30th April - sunny am, cloudy, light showers later, 15C, light/mod S

Willey;

Mistle Thrush top of the village 1130h at Coal Pit Lane junction, flew in to allotments tree.

Goldcrest singing everyday from Church Yew tree,

Swallow picked up small white feather in the yard and took to nest - laying soon then.

DIRFT A5 Pools area,; morning.

Three Little Ringed Plovers.

Two female Wheatears showing characters of Greenland race.

Lilbourne Meadows;

Four Shelducks, 21 Gadwall, 4 Teal.

Lesser Whitethroat singing.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Pretty quiet.

Five Common Terns, Goldeneye pair, four Shovelers (3 males chasing a female)..

Bullfinch singing.

One Whitethroat, five Willow Warblers.

29th April - 16C, light SSE, sunny spells, light showers late pm

Shawell sandpit/landfill; 

I was lucky as I spotted a 'blackbird' fly in to the top of a tree - itds jizz didnt look right for a Blackbird, and when I got the scope on it I was viewing a female Ring Ouzel.  It then dropped down and out mof view, I didn't re-locate it.

Also present was the Egyptian Goose pair and their , now large, goslings (8 still).  25 Ravens, 6 Red Kites.

 A Great-crested  Grebe pair is now present and were displaying - so will they breed?

Rutland Water;

I visited here this afternoon, one bird to see was the  Slavonian Grebe in summer plumage. which rare to see in the Midlands.  Fortunately, it was still in the north arm and showing well, I managed some record photos.

A good selection of other birds on the Egleton reserve including a female Scaup, marsh Harrier pair, a Water Rail,heard, Avocet, Redshank, Ringed Plover and Dunlin.  

I never found the drak Garganey though.

28th April - cloudy am, sunny spells pm, mod NW, 12C

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Notables included Common Sandpiper, Red Kite, Goldeneye two, Cuckoo calling, Common tern seven, Garden Warbler singing.

Orange-tip butterfly

27th April - cloudly, light SE wind, 12C. Light rain developing mid-afternoon in to evening.

Willey;

Two Red Kites low over the village and fields just to the west, 0750h.

Stanford reservoir; morning

A Black tern and 12 Common Terns.

A Garden Warbler and Whitethroat in the orchard area singing, along with Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.

Grey Wagtail on the dam.   Good number of Swallows, House and Sand Martins present feeding over the water.

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

Waders included two Whimbrel, two each Dunlin and Ringed Plover, plus a Little Ringed Plover.

Five Shelducks, Gadwalls, Shoveler - two.   c 20 Starlings feeding on the pasture.

26th April - mostly sunny, light SE, 13C

Willey; 

Mistle Thrush singing again near Church this morning.

At least three singing/displaying Greenfinches around the village

Watermead CP North; afternoon.

News broke that THREE (Black-crowned) Nigh Herons were present together, what a sighting for Leicestershire.  The birds were visible sitting and moving in the Willows, quite close to the path so easily viewed.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening

Six Shelducks again, two Little Ringed Plover and a Ringed Plover.

Two Wigeon, four Shovelers, 21 Teal, 25 Gadwall, a female Mallard with six ducklings too.

DIRFT/A5 Pools;

A Common Sandpiper

Shawell Sandpit;

A Greenshank

25th April - fRost last night. Sunny, light N, 10C

Stanford res; evening

Two Common Sandpipers on dam, six Goldeneye (2m,4f), c12 Swallows, a Sand Martin.

Cuckoo calling.

Sedge Warblers now present in number.  Several Linnets about.  A Raven flew over SE, 

24th April - mostly cloudy, 10C, light breeze N/NE

Willey;

The the Rookery count for the Long Spinney ( 3 Rookeries) is 216, which is up from 195 last year (+11%).  Which is good news following the hot dry summer we had, and a cold spell with frozen ground in early winter.

However, I am puzzled as to why I have not yet heard Chiffchaff or Blackcap in the Long Spinney this Spring yet.  Hopefully they will be here once our northerly weather systems change more favourable for migrants.

1500h, two Red-legged Partridges were making their way along the field hedge in the first Perkins field.

Lilbourne 'wet' Meadows; evening.,

Greenshank still present, and a Common Sandpiper.  Five Shelduck, 17 Gadwall, c15 Teal and four SHovelers.

23rd April - cloudy am, sunny interval pm, 12C, light WNW-NNW

A5 Pools-DIRFT; morning'

Two Little Ringed Plovers, two Dunlins and a Ringed Plover.

Lilbourne Wet Meadows;

Greenshank, 14 Gadwalls, four Shoveler, Shelduck pr, Little Egret, Yellow Wagtail.

Shawell sandpit/landfill;

I've not seen the Egyptian Geese family for a week now, maybe in an area not visible though.

