31st Oct - cloudy/mist, slowly brightening during the day, a little sun late afternoon, light SW, 13C

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Six Red-crested Pochards (3 each drake and female) in Keepers bay with other ducks.  A couple of Little Grebes.

Pink-footed Goose with greylags and Canada Geese in field.

Three Fieldfares and c50 Redwings along the Leics bank bushes, a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

A Stoat was making its away along the path, until it noticed me.

30th Oct - Cloudy, dullish, light SW, 13C

Willey; this morning 16 Fieldfares flew over SW and two Ravens patrolling the fields again.

Shawell sand pit/landfill; late afternoon.

Plenty of Gulls present.

10 Shoveler,  three Gadwall, Teal, Tufted, Little Grebe, six Mute Swans.

20 Stock Doves came to roost in the spinney, three Red Kites, Ravens, Starling numbers building c300.

A few Lapwings at the south pool.

29th Oct - mostly cloudy, light NW, 15C

Willey; two Ravens over the Perkins fields area at midday.

Lilbourne Meadows, afternoon.

Shoveler, Teal, Wigeon and mallard on the flood pools.  Also c30 Black-headed Gulls, c150 Lapwings and three Grey Herons.

16 Goldfinch and 8 Linnets together feeding on the weeds, Greenfinch and Chaffinches around too.  A Kestrel.

Three Roe Deer on the bank.

28th Oct - cloudy, drizzle during the afternoon, then a little brighter, light SW, 15C

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

The Whooper Swan was spotted under the overhanging Willows near the point.  

All the other usual water birds, I thought I heard the Pink-footed Goose with the Greylags again but couldn't spot it.

A male Bullfinch, 21 Redwings and a Red Kite noted too.

A buck Reeves Muntjac was wandering around bushes in BL Bay, also a Hare was minding its own under a bush and enjoying the grass, it finally decided to take a nap, it didn't notice me only 15 ft away.

Plus an attractive fungi in fruit.

27th Oct - mostly sunny, 14C, light SW

Willey; John M told me he saw a Barn Owl a few evening ago fly from his paddock tree over the back fields.

Bittesby Country Park; morning

I found four Stonechats here today, two each male and female.  Also, four Reed Buntings, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits in the weedy fields.

Shawell Sandpit/landfill; afternoon.

55 Lapwings, single drake Pochard, eight Little Grebe, six Shovelers, seven Mute Swans, a hunting Kestrel, single Red Kite, a Green Woodpecker.  c20 Ravens and two Buzzards. 

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

A Pink-footed Goose was with the Greylags, presumably the one I saw a few weeks ago at Shawell sandpit with the Greylags.

A single Whopper Swan, flew off SW, not seen again.

Only a single drake Red-crested Pochard seen, others were reported this morning though.  A Kingfisher dashed along the Leics bank.

26th Oct - Cloudy until late afternoon, still/very light SSE/SW, 15C.

 WIlley; a Raven over the Sheep field first thing.

Lilbourne Meadows; morning

50+ Lapwings, 38 Shovelers, c80Teal, c50 Wigeon, three Gadwall, a Grey Heron, c 40 Black-headed Gulls.  A few Redwings and Song Thrushes around the tall field hedge.

Magna Park Lake;

A Water Rail call from the reeds.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

A female Ruddy Shelduck with the Canada/Greylag flock on the field adjacent to the spillway.  More Pochard around today, four Red-crested Pochard in Keepers (1600h).  

    

A Great Spotted Woodpecker in the trees at corner of BL Bay, also in the tall field hedge a few Linnets and to Reed Buntings, feeding on the weedy field.

A Yellow-browed Warbler was reported on BirdGuides from the Welford rd end, I had a look around the area but did not find it.  There was plenty of Long-tailed Tits and a single Chiffchaff with them.

25th Oct - Cloudy, dull at times, mild 16C, light SW

Shawell sandpit/Landfill; afternoon.

A good number of Gulls in, but with water levels even higher the islands have all but disappeared and so ring ringing is still practically impossible.

15 Red Kites, several Ravens around, duck numbers low except a male Goldeneye was new on the south pool.  We don't get many of these here or in SW Leicestershire.  According to the 'birds of SW Leics' (BSWL) the first record here was in 2012 (a single), then another single in 2019 with three records in 2021.  Usually recorded in the winter months, this is already the second record this autumn, so unusual in that respect.  He thought it was Spring too, with some display occurring.

Single Great-crested Grebe present too.

This Harlequin ladybird landed on my note book.

24th Oct - mist/cloud clearing to a mostly sunny day with a light SSE breeze, 16C

Willey;  A red Kite over eastward at 1345h

Stanford reservoir; afternoon

A look around the dam and orchard areas produced a flock of Long-tailed Tits with Goldcrests, but not the Firecrest that was ringed this morning,  

A male Stonechat was showing in the weedy field along with four Roe Deer.

Five Red-crested Pochards still present.  Raven heard and Red Kite over.

