Willey;
Two red Kites over, 0845h, SW, single through the day again in the Perkins /Wood farm area.
Lilbourne Meadows; evening.
No Little Egrets, but a Cattle Egret was in the bushes preening, its bill was darker mainly towards the tip, suggesting it was a juvenile. Probably the first site record.
The heat haze was terrible, but a few record pics were digiscoped from distance.
Willey;
It has been noticeable for a few days now how more Swallows are gathering in small groups on the wires and preening quite a bit. Amazing to think they will be leaving us in the not too distant future.
Perkins/Wood Farm fields- Again Red Kites and Buzzards over the hay making fields, max count was four for the Kites.
Lilbourne Meadows; morning/evening
Male Redstart again showing well.
Green Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover.
This evening a Sparrowhawk was eating a kill and being hassled by a Magpie. House Martins and Swallows came over the bank and 5+ Swifts.
Stanford reservoir; evening.
A Common Sandpiper and Yellow Wagtail on the dam, otherwise nothing new.
This Moorhen just looked good.
Lilbourne Meadows - morning
A Green and Common Sandpiper, also an Oystercatcher and a Snipe, plus Lapwing and three Little Ringed Plovers.
Six Little Egrets, a Yellow Wagtail.
A female and juv Reed Bunting near the pools and a Yellowhammer sang a little.
Male Redstart on the hedge fence still.
Newbold Quarry; afternoon.
Mainly looking for Butterflies, but a Great Crested Grebes pair has two juvs on the pool. A Green Woodpecker was heard too.
Butterflies were: Common and Holly Blues, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Peacock, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Large White, Green-veined White.
Willey;
Two Red Kites, two Buzzards and a Kestrel, two Lesser Black Backed Gulls later over the Perkins grass field area being mown.
Swallows nested in the Church porch successfully this year.
Shawell Sandpit/landfill; evening.
I popped in here, mainly to clear the view point so we can see the water/islands better. Time to get thinking about juv gulls again.
Gulls were coming in from the landfill, having a quick dip then heading off to the pore-roost/roost sites.
Mallard 46, Tufted Duck 30, nine Mute Swans, Little Grebe 4+, Raven 2+, Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Raven -cronking.
Lilbourne meadows; evening
Two Green Sandpipers, 55 Lapwings and a Little Ringed Plover.
The pools are good for Moorhen, adults and juvs numbered 16 today.
£ Little Egrets and two Cormorants still.
DIRFT/A5 area
Although we have lost the pools area now it has been infilled and flattened ready for building on, the ground has become favourable for Gulls to gather pre-roost.
c300 Lesser Black Backed Gulls a few Herring and 7 + Yellow-legged Gull.
Willey; morning.
Five Red Kites and a Buzzard of the allotments field grass being mowed.
Lilbourne Meadows; early afternoon.
Two cormorants today., Four Little Egrets, Teal, a Little Grebe, Common Sandpiper and seven Little Ringed Plovers and juv Yellow Wagtail.
Shawell sandpit/landfill; evening.
A Common Sandpiper, Nine Mute Swans, six (+) Little Grebes, female Egyptian Goose.
Willey; mid -morning
Birds attracted to the grass being rowed up and baled along the coal pit lane included 5 Red Kites, 2 Buzzards, a Kestrel and 6 Lesser Black Backed Gulls.
Also noted high were a Sparrowhawk and single Swift.
Lilbourne Meadows; morning
Just the regulars, except a male Redstart was happily sunning itself on a fence post where it has been seen a few days now.
Soar Brook Lake; morning
Very quiet, a single juv Little Grebe, Greylag family, single female Tufted Duck, a Green Woodpecker heard, five Goldfinch and two Cormorants.
Stanford reservoir; afternoon.
Spotted Flycatcher family, House martins still attending nests on the house.
Two Oystercatchers on the dam, plus plenty of Pied Wagtails, and several Grey Wagtails in the spillway. Several Linnets and Goldfinches here too, plus a Green Woodpecker heard and a Great Spotted feeding on the ground.
A Common Tern juvenile has been flying a few days now. No new waterfowl today.
Two, possibly three Kingfishers seen.
c30 Lesser Black Backed Gulls settled on the water, with them a couple of Herring Gulls and an adult Yellow-Legged Gull.
Butterflies included Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Small and Large Whites and Small Skipper.
Several Brown Chasers were out too.
Finningley, Notts; morning
A twitch today to see the Black-winged Pratincole. It showed well in flight quite often, usually settling in grass obscuring ground views. Heat haze prevented photos too. Never-the-less a super bird and very elegant flight display.
Lilbourne Meadows; evening.
Nothing new in, 8 Little Egrets, c 10 Swifts.
Stanford reservoir;
Common Sandpiper and a Oystercatcher on the dam. c 100 Swifts feeding.
Only one Shoveler seen. Blackcap and Garden Warbler singing.
A Grey Heron on the dam allowed close study!