A little grebe, two Red Kites, plus a single Cormorant.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

A Wheatear.

Two Common Scoter (m+f), four Goldeneye (2f +2m), Shoveler pair.

House and Sand Martins, Swallows, Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff.  Single Long-tailed Tit.

Four Linnets, Goldfinch pair, Mistle Thrush still.

A Yellow Wagtail on the dam and Grey Wagtail in the spillway.

22nd April - cloudy am, sunny periods pm, 15C, light SSW

Welney WWT; afternoon.

After the exceptional wet March and April the washes are pretty full still, giving miles of open water, but depriving ground nesting birds of their required habitat, however the water is receding daily now.

The  highlight was a Black-winged Stilt, with good views at mid-distance from the Friends hide.

Other birds included c6 Ruff, a Little Ringed Plover, a Grey Plover, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits (some in summer plumage).  

                                                Ruff and LRP

                                                    

Egyptian Geese, Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Tufted, Shelduck, and a single male Goldeneye.

Mute and Whooper Swans.  Little Egrets.    Swallows and House Martins (nesting).

A Little gull.

21st April - chilly am 8C, mod NE, sunny interval pm and 12C, winf easing

 Stanfoid reservoir; afternoon.

Two adult Little Gulls and a Common Tern.  Cuckoo calling.

Shelduck pair, two Shoverlers.

Hirundines over the reservoir.  More Blackcaps and Willow Warblers heard than recently.

Mistle Thrush still on nest. A Goldfinch singing near entrance gate.

Husbands Bosworth; evening.

Barn owl along Sibbertoft road.

20th April - Sunny until evening, 14C, then cloudy, spots of rain and cooler. Mod NE

Shawell sandpit/landfill; morning

Pretty quiet today, although there were Gulls, c200s, Herring and Lesser-black backed on the water and more at the landfill.

Shelduck par, three Gadwall, 12 Teal, Tufted and Mallard.  Two greylags and c10 Canada Geese.  Mute Swan still sitting with partner nearby.

Four Red Kite, 15+ Ravens,  a couple of Buzzards.

19th April - cloudy am, sunny pm, mod-keen ENE, 13C, feeling cool

Willey; Red Kite drifted over westward, low, 0750h.

Stanford reservoir; evening;  Three Yellow Wagtails on dam

Lilbourne wet meadows; evening.

Three Yellow Wagtails, 22 Teal, 22 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, Shelduck pair.

18th April - cloudy am, sunny pm, light-mo NE, 13C, feeling cool

Soar Brook Lake;

Notable: three Little Grebes, 'trilling'

Three Oystercatchers.

.

17th April - mostly cloudy until late afternoon, then sunny, 14C, light E, feeling cool

WIlley;

Mistle Thrush singing again.

Stanford reservoir; evening.

Five Arctic Terns were present, busily feeding over the reserevoir.

A Oystercatcher, 6 Goldeneye, 3 Shoveler, Grey Wagtail.  Swallows and Sand Martins.

16th April - Norfolk mostly sunny, 14C. Keen E/SE onshore wind feeling cool

Some highlights:

North Point Pools - Wells

Plenty of lapwings nesting, Ruff, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwits, Marsh Harrier, Shelduck, Curlew and Avocets.

Morston; 

A male Ring ouzel in the horse paddocks and two Grey Partridge.  Still a good number of Brent Geese about.  A pair of Kestrels mating near the church atop a Yew tree.

Cley;

Pretty stiff, cool,  onshore wind was keeping everything low or absent.

A single Fulmar passed.

Wells Harbor;

Bar-tailed Godwits, Herring Gull colony, with Lesser Black Backed in attendance!

Grey Seal and pup on Wells shore.  Often seemed to be touching noses!

 

15th April - sunny periods, ,light NW, 13C

Shawell sandpit/landfill; morning.

Two Redshank were resting on the small island.  A Shelduck lair were present, the drake chasing the female.   A pair of Gadwall, c15 Teal.  12 Tufted Ducks. A Little Grebe

Two Green Sandpipers.    Two red kites, Ravens,

Great-spotted Woodpecker and Blackcap heard in the spinney.

Sandy Lane pools area; 

Quiet.  Two pairs of Coots one with nest, one with 2 juvs.  Jay Heard in adjacent spinney,, Chiffchaff singing.

Peatling Parva

Two Nuthatches calling near Church

14th April - showers, then rain mid-afternoon till late evening. 10C, cooler in showers/rain, light SW

Willey;

Unexpectedly a Mistle Thrush sang briefly from the Church Yew, 1000h.

Honey Hill; early afternoon.

Two Skylarks over, a Jay, Red Kite, Green Woodpecker.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon

A look from the dam area before the rain became too much.