23rd Oct - mostly sunny spells, light SW, 15C

Bittesby Country Park;

Three, possibly more, Stonechats present.  Need to do a detailed search of the whole area soon.

22nd Oct - sunny spells, light SW, 16C

Catching up with WeBs counts, not an awful lot about really.  Interesting of Little Grebes seem to have done well and found on just about any moderately sized lake or larger water.

No further sign of winter thrush numbers arriving.

21st Oct - cloudy, mod-fresh SW, 14C

 North point Pools, Wells; morning

Conditions not good again.  A flock Pink-footed Geese landed on adjacent stubble field, otherwise just the regulars.

A Kestrel, Buzzard and Red Kite were present.

Titchwell RSPB; morning

Only explored a limited area, but a Yellow-browed Warbler with the Tit flock still in the wooded/car park area.  A couple of Cetti's heard.

Good size flock Golden Plover, four Spoonbill (asleep), two Great White Egrets, plus all the other regulars on the Fresh marsh.

A rather pregnant looking Reeves Muntjac, took no notice of me on the meadow path.

Holme NOA area; late morning

The keen wind persisted keeping most birds down and in cover.  This was true for most on the water bodies, with Teal, Gad wall, Shoveler, Mallard mostly roosting.  A few Lapwing and Redshank were around the waters too, including a Greenshank.

On the beach a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits, with some movement of Black-tailed Godwits, Oystercatchers, Turnstone and other waders along the sea.

The 'crests' were diving for cover and keeping out of view as they moved through the pines, two Coal Tits were with the Goldcrests, but I never found the Firecrest.

20th Oct - very windy at times, southerly, cloudy showers and drapes of rain, clearing later afternoon.16C

North Point Pools; morning

Just the regulars, a couple of Egyptian Geese flew in.  One Avocet, three  Snipe feeding along the edge.

Cley NWT and sea

Only a few Common Scoter off shore, the two Velvet Scoters too.  A few Gannet passing by and a Guillemot on the sea, plus 2-3 Red-throated Divers.

I checked Pats pool from Bishop's hide and the Long-billed Dowitcher was present feeding very actively, so much so making a record photo difficult.

Holkham Fresh Marsh and sea; mid-late afternoon.

Not that many Pink-footed Geese around or coming in to roost.  These were eight Cattle Egrets with the grazing cattle on the marsh. 

c100 Linnets on the sea marsh.

I wondered where all the Common Scoter were, clearly taking shelter in Holkham gap c1000, with a Velvet Scoter spotted too.

Pinewoods Caravan Park; 1930h a Hedgehog was seen scurrying the road  across near the entrance barrier.

North Norfolk. Rain clearing by mid morning to cloudy, light-mod south, 16C, showers pm

Cley Beach and Marsh

The sea this morning was very quiet with practically no movement to speak of.

A few Common and two Velvet Scoters lingered off shore.

The marsh (afternoon) was also quiet with the expected birds present,   A single Marsh harrier showed well, a Kingfisher dashed along a channel.

The usual common waders were present, but the recent long-billed Dowitcher was not showing.

Wells Outer Harbour; late afternoon.

The tide was well out so plenty of exposed area for the waders to be feeding including, Knot, Ringed Plovers, Grey Plovers, Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwits, Oystercatchers, Redshank, single Greenshank, Curlews, plus Brent Geese.

A Grey Seal was loathing on the sand at sunset.

18th Oct - foggy/misty start taking awhile to clear, then sunny, 16C, light S

Welney WWT washes (washes mostly flooded)

Amazing to see 16 Cattle Egrets and a Great White Egret with the cattle on Lady fen, also a Stonechat there.  Plenty of Lapwings and Black-tailed Godwits and a few Ruff.   Marsh harrier hunting and several Kestrels.

The washes are quite flooded, with duck spread all over, but no Whoopers in, presumably out on the fields feeding.

Wells-next-the-Sea, outer harbour; late afternoon.  Tide in.

Plenty of Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Redshanks, Curlews, a Grey Plover, Shelducks, Wigeon, Mallard,  Oystercatchers and Turnstones, and Little Egrets.

A Hunters Supermom was rising this evening.

17th Oct - mostly sunny, light SW, very mid up to 18C

Willey;

Only the odd Redwing remained from yesterdays flock, I guess they had a good feed and continued on their way.

A Small Copper was noted on the wing, ironically the first I've seen here this year!

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

18 Shoverlers, a few Teal and Wigeon, a single Little Egret and Kestrel.

Unfortunately, some recent disturbance due to shepherding activities meant not a lot was currently present.

16th Oct - cloudy, little fine drizzle early, dull at times, light SSE, 18C - very mild

Willey; 0900, about 70 Redwings flew in to the Church Yews and lane hedge, followed by others and flying around, total c100.

Bittesby Country Park; two stonechats (male and prob female) in usual  weedy field area.

Soar Brook Lake area; afternoon.

