29th Sept - mostly cloudy, light NE, 15C

Willey; a Cormorant flew over NE about mid-day.

28th Sept - Foggy first thing, clearing to sunny spells, light NW, 14C

A busy day, so little to report.  A Chiffchaff was singing in the fog first thing in the BH wood.

27th Sept - cloudy, mod WNW, 14C

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Three Green Sandpipers on Leics bank near the spillway.    A good-sized flock of House Martins, c100, and a few Swallows overhead.  Grey and Pied Wagtails in the spillway.

No new Ducks, seven Little Grebes.  A single Snipe on the reed edge.  Two Common Gulls came in, I haven't seen any here for a while.  \

Several Ravens around. 

26th Sept - cloudy, short short/light showers, mod. sometimes fresh NW, 14C

Shawell sandpit/landfill; evening.

Wigeon now up to 10, and a female Pochard has joined the drake.  Still all the regulars, a few more Gulls this evening, but may heading off to roost.  A couple of Yellow-legged Gulls were present.

25th Sept- mostly cloudy, light W, 15C

Shawell sandpit, morning.

Nothing too special here. Both Wigeon and Shoveler numbers up at nine each.  Single Pochard drake still.

A Cormorant was present, not seen here that often.   Forty Great Black-backed Gulls very very others, mostly Herring Gulls.

Several Meadow Pipits in the rough.

Stanford Reservoir, afternoon.

Green Sandpiper feeding on Northants shore. Four + Ravens around, a Red Kite, Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk.  

20+ Meadow Pipits around spillway and adjacent field, c10 Goldfinch and Linnet too.  Four Grey Wagtails and 6+ Pied.

Plenty of Shovelers, and Teal, only one female Pochard seen.  

One flock of Long-tailed Tits (13), with several Chiffchaffs and Treecreepers present.

A few Swallos and c100 House Martins overhead.

24th Sept - some sunny spells, light NE, 17C

 Willey; 

Male Blackcap eating the elder berries again this morning and a Red Kite flew over slowly eastward.

23rd Sept - hoigh cloud, light N/NE, 17C

Willey; 

A male Blackcap was feeding on ripe elder berries early afternoon om the church hedge.

Shawell sandpit/landfill, early evening.

Wigeon now increased to seven, a single drake Pochard was present too.  Practically no Gulls.  Other usuals present.

22nd Sept - mostly high cloud, light SSW, 19C

Willey;

C15 Meadow Pipits on the barn field with Lambs, dropped in last night.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

A single Spotted Flycatcher and Yellow Wagtail around spillway/garden.

A Great White Egret and Little Egret on the point.

Female Pintail still, and a good number of Shovelers present.

Roving flock of Tits, including c6 Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler.

Five Ravens around a Fox corpse on adjacent field.

21st Sept - hogh cloud, light SW, 20C

Willey; Another Red Admiral seen today.

Stanford reservoir; late afternoon.

No Swallows or Martins around today.

Four Green Sandpipers together near spillway wall. 

Three Spotted Flycatchers in garden/spillway.

Single female Pintail of the point. Plus, the other regular waterbirds.

Shawell Sandpit/Landfill, evening.

Very few Gulls, four Wigeon, three Mute Swans, plus the other regulars.

Peregrine flew in again and messed about with a Jackdaw again, also chased by Carrion Crows.

20th Sept - mostly cloudy, light W, 19C

Willey; a Red Admiral seen today.

Stanford reservoir; late afternoon.

A Green Sandpiper.  Four Spotted Flycatchers at spillway/garden.  House Martin and Swallow flock.

Little Egret on dam.

19th Sept - cloudy, light SW, light shower afternoon, 16C

Shawell sandpit/landfill; morning.

Common Sandpiper still present. Eight Shovelers. A Grey Heron.  Other regulars.

Eyebrook reservoir; afternoon. highlights - 

Four Stonechats (inlet), 19 Linnets in a flock (island), Kestrel pair.

