6th October Tuesday - cloudy/mist am, sunny intervals pm, cloud building later. 21C, light SW

Willey; 

It was notable this morning that there was 6+ each Blackbird and Song Thrush around the Church Yews and lane. Very likely migrants that have arrived.

Also present 3 Greenfinch, 6 Goldfinches and 2 Goldcrest.

A couple of unidentifed Butterflies went by!

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

The Ruff , a Curlew and four Stonechats still present.

A Clouded Yellow was seen a couple of times.

5th October Monday - sunny am,, cloudy pm, light SW-W, 20C. Very warm still!

Willey; a Red Kite over 1345h.

Stanford Reservoir; late afternoon, Leics side

A Little Grebe on the settling pool.

18 Little Egrets in Keepers bay.  c200 Cormorants.  There much have been a big fish hatch a while back to be attracting so many of these two specieis.

A roving Tit flock held two Chiffchaffs.  A Jay.

Two Common Gulls in Keepers bay with the HG, BHG and LBBGs.

4th October Sunday - Mostly hazy sunshine, light WSW, 18C

Willey; early afternoon, a Chiffchaff and a Jay seen behind the disused railway.

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

A single juv Ruff, with an injured leg, was at the island pool.  Also, a single Mute Swan, 56 Canada Geese a few Mallard and Teal.  !8 Linnets were feeding on the ground.

A Little Egret in the pools area and a Grey Heron on the rough pasture.  A Kestrel was hunting. 

A few Meadow Pipits and four Stonechats on the rough area near the pools, a female Reed Bunting too.

Five Roe Deer and a Fox seen.

3rd Oct Saturday - Sunny, 18C, very light SW-NW

Willey; a Holly Blue and Red Admiral seen near the east Church Yew.

Shawell Sandpit - Landfill; late afternoon.

On the south pit, 55 Lapwing and three Egyptian Geese were recently in.

15 Red Kites over the landfill, with accompanying Ravens and other corvids.

33 Teal on the main pit, but only a few Mallard and Tufted Ducks.

c100 Linnets feeding on the ground near the landfill. 

2nd October Friday - Sunny periods, mod-fresh S-SW, 20C

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

All seemed a little quiet with the fresh wind blowing, on the island pool only a few Teal, Mallards and 71 Canada Geese.  A Curlew then flew in and rested.

Having already scanned vegetation and bushes nothing was showing, however a further check on the way back produced a male Stonechat on top of a bush.  

Whilst watching this a Sparrowhawk flew over slowly, then another bird that rose from the east end rough area caught my eye, it was a Glossy Ibis.  It flew south at first then turned back and past me, then heading SW towards Houlton where it descended and I'm sure landed. this is my second site record, the first was in May 2025 on the flood pools area.

 

1st October Thursday - a very light shower during the wee hours this morning,. Then sunny 19C, light SW

Willey; morning

Despite very few berries on the large Church Yew it is currently attracting a couple of Mistle Thrushes and Song Thrush.  Tits and Goldcrest are visiting regularly for insects. 

Eleven Greenfinches were feeding on the lane Mountain Ash.  A single Skylark flew over calling, SW.

30th Sept Wednesday - cloudy am, sunny pm, mod breeze mostly south, very warm 23C

Ash Tree Farm; afternoon.

Jays looking for food tom store, but no acorns on the Oaks.  Buzzard over, otherwise quiet.

Four Speckled Woods were the only Butterflies seen.

A good number of Dragonflies and Damselflies around, including Migrant Hawker.