25th April - Sunny, very light breeze, 21C

Welney WWT,

Some nice activity here to see including - the usual Ducks, including a pair of Pintails and two drake Wigeon and two Egyptian Geese.  A Barnacle Goose was with a few Canada Geese.  Little, Great Egret and Grey Heron.  A Common Sandpiper, Lapwings, Red shank, Avocet (many) and Black-tailed Godwits - displaying.  A Common Tern flew in.

Mute and Whooper Swans. 

A good population of House Sparrows (nesting in the centre's roof space too), Sedge and Redd, Whitethroat and Cetti's.

A male Marsh Harrier.

A good number of butterflies seen, including my first Small Copper for the year.

24th April - Sunny, light wind E, 18C

WIlley.

This morning I spotted the pair of Grey Partridge again, back in the usual area.  Then two Red-legged Partridge in the adjacent field.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

Two Little Gulls had been seen by Chris, but when I arrived I found one over the water with 8 Common Terns.

A Little Egret and Grey Heron, a few Shoveler and Gadwall and a single drake Wigeon.

Five Yellow Wagtails on the dam, also the Redshank still.

Bittesby Country Park; evening.

A singing Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat.  Several Vlackcaps too.

Seven Tufted Duck and a Canada Goose pair on the lake.

23rd April - Sunny, mod NE, 16C. Feeling cool after another chilly start.

Willey:

This morning the Little Owl was seen flying into the Oak tree in the thick hedge and a  Wheatear was on the old muck heap.

A Mistle Thrush was singing frim the Long Spinney near Muswell leys entrance.

1430h, a Red Kite over, and several Holly Blue's seen in the church garden and church lane.

Lilbourne Meadows; mid-day.

A single Grey Plover was present today, the Greenshank was not seen today.

22nd April - Sunny, breeze increasing to fresh-blustery Easterly, 17C - feeling quite cool. Chilly early mornings still

Willey; 

Little Owl still present, but very wary.

Swallows, at last two are visiting our shed.

Stock Doves, four flew out of the field barns.

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

A Greenshank today was new in.

Otherwise the current regulars, only a single Wigeon spotted though.

Orange-tip, Holly Blue, Green-veined White and Peacock were seen today.

Shawell Sandpit/landfill area; evening.

A quick visit, fairly quiet.  The Egyptian Goose family still, c10 each House and Sand Martins.

Little Grebe pair., Blackcap singing in the spinney.

Buzzard and Red Kite.

21th April - sunny, mod, brisk at times NE, 12C. Feeling chilly in the wind

Willey.

Very disappointingly we have not yet a Swallow pair using the sheds, as they usually do. One has made a few visits, but very infrequently. It’s not looking good!!!

Single Holly Blue in the church lane, mid-morning.

1530h, two Ravens over.

Lilbourne Meadows, morning

The flood pools area was remarkably quiet.  The two Wigeon still and a handful of Teal. A single Oystercatcher.

A Goldfinch pair in the tall hedgerow, six Starlings busily feeding on the pastures then flying off before returning, maybe they have young in the village.  The Blackcap was singing again.

A single Holly Blue on the Hawthorn flowers.

20th April - Sunny spells, light/mos NE, 14C

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

A Dunlin and Oystercatcher, two Wigeon still, a few Teal, two Gadwall and three Shovelers

A Little Egret, two Yellow Wagtails and a Grey Heron.

A Holly Blue and two Orange-tip butterflies.

Stanford reservoir; evening.

Eleven Yellow Wagtails at the dam and three Linnets.

Three Goldeneye, eight Shoveler and a single male Teal.

A Cuckoo calling. An Oystercatcher on the overflow wall.

19th April - Sunny spells, light-mod NW, 13C

Lilbourne Meadows; morning

Dunlin still present.  10 Teal and Tufted Duck air on island pond.

The Oystercatcher and Redshank pairs showing and vocal today.

Three Wheatear along the meadow fence posts.

Single Yellow Wagtail.

Two drake Wigeon.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

Three Common Terns, two Oystercatchers.

Drake Goldeneye and Shoveler pair.

Raven over. Red-legged Partridge pair.

Plenty Warbler activity, Reed Buntings and c15 Linnets feeding near the car park.

Brimstone, Peacock, Speckled Wood and Orange-tip seen.