27th Feb - mostly cloudy, a few sunny spells, brief light showers, mod NE breeze, 7C

Willey

c60 Redwings feeding on the pasture in the Perkins fields with a small flock of Starlings.

26th Feb - grass frost first thing, sunny spells,, grey cloud, mod NE breeze, 7C

A5 Pools/DIRFT; morning

Drainage of the pools area has been occurring, small wet areas remaining.  Presumably building work is getting closer.

Today, only a Little Egret and Grey Heron were present.

Lilbourne Meadows.

Three Oystercatchers, a Curlew and Stonechat around the field pool area.  At the wet meadow area were Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler and Mallards.

Stanford Hall; afternoon 

Interestingly on the parkland near the feeding Geese was a Oystercatcher.  A pair of Little grebe on the lake, c40 Wigeon.

Stanfiord reservoir; 

all the regulars, a Red Kite over, two Shovelers, six Goosanders, c 15 Goldeneye.  No sign of the Red-crested Pochard drake today.

a few Redwings about, a pair of reed Buntings near the Leics feeders.

25th Feb - mostly grey cloud, mod N breeze, 7C, but feeling cold.

Willey; mid-day

At my feed station a Yellowhammer, a Chaffinch, five Greenfinches, two Long-tailed Tits, eight House Sparrows plus the regulars.

Soar Brook Lake; afternoon.    Water level lower than normal

The two Oystercatchers again, six Wigeon, nine Mallards, a number of Black-head, Common, Herring and Lesser Black Backed Gulls.

Adjacent field, four Stock Doves, a Pheasant, Rooks, Jackdaws and a Carrion Crow.

Shawell sandpit/landfill.

Six Red Kites, Gadwalls 27, Teal c60, Shoveler c15, Tufted c15, Wigeon 8, plus other regulars

24th Feb - sunny spells, light N/NE breeze, 8C

A quite day, no obs to report

23rd Feb - Sunny spells, mod N, easing pm, 7C, but feeling cold

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

A look at the wet meadows area, an Oystercatcher and five Lapwings.  Wigeon c50, Shoveler c20, Teal c100, Coot c10.  A Song Thrush was singing nearby.

22nd Feb - light rain early, then cloudy, some drizzle, slowing brightening to sunny spells mid-afternoon, 9C

A patch of Snowdrops in the village pinfold.

21st Feb -

Willey;

First thing two singing Song Thrushes, one in the Long Spinney near the barn gate track and another towards the BH wood.  A great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in the Long Spinney too.

Later afternoon, paddock feed station check.

Two each of Yellowhammers and Chaffinches.  A Long-tailed Tit, five+ Greenfinches, two Stock Doves.

c100 Redwings in pikel trees/old railway, plus c10 Fieldfares.  A male great Spotted Woodpecker.

20th Feb - Sunny, light breeze SW, 14C

Willey;

0845, c50 Redwings feeding on Pasture in the Perkins fields area.

19th Feb - sunny periods, light WNW, 12C

Soar Brook Lake; morning WeBs count

A pair of Oystercatchers were present, so they have returned from their winter sojourn.  Otherwise, few ducks or waterbirds were present.  A Little Egret flew in to the brook area.

Mere Lane Lake; morning

Three Little grebes, 14 Tufted Ducks, a Mute Swan pair plus Moorhen and Coot.   Buzzard flew over.

18th Feb - cloudy, light/mod W, 13C, light rain shower afternoon

Shawell sandpit/landfill, morning

A good collection of ducks, Tufted, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall and Shovelers and a Little Grebe.  Only a few Gulls as not tipping today, but plenty of Corvids.  Gadwall numbered 32 and coot 28 - both high counts for here.

Shawell Lagoons;  Two great-crested Grebes, a few Tufted Ducks and Gulls.. A Treecreeper in road side bushes.

Stanford Hall, afternoon.

Two Great Egrets, 98 Wigeon, two Little Grebes, 98 Canada Geese.. A red Kite over.

Stanford reservoir;

Drake Red-crested Pochard, otherwise all the expected birds similar to last visit.

Shawell Gravel Pit; 1715h  A Sparrowhawk.

Starlings came to roost, c30000 still.  Again gathering  on the landfill before coming in to roost.

17th Feb - cloudy, mod W, mild 15C

WIlley;

A Kestrel over fields, 0815h, flew off south over Long Spinney.

16th Feb - cloudy, light SSW, 13C

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Highlight included the drake Red-crested Pochard, Great and Little Egret, two Lesser redpolls, a femake Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeders.

15th Feb - Sunny am, becoming cloudy, some light rain later, light SW, 12C

Shawell Sandpit/landfill; afternoon.

Very similar as yesterday, except a 'white' presumed Herring Gull showed, dashing hopes of a 'white-winger'.

14th Feb -sunny, 8C, light SE

Willey; mid-day

5+ Greenfinch around church Yews and paddock feed station.  Also, a male Yellowhammer at the feed station.

Shawell sandpit/landfill; afternoon.

Plenty of Gulls, but still no 'white-wingers'.

Wigeon19, Pochard 4, Teal c100, Tufted 19, Coot 23, Canada 14. a Little Grebe

25 red Kites, 20+ Ravens, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch heard in the spinney.  A Sparrowhawk over, being hassled by a Carrion Crow.