Two each of Ruff and Black-tailed Godwits, five Ringed Plovers, eight Dunlin and four Snipe.

Two Great White Egrets, several Little Egrets and Grey Herons.

10 Pintails, an escapee/feral Black Swan.

c20 Common Gulls (inlet), a Yellow-legged Gull (island area)

18th Sept - mostly cloudy, some sunshine late afternoon, mod NW, 17C

Willey;

A single Swallow over the fields first thing, then seven dashing around the village this evening, 1910h.

Shawell sandpit/Landfill; morning.

A Common Sandpiper was busy feeding.   A male Sparrow Hawk over and a more distant female seen.  Then a juvenile Peregrine flew in and seemed to be practicing diving and chasing by hassling a Jackdaw.

25 Ravens were hanging about in the wind, twisting and turning every which way.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Three Spotted Flycatchers, a Yellow and several Grey Wagtails, plus two Meadow Pipits in the spillway area.  A couple of Ravens and Red Kite over.  A Sparrowhawk flew rapidly passed.

Again, a considerable number of House Martins, c400, a few Sand Martins and Swallows.  

Single of Blackcap and Sedge Warbler spotted and with a Long-tailed Tit flock 6+ Chiffchaffs, Goldcrest and Treecreeper.,

A Snipe was feeding at the reed edge., a single female Pintail still present.  A single Little Egret.

17th Sept - mostly cloudy, mod WNW, 16C

Willey; 

Single Swallow seen today

Shawell Sandpit/Landfill; morning.

Two Caspian Gulls pick-up by Carl, also two Yellow-legged Gulls.

A Kestrel was around, plus the usual birds.

Stanford reservoir; late afternoon.

Notables were: a Redshank on the dam.  Two Yellow Wagtails, eight Grey Wagtails in the spillway.  Four Spotted Flycatchers around the spillway and garden.  Two Green Sandpipers feeding.  11+ Little Grebes. 17 Lapwings.  A Great White Egret and three Little Egrets plus several Grey Herons.  

A considerable number of House martins, c300 and c20 Swallows

16th Sept - mostly cloudy, mod NNE 17C

Willey; a single Swallow over the Sheep this morning and a single flying down the village street this evening.

Shawell Sandpit/Landfill; afternoon.

Five Red Kites, 10+ Ravens and Buzzard.  Ducks included Shoveler, Teal, Mallard and Wigeon.  A Common Sandpiper was busy feeding.  

The majority of Gulls were sitting at distance and those in the sandpit mostly keeping low out of the wind.

15th Sept - sunny spells, mod NW, 17C

Willey;

One Yellow Wagtail and c10 Pied with the Sheep this morning.

Norfolk;

A quick decision to have a day out to see a few different birds not usually found locally.  Called in at Thornham Harbour, Titchwell and Wells Harbour during the day.  No rare or scarce birds reported, but still lots to see.  Great to see and hear the Pink-feet and Brent Geese, always good to watch the skeins flying over, some probably just arriving on our shores for winter.

Spoonbills were found at Thornham and Titchwell, still a thrill to see them including juveniles.  A good selection of waders was at all sites, A Spotted Redshank was on the tidal marsh at Titchwell and a good number of Grey Plovers in Well harbour.  

Well worth the late decision to go.

14th Sept - cloudy am, becoming sunny and very warm, 19C, light NW

Willey; 

Two Swallows again this morning.  One Yellow Wagtail with the cattle.  A Sparrowhawk flew past.

 Mid-morning - a group of 10 Magpies, excited, together in Church Lane hedge,

Stanford reservoir, afternoon.

A single Pintail, c 40 Wigeon, three Pochard, a good number of Teal.

 A couple of Grey Heron, and single Little Egret.

Three Red Kites, Buzzard and four Ravens around.

Two Yellow Wagtails, Pied and Grey Wagtails around the spillway, also 10 Linnets.

