20 Red Kites and 3 Buzzards over grass field being mowed behind the village pond area.
Wednesday, 8 July 2026
Tuesday, 7 July 2026
7th July - mostly sunny - light/mod W/NW, 29C
WIlley;
A Red Kite over a grass field being mown to the east, 1540.
30 Swallows resting on the telegraph wires, 1625h.
Frolesworth Manor Lake; afternoon.
Checked for Tufted Duck broods, one female had 4 ducklings young.
A single Great Crested Grebe seen, at least three pairs of Coot with young.
Several Swallows and c6 House Martins (although I could not find any nests on the buildings here).
Stanford -on-Avon; evening
Three+ Spotted Flycatchers near the church high up, presumed family. Another one+ near the lane bridge/corner.
Stanford reservoir; evening.
A look around the dam area and over the reservoir.
A Little Ringed Plover juv and four Common Sandpipers on the dam.
Plenty of Tufted, Mallard, a few Gadwall and the feral Geese now gathering for moult on the dam area.
Several broods of Mallard seen.
Two Grey Herons. A Mute Swan with one cygnet.
6th July, sunny, light/mod W, cloudy late afternoon evening, 30C
Lilbourne Meadows; evening
A look around the (nearly dry) winter flood pools area, produce a Oystercatcher, and Little Ringed Plovers.
A male Sparrowhawk skimmed low over the meadow and the pools area.
c6 Swifts were overhead and several Swallows were around.
Shawell Sandpit/landfill area; evening.
Very similar to the last visit. The Egyptian Goose family, a single great Crested Grebe, Little grbes 'trilling' and possibly looking at potential nest sire. c10 Lapwings.
Sunday, 5 July 2026
5th July - cloudy am, sunny periods pm, light W, 26C
Shawell sandpit/Landfill; morning.
The Egyptian Goose family were still present on the south pit.
On the main pit a Common Sandpiper, seven Little Grebes, and the other current usual birds.
The Red Kites, Ravens and other Corvids were over the landfill area plus a small number of Lesser Black-Backed and a few Herring Gulls.
Magna Park Central; afternoon.
I walked the north boundary corner area, particularly for butterflies. I spotted 6 Marbled Whites, Small and Large Whites, Meadow Brown, Peacock, Red Admiral, Holly Blues, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Comma, Brimstone, Gatekeepers, Small Skippers and Painted Lady.
Birds included two Green Woodpeckers, Whitethroat, Blackcap and Linnet with a Raven over.
4th July - Sunny spells, light W breeze, fresher evening for awhile, 26C
Shawell Sandpit/Landfill area; morning.
A Grey Wagtail and plenty of Pied. Tufted Duck numbers have increased since the last visit on the 1st, 77 counted today.
Two Common Sandpipers (main pit) and a moulting male Ruff (south pit). I think the my last Ruff record here was in 2022. Some record photos in to the sun.
Among the Lesser Black-backed and a few Herring Gulls were two adult Yellow-legged Gulls.
Two Egyptian Geese flew over towards the south pit, later the 6 large goslings were seen with them.
Plus all the other current usual regulars seen.
Misterton; afternoon.
Still no Spotted Flycatchers found here, will this be the first year none appeared to have bred here.
A noisy Nuthatch tough.
Shawell Lagoons; afternoon.
A check here to confirm that the Great Crested grebe pair bred again, they have two fledglings with them. Also Coot pairs with young and a couple of lapwing on the shore.
Lilbourne Meadows; evening.
The winter flood pools are drying fast now and may disappear if the hot dry weather continues.
Two Snipe were feeding, plus Lapwings and Little Ringed Plovers, two were juveniles.
An adult linnet and juvenile on the pool island.
Plenty of Pied Wagtail families and a single Yellow Wagtail.
c100 Starlings again, a single Swift over and a few Swallows.
Two Oystercatchers were seen to fly off the rough lorry park area.
3rd July - mostly sunny, light W, 25C
Willey; morning.
In with the ewes and lambs this morning a Fox was seen, initially standing around, it then went over to the water trough and placed its paws on the side and reaching over to have a drink. It then walked a little among the ewes and lambs before a largish lamb decided to purposely walk towards clearly driving it away, the Fox walked off slowly in to the BH wood.
A walk around the area. A Little Grebe pair with two young on the lake, first known breeding record here. Also Moorhen pair with two young.
Other birds included Swallow, Blackcap, Jay (4), Green Woodpecker, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mallard, and Goldfinch.
Butterflies included Meadow brown, Peacock, Red Admiral, Small and Large Skippers, Small and Large Whites, Gatekeepers, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Brimstone, Holly Blue, Comma and Ringlet.
2nd July - light shower very early, then clearing to sun by pm, blustery NE, 22C
Willey; a Red Kite over the fields today.
Stanford reservoir; evening.
A Kingfisher flew from the river up the spillway area. A Teal on the dam with a few Gadwall and Mallard, Tufted and the feral Geese flock. A Common Sandpiper on the spillway wall. Two Grey Herons on the dam.
A Grey Wagtail family and plenty of Pied Wagtail juvs avbout too.
A few Swifts, House martins and Swallows feeding over the water. A single Linnet feeding on the dam side grass area.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)