31st July - some light rain during the night - at last. Today mostly high cloud, light W, 24C

Lilbourne Meadows;  the male Redstart still present at this site this morning.

Shawell sandpit/landfill;

Six Ravens, a Common Sandpiper, a Lapwing and a Little Egret.

Pitsford Reservoir; afternoon.

Highlights were an adult and juv Cattle Egret with Little and great Egret in Scaldwell bay.  22 Black-tailed Godwits, two drake Red-crested Pochards.

30th July - cloudy, light W, 22C

Willey; 

Six Mistle Thrushes feeding on the Sheep pasture near the A5 first thing this morning.

Husbands Bosworth Sand pit; c25 Lapwings and nine Little Grebes were of note.

Soar Brook Lake; late afternoon.

Tufted duck family still (six ducklings), three Cormorants, Great Spotted Woodpecker, five Goldfinches, generally little else about.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; early evening.

Four Little Ringed Plovers, five Littlke Egrets and a Grey Heron, a few Lapwings and c 10 Linnets.

29th July - high cloud, 22C, light SE

Shawell sandpit/landfill; evening.

A Common Sandpiper, two Little Grebes, otherwise fairly quiet, very few Gulls.

Shawell Lagoons;

A Common and Gren Sandpiper.  A Great Crested Grebe and 51 Lapwings.

A5 Pools/DIRFT;

Seven Little Egrets, a Green Sandpiper.  Four+ Common Gulls in this evening.  

28th July - cloudy, light ESE, 21C

WIlley; four Mistle Thrushes on pastures, Perkins area.

Stanford reservoir; evening.

Highlight was a Marsh Harrier (cream-crowned) that showed a few times.

Two Common Sandpipers, several Grey and Pied Wagtails on the dam.  Linnets and Goldfinches on the grassy dam side.

Nine Little Grebes together, a couple of Grey Herons.  Goldcrest heard.  A Fox walking along the shore edge towards the point attracted the attention of the Mallards, they noisily followed it.

27th July - high cloud, light (mostly) SE, 20C

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

A Common Sandpiper on the dam, along with 10+ Pied Wagtails and a Grey Wagtail.  On the grassy side c15 Linnets were feeding.  

Several Common Terns around, with Black-headed Gulls and a  few Lesser Black-backed Gulls passing by.  The drake Wigeon and three Shovelers were on show and three Lapwings at the point.

At the feeders a Great-spotted Woodpecker and a couple of Tree Sparrows.  Some of the commoin Warblers were seen, but hiding well most of the time.

A few Peacock butterflies and a single Painted Lady seen,

26th July - sunny spells, light NW, 22C

Shawell sandpit/landfill; evening.

Gull-wise very quiet this evening, only about 200 present.

Four Little Grebes, one on a nest.  A couple of Lapwings, a Sparrowhawk over and a few Red Kites around, plus the regular Buzzards.

A5 Pools/DIRFT;  Need some rain to replenish the pools ASAP

A Curlew flew off over the the Rugby meadows.  An Oystercatcher, three Little Ringed Plovers, nine Little Egrets and a Grey Heron.

c25 Linnets feeding, two Meadow Pipits and several Pied Wagtails around.

25th July - mostly cloudy, mod-brisk SW, 20C. Odd brief shower during the afternoon

Willey; Eight Linnets feeding on the barn field track first thing,

Draycote Water; afternoon.

Highlights were a juv Ferruginous Duck and a Black Tern.  Other birds included Great Crested and Little Grebes, Common Terns, Gulls were very distant today.

A Green Woodpecker, Sand Martins. 

24th July - cloudy, sunny spells pm, 23C, brisk SW

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

The wet meadows are now very dry, with little water visible and as a consequence waterbirds are scarce.  

A couple of Collared Dives were in the hedge, and c25 Starlings feeding on the dry mud and meadow.  A couple of Goldfinch over and a Greenfinch was singing.

A5 Pools/DIRFT;  here too the pools are much reduced.  

Four Little Ringed Plovers, two Grey Herons, several Linnets feeding and eight Pied Wagtails.

Eyebrook Reservoir; afternoon (very sunny  and hot here, 27C, still a brisk SW)

Five Black-tailed Godwits, three Ruffs, a Green and Common Sandpiper.  A single Ringed Plover was found north of the island.  

A good number of Lapwings, Little Egrets and Grey Herons.  Sand martins over the water and four+ Swifts over the Stoke Dry village area.

Plus all the other expected water birds.

23rd July - Mostly high cloud, light-Mod SW, 22C

Willey; 

Two Ravens around the fields again this morning

Shawell Lagoons; afternoon.

A Common and Green Sandpiper.  Several Mallards, including a recent brood of 8.  Seven Tufted Ducks and a Great Crested Grebe.  Black-headed, Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls in and out all the while.