Comma and Speckled Wood plus a 'Blue'.

Shawell Sandpit; evening

At least 30 Stock Doves came to roost in the spinney.

No Noctules seen this evening.  

13th Sept- sunny, 20C, light breeze

Willey; 

Two Swallows this morning, presumably the last couple with a nest somewhere.

Occasional Chiffchaff heard in the hedges and Raven over calling.

12th Sept - mostly cloudy, short light showers pm, 19C, light NW

Willey; a couple of Swallows flying around this morning.

Shawell sandpit; evening.

New in were two Wigeon.  A couple of Gadwall, plus Teal and Shoveler.  A great Spotted Woodpecker flew over.

At dusk Large Bats, 14, were noted, another visit with detector to confirm identity as soon as possible.

It seems these were Noctules, I have never seen such a group feeding together before.

Dale managed some record photos.

11th Sept - misty, then mostly cloudy, few sunny spells, light SE-S, 21C

Willey;

9 Swallows on the wires this morning.

Shawell Sandpit; afternoon.

A Common and Green Sandpiper were busy feeding.  Four Yellow Wagtails were around the water edge, some were bathing, as were six Meadow Pipits.

The Little Grebe chick now seems pretty independent of its parents.  40 Teal and a single Gadwall and Shoveler were noted.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

A Common and Green Sandpiper feeding near the overflow wall on the mud.  A single Little Egret and five Grey Herons counted.  All the usual Ducks seen, Teal, Shovelers, Gadwalls, Pochard and Wigeon.  Nine Little grebes were together resting on the weed.

A Long-tailed Tit flock contained several CHiffchafs.  Near the spillway/garden two Spotted Flycatchers, Goldfinch, Linnet and a Yellow Wagtail.   A few Swallows and House Martins were around.

Five Red Kites were present for quite a while too.

10th Sept - Mostly cloudy, light N, 19C

Willey;

I did not see any Yellow Wagtails or Swallows here today.  There seemed a general quietness around all day.

Magna Park Lake; morning.

Very little on the lake, although a Cormorant flew in.  

A couple of Jays and Great Spotted Woodpecker in adjacent woodland.  Very few passerines about.

Mere Lane Lake; afternoon.

Mute Swan family, large juvs now.  Four Little Grebes, seven Tufted Ducks.

A flock of Goldfinch, c20, feeding on the nearby weedy ground.

Soar Brook Lake; late afternoon.

Generally, a lack of birds here too, but a Green and Common Sandpiper were nice.  c100 Black-headed Gulls and c20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls dropped in for a while.

9th Sept - sunny spells, thundery showers pm, 20C, light NW

Willey; 

Four Yellow Wagtails this morning and 23 Swallows on the wires.

Ten collared Doves and c 15 Goldfinches were around the village 1650h.

Eyebrook reservoir; afternoon.

A look here this afternoon, a nice selection of waders whilst the water level is low.  Ruff 10, Greenshank 2, Ringed Plover 50-100, Snipe, Dunlin, Little Stint 2, Lapwing.

Great White Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Red Kite

Sand martin, several Yellow Wagtails.

8th Sept - sunny spells, thundery showers pm, 20C, light S

Willey;

First thing four Yellow Wagtails with the cattle.  0925h 30 Swallows on the telegraph wires, some must have been passing and dropped in.

Shawell sandpit/landfill, late afternoon.   a lot of earth movement activity on the far side.

A Common Sandpiper and two Green Sandpipers.  A Grey Wagtail and a few Pied.

Shoveler 6, Teal 33, c50 Greylag Geese, and two Mute Swans.

A few Gulls coming and going, this colour ring was read - H323T (yellow/black).

7th Sept - sunny spells, light S, 20C, thunderstorm/steady rain mid-afternoon.

Willey.

I found two Whinchats this morning on the Hurls Furlong hedge, pretty active.  A Lesser Whitethroat too.  20 Yellow Wagtails with the cattle.