13th Feb - becoming sunny, light SE, 10C

Willey; 1320h

A Red Kite circling over the field behind the Church and two Ravens flew off calling.

12th Feb - Flat cloud, v light SE, 8C

A day trip to Norfolk and visited a few sites.

Holme NOA area

A good selection of birds around the NOA area and adjacent fields and marshes.  Key sighting were a Firecrest, a Kingfisher, male Marsh Harrier and Spoonbill.

Brancastor Staite

This is a lovely area, the tide was out so plenty of mud and creeks.

A good selection of waders - Turnstones, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwits, Curlew, Ringed Plovers, Redshank and oystercatchers.

Two Spoonbills flew in, settling near a Little Egret, several Brent Geese.

A large Skein of Pink-footed Geese flew over towards Holkham.

Titchwell RSPB

As expected a nice selection of winter wildfowl and waders around the marshes and shore line.  The sea was almost flat calm and with little wind there was not a lot happening on the sea.  A Couplie of Red-breasted Mergansers and Great-crested Grebes were visible.

Two Marsh Harriers were showing well and a Barn Owl was hunting.  a linnet flock c150.

A flock of Brent Geese flew in and were quite noisy before heading off inland.

11th Feb - flat cloud, very light W, 10C

Willey; midday

Lone Bullfinch in Church lane hedge.  Male Yellowhammer at paddock feed station.  10 Greenfinch seen.

Shawell sandpit/Landfill; morning

Still the usual ducks, Gadwalls, Wigeon, Tufted, Teal, Mallards, five Canada Geese, eight Red Kites, Ravens, Coots not 25.

No new Gulls noted.

Stanford Hall area; afternoon

c60 Redwings flew over the parkland.  

Great Egret feeding around the lake, plus Wigeon, Gadwall and two Mute Swans

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Highlights were:  drake Red-crested Pochard still, three Shovelers, nine Goosanders (3 drakes), 8+ Goldeneyes.

Two Treecreepers chasing each other.  Female Grey Wagtail, a few Redwings and Fieldfares.

10th Feb - cloudy, dull, light W, 8C

Willey;

Not seen any Mistle Thrushes around or singing here yet, a bit of a puzzle.

9th Feb - jsut above freezing last night. SU#unny, light breeze NW, 8C

Willey;

Small groups of redwings feeding on several of the pastures early morning.

mid-day - a lone male Bullfinch feeding again in the Church lane hedge.  Five+ Greenfinches were around too.

8th Feb - frost -3C last night. Sunny, 8C, light S

Willey; a couple of Yellowhammers, late afternoon, at the paddock feed station.

Mere Lane Lake, afternoon.  17 Tufted Ducks, Mute Swan pair, several Coots, 3+ Little Grebes

7th Feb - -4C last night. Sunny, very light S, 8C

Willey;

A Muntjac was calling loudly mid-morning from cover along old railway track

6th Feb - frost last night -4C. Sunny, very light breeze, 8C

Willey;

A Raven flew low from the pikel paddock trees along the old railway track, calling.

A few Fieldfares flew S over the village.

5th Feb - frost -2C last night. Sunny, very light NNW, 8C

Willey; late morning

A lone male Bullfinch was in the church lane bushes nibbling the buds.  Seven Greenfinches were around. too.  A Green Woodpecker was heard.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Five Goosanders, six Goldeneye, Wigeon seemed down in number today.  A Little egret and two Grey Herons.

On the dam c 30 each Fieldfares and Redwings feeding, and a lone Mistle Thrush.  In the spillway three Meadow Pipits, a Grey and Pied Wagtail.

A Kingfisher alone the Leics bank trees.

Only one Long-tailed Tit seen, two+ Goldcrests.

On the adjacent field six Ravens and a Buzzard.

4th Feb - mostly cloudy, dull at times, 10C, light SW

WIlley

A Song Thrush and Goldcrest were singing first thing.

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

A good number of Ducks on the wet meadows area, Gadwalls, wigeons, Teals,, Tufted Ducks, Mallards,  Shovelers and a Shelduck.

A Kestrel flew over.

A Roe Deer was in the rough area - grazing, but moved just aa I took a photo!!

3rd Feb - mainly cloudy, a few brief sunny spells, 11C, very light W

 No obs to report today

2nd Feb - cloudy, dull at times, , light WSW, 11C

Willey; 1400h

About 30 each of Redwings and Starlings feeding on the pasture next to the BH wood, a Jay was near the Oak trees there.

1st Feb - high cloud, mod W, 10C

Shawell; afternoon.

I checked the bird cover field area, 5 Yellowhammers and 5 Reed Buntings, c10 Chaffinches.  In the adjacent wood c60 Stock Doves flew in and rested.

Stanford reservoir;

A Grey Wagtail in the spillway.  A Sparrowhawk hunting in this area too.  A Little Egret on the dam.

The drake red-crested Pochard still.

31st Jan - mostly sunny, 8C, mod W

Shawell sandpit/landfill;

Two Shelducks, 12 Gadwalls, 16 Wigeon, Tufties, Teal and Mallards.

Five Red Kites, a Buzzard, Ravens.