20th July - mostly sunny, 22C

Stanford reservoir; evening. 

A single Dunlin and three Common Sandpipers on the dam, plus Pied and Grey Wagtails.  

Garganey still.  Four Little Egret and two Grey herons about.

Linnet and Goldfinch families around the dam and outflow trees.

Lilbourne Meadows;

The pools are now very small with the water birds being affected.  One Green Sandpiper.  A couple of Swift and 14 Swallows over.  The male Yellowhammer was near to their nest site on a post.

21 July - mostly cloudy, light E, 21C

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Two Common Sandpipers on dam, also feeding on the grassy side two Green Woodpeckers (adult + juv), several Linnets and a male Greenfinch.

The Garganey was still present, as were 10 Little Grebes.  We have had quite a lot of weed growth as the water has dropped and its been hot.  This is to the liking of the Grebes and Ducks.  Several Great Crested Grebes have built floating nests (whereas there would have no available sites).. However, I doubt they will survive once the rains come.

Three Lapwings were on the point with Little Egrets and several fledges Common terns and parents.

One of the many Gatekeepers

19th July - 38C, VERY HOT - record breaking heat, light-mod mostly S

A number of locations in England reached 40+C for the first time.

The ground is very parched now and pastures looking brown in the most part.   Harvest activities are going at full steam.  What will be the effect on wildlife??  As always, winners and losers!

Willey; I noticed a small pale butterfly on the hedge adjacent to the long spinney, a quick check conformed a Purple Hairstreak.  No doubt from the nearby Oaks.

18th July - VERY HOT 37C, sunny, cloud later, light SSE

Claybrook Parva; the Spotted Flycatchers have bred in their usual location.

Swift Valley WWT; late afternoon.

A good number of Purple Hairstreak were found plus a number of other butterflies.

A Green Woodpecker and Buzzard was around, a Blackcap sang a little.

17th July - HOT, light S, sunny, 30C. Cloud increasing during the afternoon.

Extreme heat warning issued for the next three days. Was 26C by 1000h this morning.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; morning.

Two Egyptian Geese, c20 Lapwings, a Common Sandpiper, Four Little Ringed Plovers, seven Little Egrets, three Oystercatchers.

A Possible Tree Pipit briefly before flying off.

Lilbourne Meadows;

Six Green Sandpipers, a single Little Ringed Plover and the male Redstart were the notables.

16th July - sunny hot, 27C, light WSW

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

The Garganey was still present busily feeding in the same area, drake Wigeon still.  11 Little Egrets and three Grey Herons.  14 Lapwings at the point, now showing more shore.  Little Grebes have increased in recent days, 12 seen together, including several juvs - where have they come from one wonders?

On the dam four Common Sandpipers, a number of Pied and Grey Wagtails plus a Yellow Wagtail.

A good number of the common butterflies and numerous Dragon and Damselflies ere on the wing.

15th July - sunny hot, 24C, light/mod WNW

Soar Brook Lake; early evening.  Two Oystercatchers, a male Yellow Wagtail, Great Crested Grebe pair.

Tufted Duck still with ducklings and two Mallard broods.

14th July - mostly sunny, light-moderate NW, 22C

Shawell sandpit/landfill; 15 Red Kites, among the Gulls a single Yellow-legged Gull.  Two Little Grebes, Several ravens with the other corvids.  

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.  Five Green Sandpipers, two Lapwing, three Oystercatchers.  Nine Little Egrets dropped in, and a Grey Heron.  A Juvenile Little Grebe, diving, but the water level is dropping daily as the hot weather continues.

About 200 Starlings are now feeding on the Sheep pastures, and c12 Goldfinches we’re flying around. Two Kestrels were hunting and five Swifts were feeding along the bank.  

The pair of Yellowhammers look like they may have a second brood.

13th July - sunny, hot

Shawell Lagoons; evening.  about 55 Lapwings were resting on the shore, two near adult Yellow-legged Gulls were among the Gull flock present.  Tufted Duck 22 and a brood of Mallard ducklings.

Lilbourne Meadows; six Green Sandpipers, about 100 Starlings on the pasture and the male Redstart was still in the same hedgerow.

A Fox trotted across the field carrying its prey, a hen Pheasant.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; two Egyptian Geese, a couple of Little Ringed Plovers.

12th July - mostly cloudy, very warm, 27C, light SW

Willey; first thing seven Mistle Thrushes feeding in cross in hand field on the pasture.

Stanford Reservoir; later afternoon. Female Garganey present (found 1300ish by Chris) still present feeding, occasionally accompanied by a female Teal, make a good comparison.

Common Sandpiper on dam, also two Cormorants.   Goldcrest in bushes nearby.

