24thj May Sunday - Sunny, hot, 27C, light Sw

Lilbourne Meadows; morning

A early check here, but nothing new in the birds.

However, whilst standing quietly in a gateway, a small rustle heard in the grass resulted in a Weasel, carrying small mammal prey, running past me, almost over my feet!

Small Heath and Small Copper butterflies seen.

Stanford-on Avon

A pair of Spotted Flycatchers found this afternoon.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

The main sightings were the drake Garganey on the dam, along with a Shoveler pair and a lone drake Teal.

More Damselfly and Dragonfly activity now.

23rd May Saturday - Sunny - hot, 26C, light SW

Lilbourne Meadows; morning

A look at the flood pools area, Ringed Plovers and Dunlin seem to have gone.  Six Little Egrets and two grey Herons though.

Otherwise the other current regulars.

Misterton; morning.

Watches a Nuthatch gathering food and taking to a nest. Also, a very busy Treeecreeper, likely doing the same.

Rutland Water; afternoon.

I visited here this afternoon to catch up with the Kentish Plover which has been showing on Lagoon 4 a couple of days, I soon found it and had good views.  I took some digi-video, which given the heat shimmer and distance is better than I expected.

Also, present on Lagoon 4 were: a Glossy Ibis, a Barnacle Goose, Sanderlings, plus the other seasonal regulars for the site.

A Lesser Whitethroat sang near the Dunlin hide and a Cuckoo in the wood.  I noted an Egyptian Goose family too.

22nd May Friday - Mostly sunny, 27C, mod SW breeze

Willey; a rare sight these days was juvenile Starlings on the old pub roof.  Breeding Starling in the village is rare these day.  There are just a few still nesting in old trees and other places in the parish.

Claybrooke Parva; afternoon.

Green and great Spotted Woodpeckers, singing Goldcrest.

Frolesworth Manor Lake; afternoon.

Mute Swan pair with 6 cygnets.  Six pair of Tufted Ducks on the lake, hopefully some will breed.

Three Greenfinches, a pair and a single male.  Two pairs of Linnets on the hedgerow along driveway.

Only two House Martins seen here today, historically more, but will check again.

A single Great Crested Grebe seen, hopefully a pair prersent.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.

Two ringed Plovers still present, otherwise all the current residents.

Long-tailed Tit family in hedgerow.

A Painted Lady flying a circuit and returning to a post.

21st May Thursday - Sunny intervals, 21C, light/mod SW

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

Little Egret three, Oystercatcher two, Ringed Plover 14, Dunlin 1, a Redshank, Gadwall, 14+ Greylags.

A Yellow Wagtail, Sedge Warbler singing.

Four Small Heath Butterflies.

20th May Wednesday - mod/blustry SW, 12C

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

Five Ringed Plovers, two Dunlin, Mute Swan three, Oystercatcher, Gadwall.

Linnet Pair, Reed Warbler singing by brook bridge.

Two Little Egrets and a Yellow Wagtail.

Plus the current regulars.

19th May Tuesday; 14C, mod SW, mostly cloudy

Lilbourne Meadows - evening.

Eight Ringed Plovers, a Dunlin, a Redshank, a Yellow Wagtail and a Kestrel

18th May Monday -High cloud, 11C, mod SW

Soar Brook lake; mid-day

Three Greylag broods and 20m goslings., a Mallard brood with 5 ducklings.

Two Oystercatchers, Tufted Duck pair. A Cormorant. Two  Mute Swans.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.

14 Ringed Plovers, three Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, a Redshank, Oystercatcher and Reed Bunting pair.

Stanford Reservoir; evening

A drake Shoveler plus other current regulars.