Eleven Swallows on the telegraph wires at Parsons Close, a Willow Warbler in the hedgerow.

I popped in the afternoon and found a female/1W Redstart where the Whinchats were.  The Whinchats had moved to the far side of the field and feeding actively.

Stanford reservoir; evening.

A good number of House and Sand martins feeding overhead, and a few Swallows.

Four Common Sandpipers and two Green Sandpipers on the mud at the overflow.

!7 Little grebes together.,

6th Sept - sunny spells, brief showers, light S, 20C

Willey;   Eight Yellow Wagtails with the Sheep this morning and 20 Swallows on the telegraph wires.

Shawell Sandpit/Landfill; early afternoon.

Initially plenty of Gulls close, but disturbed and then less present, a few colour rings but un fortunately not readable except for one.

LBBG orange black G=V

Teal 27, Ssoveler 6 and Mallards present, also two Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper.  Only two Red Kites seen but plenty of Ravens still.

5th Sept - Mostly broken cloud, a few spits of rain, light S, 24C

About 1cm rain early hours, more needed!

Willey;

Only 2 Yellow wagtails this morning with the cattle, and 16 Swallows on the telegraph wires.

Stanford reservoir, evening.

Two Little Egrets, several Grey Herons,  a Green Sandpiper, a few Swallows and House Martins overhead.

Otherwise just the regulars.

4th Sept - mostly cloudy, 23C, light breeze S

WIlley; 

9 Swallows on the wires and two Yellow Wagtails with the cattle this morning.

Shawell sandpit/Landfill; morning.

All the 'usuals', only a handful of Gulls.  A Common and Two Green Sandpipers.

Stanford reservoir; late afternoon.

18 Yellow Wagtails on the dam.

A different Ruff, this one colour ringed with a red tarsus ring and lime green tarsus flag with currently unreadable alphanumeric, was present yesterday too (Chris).

3rd Sept - high cloud, light S, 23C

Willey;

Twelve Swallows on the wires this morning and five Yellow Wagtails with the Sheep/Cattle.

Eyebrook reservoir; afternoon.

A good selection of waders, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, Black-tailed Godwits, Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Lapwings, Ruff, Common Sandpiper., Dunlin.

An Osprey caught a fish.  Single Whinchat seen at inlet area, plus a flock of Goldfinch 14+.

A hunting Kestrel and Peregrine.

2nd Sept - mostly cloudy, 22C, light NE

Shawell Sandpit/landfill; afternoon.

Two Green and one Common Sandpiper.  c25 Teal, three Shoveler, two Gadwall and Mallards.  The Little Grebe chick is doing well and growing up well.  A flock of Canada and Greylag Geese.

Seven Red Kites around.  A Buzzard had a Rabbit kill on the ground, very quickly surrounded by 10 Ravens, the Buzzard tried to see off the Ravens and succeeded quite well but could keep them off for ever.

A Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail and several Pied Wagtails were around.

A good number of Gulls were present including Yellow-Legged and a juv Caspian.

A colour ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull (Dutch  D/A) was spotted by Ian.

 

1st Sept - mostly sunny till mid-afternoon, mod ENE, 23C

Willey; eight Yellow Wagtails with cattle this morning.

Croft Hill; a look here during the afternoon, very quiet.

A Small Copper and a Common Blue.  The hill is very dry and brown, many trees have lost leaves and shutting down early.

Stanford reservoir;  late afternoon.

A single Ruff on the point, along with three Lapwings.  Two grey Herons, and a Little Egret.

The excessive weed growth has become attractive to dabbling ducks, with c50 Teal, c40 Shoveler, together with c20 Little Grebes feeding on it.  Plus, today eight Pintails were  present.  Wigeon numbers have begun to increase, I saw two, although five were reported earlier by Chris.

Three Yellow Wagtails on the dam.