11th July - sunny, hot, high cloud pm, light SW, 30C

Lilbourne Meadows; evening. Eight Green Sandpiper, two Curlews, Little Egret five, a Grey Heron.

The Male Redstart was still showing along the hedge/fence line.  Two Swifts overhead.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; a Common Sandpiper, Egyptian Goose pair and six Little Ringed Plovers.

10th July - sunny, hot 28C, light WNW

Willey, during the morning two Red Kites over the grass being mown near cross-in-hand, also two juv Buzzards calling whilst the adult hunted the grassland too. 

Husbands Bosworth Sandpit; a Great Crested Grebe pair now with three youngsters, also two Little Grebe juveniles with four adults seen.  23 Lapwing around the waters edge and two Oystercatchers.

Shawell Gravel pit; Green Woodpeckers about, a Grey Heron.

10+ Marbled Whites on the wing.

Stanford-on Avon; early afternoon.  a Spotted Flycatcher family found in the tree tops.

Stanford reservoir;  two Black-tailed Giodwits on the dam.  Two Common Tern juvs now flying off the nesting raft.  

As the water level drops the Little Egrets now number nine and three Grey Herons.

9th July - cloudy, clearly to sunny and hot, 26C, light WNW

WIlley; during the day over the hay field being mown (perking/Wood Farm) seven Red Kites, and six Buzzards.

Shawell sandpit; morning.  The pair of Egyptian geese were back after a spell of absence.  Two dult Little Grebe, plus the regulars, at Least 200 Jackdaws.

Lilbourne Meadows,; late afternoon.  Three Green Sandpipers, Little Egret and two Grey Herons.Male Redstart still present along hedge/fence line.

DIRFT/A5 Pools;  Three Curlew - one a juv.  a Common Sandpiper, half a dozen Little Ringed Plovers.

8th July - cloudy am, becoming sunny and hot, 23C, light WNW

7th July - cloudy am, increasingly sunny and warm, light WNW, 23C

Willey; this morning over Perkins areea a Red Kite and Buzzard and a noisy Green Woodpecker in the trees.

Stanford reservoir; evening.

Unfortunately the fields a Quail was heard in this morning (Chris H) have been mown today, so no chance of it being around,.

Nothing new otherwise, a Common Sandpiper on the point and a Muntjac browsing on the leaves.  Plus a female Brown Hawker Dragonfly resting in the warm sunshine.

6th July - sunny spells, 20C, light breeze WNW

WIlley; a female Kestrel flew low passed the Church late afternoon.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening. seven Green Sandpipers, two Little Egrets, three Swifts, a adult Little Grebe feeding a youngster, c 100 Starlings feeding on the pasture.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; three Little Egrets,  a Grey Heron, 16 Lapwings, four+ Little Ringed Plovers and two Oystercatchers..

5th July - sunny spells 20C, light W.

Willey; a single Swift over 0830h.  Pied Wagtail fledged,  left their nest yesterday.

Stanford reservoir; evening.   the main sighting was 12 Redshanks on the dam, this is a record number for here, originally see a couple of days ago, also four Common Sandpipers feeding along the dam.

Single Shoveler, Wigeon drake, 12 Common Terns busily feeding youngsters,  a Little Egret and Grey Heron.  a Few Linnet, Reed Buntings and Warblers seen.

4th July - cloudy am, sunny am, 20C, light W

Willey;  Two Ravens over the fields firdt thing - doing their rounds.  A Muntjac jumped the netting in to the BH wood.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.  four Green Sandpipers, two Little Egret and a Grey Heron.  Male Redstart still showing well along the hedge fence.

3rd July - mostly cloudy, odd short shower, light SW, 17C

Stanford reservoir - afternoon.  most notable were - two Hobbies, a Green Sandpiper, a Redshank on the dam, the moulting drake Wigeon and a Shoveler drake.

2nd July - drizzle and light rain showers most of the day, 15C, light SW

Shawell sandpit; morning.   Single Drake Teal, two adult Little Grebes, plus the regular birds.  Black-headed Gull numbers increasing,c 30, also the number of juvenile birds rising.

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.  Seven Green Sandpiper, Little Egret and Grey Heron.

I nearly left due to the rain and poor light until I spotted a small wader feeding in the distant vegetation,  it looked good for a Temminck's Stint,  although there was a doubt, poor images shared tended to support  this view.  However,  further  views in the poor weather suggested a a back pattern with noticeable lines and its size seemed a little larger than a close Little Ringed Plover, when it flew its tail pattern showed a single white panel on each side of the tail as it flew off.   Closer examination of the images strongly supported that it was a Pectoral Sandpiper.

The bird was re- found at DIRFT and confirmed as a Pec.

Also at Lilbourne a super male Redstart and two well grown Fox cubs.