11 yellow Wagtails on the dam, plus a Grey Wagtail, pair and a few Pied.

A Goldcrest singing near the Tower and a Treecreeper in the boundary hedge.  Two Red-legged Partridges next to field track.

Five Goldeneyes (three drakes).  How long will they stay?

c20 each Swallows and Sand martins on the tower aerials, others and House martins around the reservoir.

13th April - mostly sunny periods, light breeze W, 12C

Willey;

A few moire Swallows now appearing around the village and Sheep fields.

Stanford reservoir; evening.

Twelve Yellow Wagtails on the dam.

Shawell Sandpit/landfill; evening

Two Green Sandpipers.  A Green Woodpecker.  c15 Teal, a few Gadwall, 8 Pied Wagtails

12th April - A touch of 'grass frost' again. sunny spells am, fresh/gusty S-SW, 9C, light showers pm

Stanford Res; evening.

Pretty quiet.

Six Goldeneyes still.  Green Woodpecker, a good mixed flock of hirundines over the water

Grey Wagtail pair on the dam.

11th April - mostly sunny morning, rain and wind, SSE/S from mid-afternoon, 12C

Willey

Three Fieldfares in barn fields area 0815h

Summer Leys NR; afternoon.

News of a male Kentish Plover found this morning tempted me to go and see it.  It was feeding on Gull Island and looked great.  Some record photos managed despite distance and weather.

Luckily, while watching this a White Stork (un-ringed) dropped in and showed well.

Other birds included two Common Terns, Great and Little Egrets, Grey Heron, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, Goldeneye, Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal, Sand Martins.

10th April - mostly sunny am, then pm showers and fresh/gusty SW, 12C

Stanford Res - afternoon.

 c100 Sand Martins, c40m Swallows, a few House Martins,  A Willow Warbler singing, 5 Yellow Wagtails on the dam.  A red kite.

Grey Wagtail.

Four Goldeneye.

9th April - Mostly cloudy, light S breeze, 14C

Willey; single Swallow seen this morning, mid village.

Shawell sandpit/landfill; late afternoon.

Two green Sandpipers, a Little Ringed Plover.

Five Shovelers, a few Teal, 17 Gadwall.  Egyptian Goose family.

Two Yellow Wagtails, five Pied Wagtails.

Five each of House Martins and Swallows.

Six Red Kites

Flock c30 Linnets feeding.

Single Fox

8th April - Frost last night. Sunny, light SE, 15C

Stanford Res; morning.

Pretty quiet.  c 40 Fieldfares on field opposite entrance gate.  Goldeneye 5, Shoveler 2, Teal 2, Goldfinch pair, Mistle thrush feeding on dam.  

Two Long-tailed Tits.

Shawell sandpit/landfill area;

40 Ravens, 1 green Sandpiper, Egyptian Goose family

Soar Brook lake; afternoon.

I each of Little Egret, Green Sandpiper, Little Grebe.  Goldfinch singing.  Oystercatcher pair.

7th April - Grass frost last night. Sujnny warming to 15C, light NNW

Willey;

J Moore reported at least two Swallows entered their stables this morning for awhile - where they nest, then disappeared.

Shawell sandpit/landfill; early afternoon.

Two green Sandpipers, Egyptian Goose family still present, Gadwall 20, Teal,  Tufted, Mallard, Red Kite 6, Buzzard 6, Sparrowhawk and a Grey heron.

DIRFT/A5

Two Little Ringed Plovers on A5 pools and one on back pools, also SHelduck pair.

Lilbourne Meadows;

Wigeon 1, Teal, Gadwalls, Shovelers, Shelduck pair.

Stanford Res; later afternoon.

Chris located a drake Common Scoter, which was resting mostly in Blowers Lodge Bay.

6th April - SHowers, slowly clearing to sunny spells pm, light-mod WNW-12C, feelinmg cool.

Willey;

c30 Fieldfares feeding on Hurls Furlong pasture 0830h.

Blackbird busy building nest in garden Clematis.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

1 Wigeon, 6 Goldeneye, 6 Shoveler, 4 Teal, a Grey Heron, 12 Swallows, 5 Jays, a Red Kite.

Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap singing.

The Mistle Thrush is now sitting on nest - digiscoped from far distance.

5th April - cloudy, light SSW, 9C, drizzle/light rain showers from mid-day

Willey;

c25 Fieldfares and c5 Redwings this morning top fields.

Nuthatch calling from paddock trees opposite parsons close gate.

A fungus spotted close to a hedge in a pasture field.

Early evening a Wren busy nest building in the garden Ivy on the wall.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening a quick look

Little Egret, Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall, 9 Wigeon.

A Little Ringed Plover.