Rather quiet here, only a Little Grebe,three Moorhens and a Mallard at the lake.  On the adjacent arable field were four Buzzards searching for food (worms), seven plus Pied Wagtails and a ac200 loathing assorted Gulls.   A single Jay was by the fence Oak tree.

A couple of fungi were fruiting in the grass area.

15th Oct - mostly cloudy, light SE, 15C

Willey;  1520h, c100 Redwings flew over direct southward.   Reports from this morning on the east coat of thousand arriving.

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

Flood pools - 30 Lapwings, c40 each Wigeon and Teal, two  Gadwall, a Little Grebe and 14 Shovelers.

A Green  Woodpecker, Stock Dove

14th Oct - light rain pre-dawn, then some drizzle am, cloudy, light easterly, 11C

Willey; morning

Whilst checking the church lane and fields a Sparrowhawk came past and spooked everything, flushing c10 Redwings from the hedge, then more from another hedge further on, so about 20 Redwings around today.

Shawell sand pit/landfill; afternoon.

20 Red Kites around today.  Still seven Mute Swans, but few ducks again, only three Teal with the Tufties.

13th Oct - high flat cloud, 10C, WNW-SW

Willey; first thing four Yellowhammers and a Mistle Thrush in the Perkins fields area.

Lilbourne Meadows; morning

Fairly quiet, two Little Egrets, 5+ Meadow Pipits, Green Woodpecker,  flock of 14 Goldfinch.

Shawell sandpit/landfill;

Five Red Kite, then Great-crested Grebe still.  An adult Yellow-legged Gull dropped in.

Pitsford reservoir; afternoon. Reserve area

Plenty of Wigeon, seven Pintails, only five Pochards seen, c25 Lapwings on the dam.   

Several Greenfinches around the ringing /feeder area.

Stanford reservoir; 

News that four Whooper Swans had dropped in, so I popped in on the way back from Pitsford, they were still present.

12th Oct - light showers am, clearing to sunny spells, light W, 13C

Shawell Sandpit/Landfill; morning

No Ferruginous Ducks today (checked again late afternoon), further it seemed that quite a few other ducks, Pochard and Tufted, have gone, but six Gadwall and a Great-crested Grebe were new in.  Otherwise, just the regulars.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

No sign of  yesterdays Ferruginous Duck here either.  Numbers seemed about the same with nothing new noted.   Four Red-crested Pochard (two males and a female in Keepers bay and a lone female on the main water).

A few Goldcrests with the Long-tailed Tits now, a Treecreeper along the river by-pass path.   

11th Oct - widespread grass frost (0C), last night. Sunny, light breeze SW, 12COct -

Willey;

Last night the aurora borealis displayed very well and such a rare event here was magnificent o see, the following pics were taken about 2200h, although it lasted in to the early hours of today.

Now the bad news, John M had seen the Little Egrets again the following day in the same field.  However this morning he found a dead one with its head missing in the field.  How did this happen??

Two Ravens and a Red Kite were over the village about 1400h.

A Comma and Large White were seen during the day here.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

It was all rather serene and calm here today.  Six Red-crested Pochards were seen, otherwise just the regulars, although a Coal Tit was present in the pines with Blue Tits near the Water Tower.  A single Grey and two Pied Wagtails were on the dam.  

A male Stonechat was in the adjacent weedy field near the track.

I saw Steve Wright who had just seen a Clouded Yellow (photographed too), first for the year!

Then early evening Chris posted he had found a female Ferruginous Duck, I wonder if an ex-Shawell bird, I shall check tomorrow.

10th Oct - sunny am, cloud increasing pm, mostly light NNW, 10C

Willey' Male Blackcap in Church lane hedge this morning.

Shawell sandpit/landfill; afternoon.

The two Ferruginous Ducks still present.  Often associated with the Pochard, but also the Tufted.  15 Teal, two Shovelers.

Red Kite 16.  Plenty of Gulls to search through.

9th Oct - sunny spells, with showers developing, some heavy, light-mod NNW, 15C

Willey;

Sparrowhawk flew along the street, c1515h

Two Little Egret spotted by John M in Cow Close field (sprayed for ploughing and spread with muck) behind the village pond, c1715h, three Swallows went over and a Buzzard too.  We've not had many Little Egrets in the parish, so notable.

  

Lilbourne Meadows; morning

Plenty of Teal and Wigeon, a Little Grebe, nothing new though.

8th Oct - mostly cloudy, mod SE-SW, 15C

Willey; morning

Green Woodpecker in home paddock and Chiffchaff in Church Lane.

Plenty of Blue and great Tits making for the Church Yew trees, along with 4 Greenfinches.

7th Oct - sunny periods, light SSW, mild 17C Showers about

Eyebrook reservoir

Visited here to see the Long-billed Dowitcher that was found yesterday, showing well on the 'island' spit, a juvenile.

Also here four Greenshanks and a Yellow-legged Gull dropped in.  A Marsh Harrier flew over along the reservoir.

Four Black-tailed Godwits at the inlet end, three Stonechats there too.