Willey; two Mistle Thrushes around the Church Yews at midday.
Shawell Sandpit/landfill; afternoon.
28 Gadwall, c 40 Teal, a few mallard and Tufted, Little Grebes, two Mute
C20 Red Kites and Ravens.
150 Great Black Black-backed Gulls, plus H, LBB, B-H and Common.
12 Stoc Doves and a few Redwings in the spinney.
Catkins are beginning to develop and to show.
Lilbourne Meadows; morning
Two Buzzards, a Red Kite and a Kestrel.
c200 Wigeon and c100 Teal and three Gadwall and a few Mallard on the flood pools.
c 200 Golden Plover flying over, may have landed on the DIRFT development site. c 100 lapwings on adjacent arable field. A Snipe flushed from the path.
Bittesby Country Park; afternoon.
Six Stone chats today, showing well on the vegetation. Two Buzzard,, a Red Kite and Kestrel over.
I spotted three Woodcocks with the aid of a thermal camera.
A few Redwings and Fieldfare feeding on berries.
Plenty of fallen apples if the weather turns cold and an abundance of Sloes.
Willey; morning
c200 Starlings feeding on the top pastures first thing.
A steady flow of Redwings coming and going to the Church Yew trees for berries, also c10 Greenfinch.
A male a female Black were in the church hedge and then lane hedge.
Willey; morning
I discovered a hibernating Peacock butterfly in the wood heap, not fully 'asleep' as it opening and shut its wings. Placed in a safe place for the winter.
c40 Redwings and 5 Fieldfares along the old rail track, otherwise quiet around the area.
Shawell Sandpit/landfill; afternoon.
Not an awful lot of Gulls in, similar to last visit.
I counted 36 Gadwall, my highest site count, previous winter high was 22 on Nov 15th and previous ever high was 32 on 18th Feb 2023.
Tufted numbers still low, c15, but 47 Teal and only one Shoveler.
Plenty of Kites and Ravens again, but too windy to count them properly.
Willey; morning
Still only a few Redwings coming to the Church Yews, Holly tree and hedges along the church lane, 15-20. Four Greenfinches coming and going too.
I noticed Carrion Crows taking Sloes from the same bushes where Starlings were feasting the other day.
About 60 each Starlings and Woodpigeons flushed from the pastures by overflying helicopter.
Willey, two Red Kites drifted west along the long spinney.
Stanford res; afternoon.
In the inlet fields and around the res I counted 18 Great Egrets, probably more if a coordinated count was done. However, it is noticeable that the number of Little Egrets has reduced, Grey Herons are still present 5+.
The usual Ducks, nothing new, including a drake and female Goldeneye.
Fieldfares seemed more abundant than recently. A Raven over.
Shawell sandpit/landfill; morning
22 Gadwall, 56 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 3 Wigeon, 14 Mute Swans, Tufted and Mallards.
15 Red Kites and several Ravens. c50 Redwings and 6 Goldfinches. plus the usual Gulls.
Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.
The flood pool area has been restored to about a third, the island pond is now full and the meadows have standing water areas after yesterdays rain.
Already a good number of Wigeon and Teal are on the flood pools and island pond c50 and 40 respectively.
c200m Starlings and c100 Black-headed and a few Common Gulls feeding on the wet meadows.
c 20 Fieldfares and a few redwings.
Stanford reservoir; afternoon.
Reservoir now full and overflowing, shoreline has gone.
Four great Egrets at the dam end. Common Sandpiper feeding along the dam again.
Four Goldeneye, plus the other usual Duck species.
Long-tailed Tit flock with a Goldcrest and Chiffchaff.
Grey Wagtail and Sparrowhawk sitting on the spillway fence. Green Woodpecker heard.
Willey;
A grim weather day, with little opportunity to get out anywhere. At least 40-50 mm rain, feeling cold too.
That wet I even had a garden first - a Moorhen - probably from the village pond I would think.
Willey; surprised to find a Hedgehog out side my back door at 1800h. Adult size.
Had a look around St Marys and the park. On the park pool three Moorhens and 11 Mallard.
c120 Feral Pigeons around the Church and nearby town area.
A Peregrine on the aerial Mast preening.
18 Grey Squirrels in the Church area/path - obviously well fed!!!
WeBs count day around a number of pools/lakes. However, waterbird numbers are quite low, presumably due to the mild autumn we have had so far.
At Bittesby Country Park a Little Grebe has taken up residency, hopefully more birds here at it matures.
At Mere Lane lake a few Redwings and Fieldfares. On the lake 6 Little Grebes and 12 Tufted were notable.
Magna Park lake was quiet, but a Water Rail was heard.
Soar Brook Lake hosted many Lesser Black-backed Gulls, c250, plus Black-headed, Common and Herring., other waterbirds were few. The usual green Woodpecker was around, plus a flock of Long-tailed Tits with a Goldcrest present.
At Stanford Hall lake (early afternoon), c40 Wigeon were feeding on the grass, along with 95 Canada and 33 Greylag Geese. Distantly with some Canada Geese was the Cackling Goose, the same one as seen about a couple of weeks ago at Stanford Res. It spent alot of time sleeping.
Stanford Res; morning
Not too much happening and little movement. However, the record number of Great and Little Egrets are still here, I could see 10 Great Egrets in one view - brilliant.
There were quite a few Redwings and Fieldfares feeding along the river bushes at the outlet and on the pasture, plus a Jay.
Ash Tree Farm, Bitteswell; afternoon
A visit to this semi private area that has been developed in to a nature reserve, with wooded areas, old/wildflower meadows and a lake. there was at least 100 Redwings feeding on berries. Finches included Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Bullfinch (pr), a Green Woodpecker.
The meadows are very significant for fungi, especially waxcaps, some were found today.
A bird is roosting at times on the house, leaving plenty of pellets, probably a Tawny Owl.
Shawell Sand Pit; late afternoon.
Three Egyptian Geese, 48 Wigeon, plus Gadwall, Teal, Tufted and Mallard.
75 Stock Doves came in to roost in the spinney.
Shawell Starling Roost
I checked the roost site, at the moment c1000 max are coming in to roost, hopefully this will build as the winter progresses as it has done in previous years. .
Interestingly, others were seen flying to roost in a SW direction (into Warks), so there is another roost somewhere in that direction too.
