28th March - Chilly night. Sunny spells, brick/blustery NW, 11C, but feeling cold. Wintery showers brief and widespread mid-afternoon.

Willey;  John M saw a Swallow at his about 1300h.

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

Four Little Ringed Plovers, a couple of Lapwing, a Little Grebe and the usual, Ducks.

In the corner trees, several Goldfinches, a Greenfinch pair, a Goldcrest and CHiffchaff.

Shawell Sandpit; morning.

A drake Shelduck and female Egyptian Goose were new in.  35 Tufted Ducks, a few Teal, only a single Little Grebe spotted.  Two lapwings.

15 Ravens, only two Red Kites, a single Buzzard.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

Most notable was the present of Swallows (6), Sand Martins (15) and a House Martin.

Five Goldeneye, and four female Goosanders.

Two Sparrowhawks together, looked like they were mating.

A male Grey Wagtail in the spillway and a Grey Heron near the overflow.

A single Peacock Butterfly was seen,

27th March - cloudy, light rain/drizzle at times, mod SW, 10C

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon

Surprisingly, the Water Rail was again showing well and feeding on the pasture near the hedge as before.

Five Little Ringed Plovers were feeding next to the flood pools, along with a few Lapwing.

Notable reduction in Wigeon numbers since last visit, c 40.

The usual Ducks on the flood pools, plus a Mute Swan, and a single drake Tufted on the island pond, plus two Cormorants.

Three Oystercatchers were noted, a single Raven flew over hassled by the local Carrion Crows.

26th March - sunny spells, mostly mod NW, 10C

No obs of  note today.

25th March - 6C, blustery-gusting strong NW, wintery brief frequent showers (rain/snow/hail) - feeling cold

Willey;  0800h, Two Red-legged Partridges in field adjacent o first Perkins field road gate.

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

Two Little Ringed Plovers, five Lapwings, a Little Grebe,plus Ducks as yesterday.

I was fortunate to watch a Water Rail feeding in the grass field, sometimes 3-4 meters out from the hedge base.  Only my second site record in this area. 

Gulls included Black-head, Common, Herring and Lesser Black-backed, one of the latter was foraging on a dead Rabbit (it had a blue CR on that I am hoping to read video I took, here's a screen-shot from the video).

24th March - cloudy, SW wind increasing to fresh-gusting strong at times, 12 C

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

A quick check of the field flood pools, my first site year records for Dunlin (2), Redshank (1) and Little Ringed Plover (2).

Also, 5 Lapwings, c80 Common Gulls, c10 Herring and c40 Lesser Black-backed. Plus c80 Wigeon, Shovelers, Teal and Gadwalls

Quick distant record photos of distant waders -

23rd March - medium cloud, very luight breeze, 12C

WeBs counts

Mere Lane Lake; morning

Four Little Grebes - lots of 'trilling' and territory disputes, five Tufted Ducks and two Mallards, five Coot and six Moorhens.

Mute Swan pair with nest.

A Green Woodpecker 'yaffling',  Chiffchaff singing.

Magna Park Lake area.

Two Little Grebes 'trilling' and in territory disputes, three drake Mallards, four Moorhens and a Coot.

Great Spotted Woodpecker 'drumming' and a Green Woodpecker 'yaffling'.  A Buzzard present in the trees..  Chiffchaff singing.

22nd March - 12C, sunny, very light breeze

Soar Brook Lake; morning

Last winter WeBs count today.

Grey heron2, Little Egret 1, Canada 20 and Greylag 16, Tufted 7, Mallard 5, Cormorant 7,  Moorhen 4, Mute Swan 2, Snipe 2 (feeding on waters edge bank), and Oystercatcher pair.

Also, a singing Red-legged Partridge, Stock Dove pair, Pheasant called, four Goldfinches feeding in tree tops, and a Buzzard calling.