31st August - cloudy, 18C, light SSE, drizzle/light rain evening

WIlley;  75 Swallows on wires 0730h, a quick phone snap.

Shawell sandpit/landfill; evening.

Nothing new. Tufties up at 38, two Gadwalls, eight Moorhens (adults and juvs), although I didn't see the chicks today.

30th August - sunny spells, light WNW, 18C

WIlley; 55 Swallows on the telegraph wires this morning, 0730h.  A Red Kite seen around several times.

Brandon Marsh; evening.

Highlights were a Kingfisher, Green Sandpiper, two Water Rails on the east marsh and anther seen on the Teal pool mud.

c 200 Lapwings,, a Grey Heron, eight Stock Doves, usual ducks.

29th August - mostly cloudy, light rain evening, 18C

Willey; a Red Kite was seen around several times today.

Stanford reservoir; evening.

A Common Sandpiper on the dam, along with c200 Canada Geese.  A couple of Teal and a few Shovelers about.

A Kingfisher dashing along the edge.  

A Redstart (female) seen briefly in the orchard area.  A Green Woodpecker heard.

28th August - mostly cloudy, light NW, 18C

Willey; 25 Swallows on the wires first thing, and a few flying around too.

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

Pretty quiet today.  A Kestrel hunting over the bank, c30 Starlings and nine Pied Wagtails.

Shawell Sandpit/Landfill; morning.

A Peregrine flew in - clearly hunting, but didn't succeed, before leaving.

Otherwise just the regulars.

Soar Brook Lake; late afternoon.

A Hobby flew over, quite low, westward.

Two Little Grebe, a Cormorant, 11 Stock Doves, c15 House martins and two Sand Martins.

27th August - sunny spells am, mostly cloudy pm, light WNW, 17C

Willey; Two Spotted Flycatchers along top field fence (0820h) and Willow Warbler in hedge.

Lilbourne Meadows; morning

A Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaffs, Goldfinches and Greenfinches busy feeding in a Blackthorn thicket corner.

Two little Egrets, a Kestrel and Sparrowhawk.

c30 Pied Wagtails among the Sheep with two Yellow Wagtails.

Brandon Marsh; afternoon.

A Green Sandpiper, 198 Lapwings, Little Egret and Grey heron.

Plenty Gadwall, and teal, a few Shovelers.

Sparrowhawk, two Green Woodpeckers and a great Spotted Woodpecker.  Nuthatch on feeders.

26th August - sunny periods, showers pm, light SW, 20C

Willey; a female redstart still same area top field (0830h), Red Kite over the Perkins area, c50 Swallows still around the village and on the wires.   Our Swallows had a second brood, but only two fledged.

Shawell Sandpit/Landfill. morning.

c220 Greylags, 10 Little grebes, with three chick being feed by separate adults, a Moorhen with three very young chicks being feed, three Red Kites, a Buzzard, Ravens.

A Black-tailed Godwit flew in, circled over the water then off southward.

Pitsford reservoir; afternoon.

Two Great Egrets, several Little Egrets and a Grey Heron.

Five Pochard, seven Shovelers, Teal, a single Wigeon, Gadwalls, six+ Little Grebes.

A (feral) Barnacle Goose with the Greylags.

A Red Kite over.

Two Willow Warblers along hedge.

At main ringing/feed station several Tree Sparrows, a Chiffchaff, a Greenfinch and a Spotted Flycatcher.,

25th August - sunny periods, light SW, 20C

WIlley;  

Female Redstart this morning top fields same as yesterday.  Went and searched all hedged during the afternoon, no other Redstarts, but  two adult Spotted Flycatchers and a juvenile (food begging), in the BH/barn field corner.

Shawell Sandpit/landfill; evening.

12 Gadwall, c10 Teal, c40 Mallard, a Cormorant, Shoveler 4, a Red Kite.

Husbands Bosworth - Sibbertoft road - Barn Owl at night

24th August - mostly sunny, 24C, light W

Willey; three Redstarts again this morning.

Croft Hill; afternoon

Blackcaps, Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker, a selection of Butterflies.

Stanford reservoir; evening.

Common Sandpiper, single Wigeon and Pochard, two Teal.

A Kingfisher flashed passed.  Single Yellow wagtail.

53 Great-crested Grebes and 18 Little Grebes.

A Raven, a Grey Heron.

House Martins still attending nests.

23rd August - mostly sunny, light WSW, 24C

Willey; c50 Swallows on the wires this morning and others flying around.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

Three Common Sandpipers, drake Pochard, Gadwalls, c20 Cormorants, 10 Little Grebes.

Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Reed Warbler.

Grey Heron and Little Egret.

House martins still attending nests.

Female Common Blue

Stanford -on Avon - four Spotted Flycatchers feeding.

Lilbourne Meadows,; evening - Green Sandpiper.  Adult Goldfinch feeding two recently fledges youngsters.

