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.

29th Sept Tuesday - mostly cloudy, mod SE-0S breezy at times, very warm 24C

Willey; a female Brimstone seen in the garden at lunchtime.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

Disappointingly quiet, just the regulars, similar to last visit.

Single Speckled Wood seen.

28th Sept Monday - mostly cloudy, 18C, light W, SW then E

Busy day, nothing to report.

Checked Shawell Sandpit/landfill evening, very much a usual, 62 Lapwings on the south pit shore. 

27th Sept Sunday - cloudy, mod-fresh SE-S wind, 19C. a few sunny intervals, then drizzle/light rain briefly late afternoon.

Willey, Perkins fields area; morning.

A Jay, a Sparrowhawk, c50 Woodpigeons and c50 Linnets on adjacent sown field.

Bittesby Country Park; morning.

A check of the Meadows for Stonechat, didn't disappoint - a male and female were found.  Very mobile and dropping down a lot out of the wind.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

Rather quiet, no doubt due to the wind.  New in were six Wigeon and two female Pintails.

20+Shovelers, 22 Pochard, c20 Teal, 20+ Great-crested Grebes.  Plus other regulars.

I did spot a male Blackcap, a Jay, a Red Kite and a single Swallow around the dam area.

A single butterfly, a Speckled Wood.

26th Sept Saturday - Sunny, light SW, 20C

Willey; c 30 House Sparrows on the main street side, near Parsons Close.

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

15-20 greenfinches on the adjacent sunflower/bird food area.

On the island pool, a Mute Swan, 7 Teal, 3 mallards and 21 Canada Geese. Also a single Little Grebe.

On the Meadows several Skylarks and meadow Pipits.  c40 Linnets were mobile.

Magna Park central, eastern boundary area; afternoon.

A few Blue and Great Tits with 2 CHiffchaffs.

Butterflies were Small White, 4 Speckled Wood and a Red Admiral.

A Common Hawker, Ruddy Darter and Willow Emerald Damselfly.

Shawell Sandpit/Landfill; late afternoon.

Very similar to last visit, nothing new.