30th Nov - -3C last night, mostly sunny, light NNE, 4C

Harborough Magna; Sun flower seed field

c100 each Chaffinch and Greenfinch, 4 Reed Buntings, 3 Yellowhammers, a Brambling and a Linnet.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

4 Goldeneye and a Little Grebe among the usual duck. 

A Sparrowhawk and Kestrel

29th Nov - -2C last night and only 2C. Mostly sunny, light NW

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

A drake and female Goosander were relaxing in the narrows, 2 Teal, only one Shoveler and 4 Goldeneye.

Redwings and Fieldfares were on the berries, but other passerines in short supply, nine Long-tailed Tits and a few Blue Tits along the Leics bank.

A Jay alarmed by a bird of prey, possibly a Sparrowhawk, A Raven calling, then flew over south.

Mixed Blue and Great Tits, at least 20 in the leaf litter under the Beeches, plus a Chaffinch.

28th Nov - sunny periods, light WSW, 7C

Busy day, no obs to report.

Colour Ringed Shag update.

I mentioned the colour ringed Shag spotted in Wells harbour on November 11th, Blue XDH, it  was ringed as a chick on Inchmickery, Firth of Forth, on 16^th June this year.  It had also been seen at Wells by somebody else, on 27th Oct, so it is hanging around.

27th Nov - a miserable wet cold day, light/mod N, 5C

No obs today.

26th Nov - frost last night -2C. Cloudy, light S, mistly and dull pm, a little drizzle.

Willey; morning

c300 Starlings on the wires/fields to the east of the village.

Stanford reservoir; morning.

Rather quiet really, and almost still.

A drake Goosander, 3 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 4 Goldeneye.

Treecreeper in boundary hedge behind main reedbed.

Draycote Water; afternoon.

The Great Northern and Black-throated Divers were showing in the Biggins Bay area.

Two Goosanders (male and female) plus other regulars.  

Six Meadow Pipits along the bank and a Song Thrush sang a little.

25th Nov - frost last night -3C. Sunny, light NW, 6C

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Little Egret settling pool, a Treecreeper nearby.  c50 Fieldfare and c30 Redwings along Leics bank.

Two noisy Water Rails in the main reed bed.

Three Red-crested Pochards (2 drakes), 15 Teal, plus other usual ducks.

24th Nov - sunny, mod NW, 8C

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

Looked at the field flood pools area; 75 Teal, c40 Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, 6 Mallard, 3 Moorhens.

A few Redwing and Fieldfares on the berries, A Kestrel hunting over the bank, 2 Greenfinch and Goldfinch on the hedgerow.

23rd Nov - sunny spells, mod W, 13C, some bits of drizzle

Harborough Magna; afternoon.

Checked the Sun Flower field, not such big numbers today.  6 each Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings, c25 Chaffinch, a Goldfinch, 5 Greenfinch, 4 House Sparrows a Sparrowhawk dashed through.

Shawell Sandpit/Landfill;

Very large number of Gulls present, especially over the landfill, plus c 500 Starlings present there.  Five Red Kites.

In the sandpit - 85 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 33 Coots, 3 Little Grebes, 9 Wigeon, Tufties and male Pochard.

22nd Nov - mostly cloudy, light WSW, 10C

 Willey;

Another busy day,  a Song Thrush has been singing most mornings from near the BH wood, as it was today.

A Kestrel flew over the village 1545h.

21st Nov - mostly cloudy,light NW, 8C

No obs today

20th Nov - a few sunny spells, mostly cloudy pn, light wind, 11C

Harborough Magna;

Checked the Sunflower field, c70m Greenfinch, c30 Chaffinches plus a few Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings.

Stretton-under-Fosse;

An area found with c100 Chaffinches feeding, plus 2 Greenfinch and a Brambling. A Kestrel came by too.

19th Nov - cloudy, light becoming mod SW, 12C. Some drizzle at times

Willey; 0910 Mistle Thrush singing from Church Yew.

Soar Brook Lake; morning. WeBs

A selection of Gulls, a few ducks (only 2 Wigeon, 5 Mallard, 2 4 Tufted), 3 Mute Swans, a Little Grebe, Coots and Moorhens.

Mere land Lake, WeBs.

Again few ducks, 4 Little Grebes, 2 Mute Swans, Coot8 and 2 Moorhens.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

.A good number of Pochard now, c40, c400 Greylags in today.   A Great White Egret and Grey Heron.

A Chiffchaff in the Long-tailed Tit flock, 4 Lesser Redpolls feeding on weeds.   Redwings and Fieldfares about.