22nd AUgust - sunny spells, light WSW, 23C

Willey - one Redstart still this morning.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening

Pools very small/dry now.

11 Moorhens, three Teals, a Snipe

c10 Greenfinch flying about the hedges.

21st August - sunny spells, 22C, light SW

Willey;

0830h Sparrowhawk dashed low over home, chased by the Swallows.

0900h Four Redstarts along Hurls Furlong field fence.

20th August - sunny periods, 22C, light SW

Shawell Sandpit/landfill; early pm

Pretty quiet as no landfill activity.

Three Shovelers, several Ravens about, four Moorhens, very few other ducks present.

A Small Heath, several Green-veined Whites.

19th August - sunny spells, mod-fresh SSW/SW, 22C

Willey; two Red Kites over Perkins area first thing.

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

Juv Marsh Harrier, three Kestrels, a Little Egret, six Green Sandpipers and 17 Teal.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Black tern still present since this morning.  Four Common terns, two Common Sandpipers, drake Pochard, c15 Shovelers. A Little Egret 

A female Tufted Duck with 10 mid-sized ducklings.

Several Willow Warblers, female Blackcap, Green Woodpecker.

18th August - light rain from 1000 till midday, light-mos Easterly, 19C

WIlley; c0900h a Red Kite over Perkins fields and nine Mistle Thrushes feeding top fields near spinney (flew off east).

Soar Brook Lake; mid-day.

Four Yellow Wagtails, two Little Grebes, c60 Mallard, three Tufted Ducks, two Stock Doves, a few House Martins low over the lake.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening

Three Green Sandpipers, seven Teal, three Snipe, c 40 Starlings, a Greenfinch.

17th August - Mostly sunny, 24C, mod Easterly

Willey;

A Red Kite was over the Perkins area this morning, mainly Wood Farm, where grass was being turned for hay.

c1230h another/same Red Kite over the fields to the east of the village.

A single Meadow Pipit this morning in the Long Grass - Perkins area.

16th August- Mostly sunny, 23C, light NNE

Willey;

Whilst checking hedges for Redstart, this little chap landed next to me - nice to see, thankfully numerous still.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening

Two Green Sandpipers.  11 Moorhens.

A female Reed Bunting.

Shawell Sandpit/landfill; evening.

The only new bird was a Common Sandpiper.

A couple of juv Yellow-legged Gulls dropped in with Lesser-black Backed Gulls.

15th August - mostly sunny, light W, 20C

 Montilo Lane (off Pailton road)

A road casualty Hedgehog.  A Red Kite and Buzzard over the harvested Wheat fields.

Stanford reservoir; evening.

Popped over to see the Shag that Chris Hubbard had found on the Tern raft.

Common Sandpiper on the dam.

14th August - light rain early, brightening to sunny spells, mod/fresh at times SW, 20C

Lilbourne Meadows; evening

Six Green Sandpipers, a Grey Heron, 12 Teal, and two Swifts over.

Three Greenfinch, A hunting Kestrel and only three Starlings.

13th August - some drizzle am, then sunny intervals, mod SW, 19C

Shawell sandpit/landfill; morning

Nothing new, c 30 Canada and 120 Greylag Geese. Green Woodpecker.  14+ Ravens.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

At least 150 House Martins and 10 Swifts overhead.  Many Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs.

 A Red Kite.  20+ Gadwall, c12 Shoveler, Three juv Shelducks, five Little grebes (3 juvs), 10 Pied Wagtails.  

Several Common terns still present.

Lilbourne Meadows; late afternoon.

Pools have receded a lot this week.

Two green Sandpipers, eight Yellow Wagtails.

12th August - sunny spells, odd short shower, mod SW, 20C

Willey - first thing, two Red Kites and at least three Ravens behind Long Spinney near top fields.

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

$ Green Sandpipers, a Little Egret, three Greenfinches.

Stanford reservoir; late afternoon.

A Common Sandpiper,Little Egret, several Common Terns, Gadwall, Shovelers, two juv Shelducks, a Yellow, Pied and Grey Wagtail and Green Woodpecker all on the dam.

c100 House Martins and c15 Swifts feeding over Leics bank.

A roving flock, c 80 birds, of Long-tailed and Blue Tits with Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers.

Four Little Grebes (2 juvs) and a Grey Heron.

11th August - sunny spells, light - mod SW, 24C

Willey; Two Red Kites seen during the day.

A Hedgehog has been visiting the Rose Cottage garden - good to hear. 

10th August - sunny, 25C, light S

WIlley; Kestrel hunting over mowing grass, bottom fields Perkins area.

9th August - sunny, 24C, light SW

Willey; a female Wheatear on the mud by the cattle sheds to the east.

This afternoon a minimum of 10 Red Admirals on neighbours Buddleia, however not one Small Tortoiseshell!

