family was in that area too.  A Treecreeper was heard near the Fisherman's point.

Several Common Terns were on the railing at the tower, one was colour-ringed - blue/white U21.  Details to be obtained.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; evening.  A Dunlin, nine Ringed Plovers and a Grey Plover.

17th May - sunny periods - light SW

Willey, 1515h, a Red Kite drifted over 1515h, eastward. 

Shawell sandpit; main sightings were 40+ Ravens and 26 Red Kites.

16th May - sunny spells, light-breezy at times, rumbles of thunder, 22C

Shawell sandpit/landfill; late afternoon.  18 Red Kites, three Common Sandpipers, Five Shelducks, four Gadwall and two Little grebes were the highlights.   Only a couple of Sand Martins and single Swift seen.

Two Foxes were on the prowl - must have cubs close-by.

15th May - Increasing cloud, odd spots of rain later, 18C, light SE

Misterton, morning.  One Spotted Flycatcher back in territory.  Treecreeper collecting food, Grey Wagtail on lake outflow.

Rutland Water; afternoon.  Lagoon5 - Highlights - Garganey pair, 1 Sanderling, 32 Dunlin, 46 Ringed Plovers, Turnstone. Oystercatcher, Redshank, Little Ringed Plover.  

Lagoon 1 - two Ospreys, Marsh harrier and Sparrowhawk, drake Wigeon.  Lagoon 4; Pochard c6, 

Over 50 species seen in total.

14th May - sunny, warm 23C, light SW

Shawell sandpit; a look here this morning, Carl was already present and confirmed that it was pretty quiet with just the regulars present.

Magna Park; I explored some area of the boundary this afternoon and found some good habitat, principally only the commoner birds, but there were several Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Garden Warblers singing.  A Mute Swan was sitting on its nest.

A good selection of Butterflies, including a Green Hairstreak.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; Four Ringed Plovers, also an Oystercatcher pair with two large youngsters, still food begging though.  Two Linnets.

Lilbourne Meadows -  a male Yellow Wagtail, 17 Starlings coming in to feed on the pasture, four Gadwall, Shelduck pair, and a Ringed Plover.

13th May - mostly sunny, but breezy, mod SW, 18C

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.  Highlights were - two drake Red-crested Pochards, eight Common Terns, two Hobbies feeding overhead.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.  On the flood area, four Ringed Plover and unusually a Turnstone (distance record photo).

12th May - sunny spells, light SW, 16C

Lilbourne Meadows, Four Lapwings, but the chicks were not seen this evening.  Shelduck pair, Gadwall, pair, Little Grebe pair, 

A5 Pools/DIRFT;  A Sanderling, 30+ Ringed Plovers and four Dunlin.

Shawell sandpit;  Dale called to tell me there was a Wood Sandpiper present.  I got there to see it, but it soon flew-off high westward (1910h).  A Dunlin was present too.  Four Gadwall, a Shelduck, two Lapwings (not a pair).

Overhead, c40 House Martins, 10+ Swift and c5 Sand Martins.

11th May - showers, some heavy, 16C, mod W

No obs today.

10th May - sunny spells, mod W, 18C

Cardiff - had a walk round the Bay reserve area, just a small area that has been set-aside.  A couple of Cetti’s, Sedge Warblers and a Red Bunting singing.   On the water, a small flock each of Great-Crested Grebes and Mute Swans.  C300 Swifts feeding overhead.

9th May - sun/hazey, becoming cloudy and dull pm, light freshening SSE-SSW, 19C

Lilbourne Meadows; late afternoon.  Great to see a Lapwing with three recent chicks, brooding them and they walking out feeding at times.  Two Shelduck together.

Shawell sandpit;  Two Shelduck, but not a pair - one chasing off the other.  Five Gadwall, several Mallards, another new brood of seven ducklings.

Lesser Black-backed Gull, colour ringed (yellow/black) H135T - details to be obtained.

8th may - Norfolk - sunny, 14C, fresh on-shore easterly

A visit to north Norfolk today and an excellent chance to catch-up with species not usual in the Midlands., some highlights mentioned here.

First stop was an arable field between Ringstead and Thornham to look for Dotterel, a male and female were showing well and busy feeding.  

The North point pools at Wells are always worth a visit with a good selection of birds on show, including a Spoonbill various waders and ducks, Brent Geese and a Whinchat on the boundary fence.

Blakeney Harbour area did not disappoint with the Red-breasted Goose feeding out on the march with Brent Geese, the heat haze made getting a photo almost impossible.  Cley NWT proved equally interesting as two Temminck's Stints had been seen earlier, I was very lucky as I walked in to the Teal hide the two birds flew and landed on the island immediately in front of me. so, good to see these small waders passing through northward.  

7th May - sunny spells, light N, 18C

Misterton; afternoon.  A Grey Wagtail was collecting food at the lake outflow.

Stanford reservoir; late afternoon.  a drake Wigeon, three Garden Warblers heard, a singing Goldcrest, at least eight Common Terns, a Yellow Wagtail in the spillway. 

6th May - mostly cloudy, 16C, light WSW

Frolesworth Manor Lake, 1030h. A few Swallows and House Martins, some of the latter gathering mud.  Greylags and Coots with young, several Mallard and one Great Crested Grebe asleep (probably a mate on nest undercover).  Four Linnets in the trees and two male Greenfinches singing.

Shawell sandpit; evening.  Eight Red Kites, two Gadwall, Shelduck three, House Martins c30, Sand Martin two,  Swallows six+.

5th May - sunny spells, light WNW, 20C

Stanford reservoir; evening.  A male Whinchat on the adjacent field hedge.   Also, Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat.  On the dam a Egyptian Goose, Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper, 3 Yellow Wagtails, six Common Terns.

Lilbourne Meadows;  Greenshank, Shelduck, several Mallard broods now.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; Ring Plover 3, two Little Egrets