18th Nov - cloudy, light SW, 13C

Magna Park Lake; morning.

WeBs count, main sighting was 4 Water Rails chasing each other.

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

c150 Starlings feeding on the pasture and resting on Hedges/Trees.  A Kestrel, a Buzzard.  

45 Lapwings flew in to flood pools area, Wigeon and Teal as usual.

DIRFT;

Three Shelducks and a single Golden plover behind Royal Mail, plus many Gulls gathering.

C150 Canada, 70 Greylags on A5 area, plus Shovelers and c50 Wigeon.

Stanford Hall;

Mistle Thrush singing

17th Nov - Touch of grass frost last night. sunny, some cloud pm, 8C, light S

Willey;

c300 Woodpigeons flew NW at 1445h.

Soar Brook lake; morning.

Black-headed, Herring, and Lesser-black Backed Gulls c30, 3 and c60 respectively.  Otherwise very quiet on the water, four Mute Swans.

Harborough magna; mid-day.

On the sunflower area; c30 Chaffinch, c20 Greenfinch, 4 Yellowhammer, a Reed Bunting, 2 House Sparrows.

Shawell sandpit/landfill; afternoon.

Moorhen 12, Coot 32, Little Grebe 2, Shoveler and Pochard 1 each, 14 Wigeon, c40 Teal, Little Grebe 2.

Many Gulls present on the water and resting on the soil heaps

Shawell Gravel Pit; 1600h

Starling, c10000 came in to roost this evening.

16th Nov - Dull, cloudy, light NW, 7C

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

Two Buzzards, Wigeon c40, Teal 31, Mallards, Fieldfares c30, Redwings c20, a Little Grebe on lake, Starling c50.

DIRFT;

Very few birds present, 1 Golden Plover, 7 Lapwings, 11 Shovelers, 10 Mallard, c40 Wigeon, 1 Greylag.

15th Nov - mostly sunny, mod W, 11C

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Pretty quiet here this afternoon, just the regulars.  A small number of both Redwings and Fieldfares feeding on the berries.  A Kestrel was present and over the fields.

14th Nov - cloudy am, sunny intervals pm, 11C, light SW

Willey; late afternoon.

Several largish flocks of Starling heading SE, presumably to the roost at Shawell.  Will check this roost again soo.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Three Water Rails calling in the main reed bed, a Cetti's singing nearby.  A Buzzard and Red Kite over the adjacent field.  A single male Goldeneye among the usual ducks.  

13th November - Rain first thin, then showers, clearing pm, mod-gusty (30mph) SW wind until evening, 11C

 No obs today.

12th November - showers/drizzle at times. light/mod SE, 7C

Willey; 

A Sparrowhawk flashed through, several Redwings on the holly tree berries, a few Fieldfares flew over.

Lilbourne Meadows; early afternoon.

28 Goldfinches feeding, Stonechat pair in usual area, Ducks included Wigeon, Teal, Mallard.

c30 Starlings feeding.

DIRFT; 

c600 Golden Plovers still around A5 area but do get flushed by folks around the area.  c 50 Lapwings too.

c100 each of Greylag and Canada Geese, plus usual ducks.

11th Nov - sunny periods, light-mod W, 10C

A look a several sites in north Norfolk.

Wiveton

08155h 8 Waxwings on the cotoneaster berries behind the pub, then flew off.

A local had found some interesting and unusual fungi on the nearby bank, Crumpled Cup, not too much to look at though. like white-fingers.

Cley

A walk along the East bank to the shore.  All the regular birds expected, the wind was quite fresh over the marsh and sea keeping birds low.  

Stiffkey Floods

The Glossy Ibis was showing well here.

Wells - out harbour

Two Common Scoter, Shag (one was colour ringed - waiting for details) and a Red-throated Diver in the channel.  A Greenshank, along with the other expected waders.  Five red Kites were over the salt marsh.  Plenty of Brent Geese (but no red-breasted Goose today) and two Shelducks.

Holkham Fresh Marsh

Two each Great White Egret and Cattle Egret, several Little Egrets, c12 White-fronted Geese among Greylags and Pink-footed Geese.  Egyptian Geese and the other expected winter ducks.

Siskin and Brambling in the tree tops, a Sparrowhawk, Red Kite and Buzzard.  

Warham Greens

Late afternoon for the Harrier roost.  The Pallid harrier did come in and show for a short while before dropping down  Several Marsh harriers came in too.