A Red Kite over the grass mowing - Perkins area..

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.

Seven green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper, one Snipe, a Grey Heron.

Whitethroat family, a Reed Bunting, Goldfinch and Greenfinch.  Green Woodpecker heard.

8th August - mostly cloudy, drizzle pom, light SW, 19C

Willey; morning

Eight Red Kites and two Buzzards over grass mowing top fields.

Husbands Bosworth sand pit;; morning.

One Green Sandpiper, 10 Little grebe with one chick being fed by an adult.

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon

Five Green sandpipers, and one Common Sandpiper.  c Six teal

10 Greenfinches (adults and juvs), plus Goldfinches, a Reed Bunting.  One Yellow Wagtail.

7th August - mostly sunny, light W, 20C

Willey;  

Four Mistle Thrushes on pasture - Perkins area.

Eight Red Kites and two Buzzards (one a calling juv) hunting over the top fields as the grass was being mown.

6th August - mostly cloudy, a few sunny spells pm, mod NW, 18C

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

Four Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, a Peregrine flew over quite low and slow.

A Kestrel was hunting over the bank.

A5 Pools/DIRFT.

This area that has produced so much is soon to disappear under development, with further drainage, diggings and safety fencing going up  this week.  I doubt it will be here for the autumn proper!!

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

On the dam a Common Sandpiper, two juv Shelducks, several moulting Shovelers and Gadwalls.  A single Yellow Wagtail.

Five Teal on the water and a Hobby hunting along the Leics bank.

Four Common Terns still around.

A mixed flock of House and Sand Martins were feeding along with two Swifts and a few Swallows.

Very few butterflies about in these poor conditions.  A Muntjac buck was seen.

5th August - Rain practically all day, 14C, light-mod breeze E.

Awful summer weather 

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

Three Green Sandpipers, 

Goldfinch family.

Shawell Sandpit; morning'

Regulars present, but most birds hunkered-up out the weather.

c10 Swallows and c20 House Martins feeding low over the water.

Flock of Canada and Greylag Geese in (c25 and c35 respectively).

A few ravens out and about.

4th August - mostly cloudy, few sunny spells late pm, light NW, 19C

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Three Swifts, c70 House Martins plus a few Swallows.

Four juv Shelducks, 10 Gadwall, four Shovelers.  A Grey Heron.

Goldfinch c10, a Reed Bunting,  two Whitethroats - one taking food to a nest still.

Treecreeper, Long-tailed Tits.

A Grass Snake spotted sunning itself.  A good number of Green-veined Whites, single Comma and Peacock.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.

Four Green Sandpipers, a Snipe and juv Little Ringed Plover. Six teal.

Eight Yellow Wagtails.

A Roe Deer ran along the bank very fast.

3rd Aug - sunny spells, light NW, 20C

Willey;  afternoon.  c 40 House Sparrows feeding along the brambles from Parsons close to old railway bridge, probably on insects.   c170 Jackdaws, and a few Rooks, feeding on the Hurls Furlong pasture (cattle) - to think once Jackdaws were hardly ever seen in the area some 30 years ago, now they are everywhere.

Lilbourne Meadows; evenings.

Six Green Sandpipers, one Snipe, a Grey Heron, a female Shoveler and two juvs, two Teal and a Little Grebe.

12 Yellow Wagtails feeding around the Sheep.

A couple of Greenfinch, 10+ Goldfinch, two Yellowhammers.

2nd Aug - sunny spells, light/mod NNW, 20C

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

Four Green Sandpipers, three Grey Herons, a Little Egret and four Yellow Wagtails.

A male Redstart along the fence line showing well.

Soar Brook Lake; evening.

A great-crested Grebe, three adult Little Grebes and one juv.  c50 Mallards, five Tufted, including a female with two large ducklings (as noted before), 44 Greylag Geese.  Single Mute Swan

Six Cormorants, a Grey Heron, six Moorhens, a few Coots with one feeding small chicks on the water.

1st August - mostly high cloud, light WSW, 20C

Willey; two Red Kites interacting over the Long Spinney, near x-in-hand, 0800h.  A Cormorant flew SW at 1330h over Perkins area.

Stanford Hall-Percy Pilcher field; evening.

10 Spotted Flycatchers, adults and juvs feeding along the bridle path.

Stanford reservoir; evening.

Four Common Sandpipers, two Oystercatchers, Little Grebe, seven Shovelers, eight Shelducks, seven Gadwall, a Grey Heron on the dam/overflow area

.

A Kestrel, a male Yellowhammer and an adult and juv Whitethroat in the field and hedge behind dam car park.

31st July - sunny spells. mod WSW, 19C

Perkins area; first thing seven Mistle Thrushes on the pasture, a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew from the Oaks and a Buzzard calling from the middle field.