The next spectacle was to watch the skeins of Pink-footed Geese return from their days feeding in the fields to their roost.

10th Nov - sunny periods, mod N, 9C

Holme NOA

Around the obs fairly quite, female Blackcap, Coal Tit. Plenty of Brent Geese, Curlew and Golden Over on the Broadwater and grazing Marsh.

A Muntjac, 3 Chinese Water Deer, Common Darts, migrant hawker and 2 Red Admirals seen.

Sea watching produced a good passage of Kittiwakes, Little Gulls, Common Scoter, plus RD Divers, RB Merganser,  2 Bonxies, skua spo, a Velvet Scoter, Knot, Sanderling etc.

9th Nov - Sunny spells, mod SW, 10C, short showers pm.

Stanford Reservoir; morning

A good walk but not producing too much other than the expected birds..  Fieldfare numbers were quite high, though fewer Redwings.

Two Little Grebes were among the Ducks, also a couple of female Goldeneye were very close to the shore.

A Raven was calling and a Buzzard be harassed by Crows.

8th Nov - light rain untill mi-day, then cloudy, mod W breeze, 11C

Lilbourne Meadows, afternoon.

Little Egret, Buzzard, Stonechat pair in usual area, c30 Fieldfares and a few Redwings, c100 Starlings, Gadwall 3 plus Wigeon, Teal and Mallards.

DIRFT 3;

c600 Golden Plover, Lapwings, a Cormorant, c20 Shovelers, Teal, Wigeon, 2 Shelducks. Grey Heron

c50 Common Gulls, c15 Great-black Backed Gulls.

7th Nov - mostly sunny am, sunny spells pm.light W, 12C. Light grass frost last night.

Busy day, not much time for obs.

Theddingworth; 0710h

Two red Kites over the main road and fields at village entrance

6th Nov- sunny spells, light/mod W, 11C. NO rain!

Lilbourne Meadows; late afternoon.

Stayed until dusk to see if any Short-eared Owls - but alas none.

Female Stonechat, 2 Kestrels hunting, c25 Fieldfares, 4 Pheasants and a Little Egret.

DIRFT;

Golden Plover c600, had been flushed and were flying overhead high before moving off.

5th Nov - a few sunny spells, light/mod W, 11C

Willey;

8 Greenfinches on the feeders today.

Stanford reservoir, morning.

Plenty of Fieldfares around, c20 Goldfinch, Bullfinch pair, Goldcrest, two Goldeneye, Pochards, 2 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebes, Buzzard.

4th Nov - Rain am until mod afternoon, then some showers/drizzle, 9C, mod E

Magna Park; 0950

Stoat ran across he Coventry road from the central area to the south side.

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

Stonechat pair still, 3 Meadow Pipits, c60 Starlings, c20 Canada geese, only 7Wigeon and 6 Teal.

DIRFT; afternoon.

c600 Golden Plover on At5 pools, spooked and flew off, also c 40 Lapwings, c30 Teal, c30 Wigeon..

Behind the Royal Mail an Adult Little Gull was feeding over the flood pools, but flew off when a shower came.  A distant video was taken (advise to mute due to background motorway noise).

Two Shelducks, 5 Dunlin, 8 Shoveler

3rd Nov - sunny spells, light W wind, 13C

 At last a dry interlude!

Willey;  late afternoon.

On the bird feeders plenty of Great and Blues Tits, plus Greenfinches visiting.  A Green Woodpecker flew passed.  10 Fieldfares and 13 Redwings flew off.  Seven Mallards flew over and went down on to the back field pond.  A Buzzard was heard.

JM flushed a Barn Owl from the old brick shed (where I have put a box) - hopefully back here for the winter.

A Spider, c4cm, appeared on a carpet this evening, a Giant House Spider, these often come indoors in the autumn.

Burton Overy;

c75 Fieldfares in the Hedges by the A^ junction.  A Raven was calling from a tree top along Burton Overy Lane.

2 Nov - early rain, then cloud and mod W, increasing pm with rain and strong gusts at times as storm Ciaran passes through the south, 11C

The worst of the storm has missed us here with only strong gusts and rain.  

The ground is now well water-logged with standing water in places after the last few days of rain.

1st Nov - heavy showers very early morning, then sunny spells, mod SW breeze, 12C, showers later afternoon.

Willey; Mixed flock of Redwings and Fieldfares still feeding along Hurls Furlong hedge.

Makes you think - Along the A-road from Lubenham to Walcote three single Red Kites were spotted flying over at different places, incredible to think only a few short years ago these were rare and unheard of here!