31st July Friday - mostly sunny, light SW, 24C

Newton Cutting; late afternoon.

Birds were few, notable was a couple of Green Woodpeckers (motorway end), one a juv.  Butterflies included Common and Holly Blue, Small Heath, two Painted Lady's, Large and Small Whites.

30th July Thursday - sunny spells, light NW, very brief cloud shower early afternoon. 24C

Willey;

A Red Kite over the fields to the east first thing.

Later four Yellowhammers were in the top hedge, possibly a family.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.

A Little Owl was showing well this evening.

Also present, a Curlew, a Common Sandpiper, 55 Lapwings and two Grey Herons.

29th July Wednesday - Another scorcher, 31C, light-mod SW,

Willey;

I took these picture yesterday, one of Earls Furlong Pond - completely dry and one of the old 'landed' pasture next to the BH wood - like everywhere nicely a toast 'brown' and bone dry.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Similar to yesterday, a single Common Sandpiper, a Teal and two Shovelers on the dam, along with the Tufted Duck female with five ducklings.

The female Ruddy Shelduck showed in the ';narrows'.

c50 Swallows and House Martins were feeding around the dam and draw-off tower area.

A Red Kite and Raven over.

28th July- Tuesday - cloud clearing to sun, then more cloud late afternoon, 28C, light SW

WIlley;

Two Mistle Thrushes were feeding on the (brown) pasture in Perkins first field, four more may have flown in to a tree, 12 Starlings too.  This time of year Mistle Thrush families tend to gather and they like these fields, so we shall see if more do come.

Four Raven over west, c1000h.

Stanford Reservoir; late afternoon.

A Common Sandpiper on the dam, along with a Yellow Wagtail, Pied and Grey Wagtails.

Six Red-legged Partridges at the entrance gate.

A Green and Great Spotted woodpecker.

Plus the other regulars.

27th July Monday - mostly cloudy, 22C, light breeze.

Shawell Sandpit/landfill area; evening

A 1CY Caspian Gull was showing well among the Gulls.

Two Egyptian Geese, 12+ Little Grebes, only 3 Lapwings, a single Teal still and two Cormorant.

A Peregrine was atop the works yard light.

26th July Sunday - very light shower early. thrn sunny intervals, NW mod becoming fresh/blustery, 23C

Willey; a Red Kite over fields to east 0800h.

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

Female Redstart at same hedge fence area as last time.

33 Lapwing and 2 Dunlin at Island pool, plus a Little Egret and a Grey Heron.

A hen Pheasant with four mid-size young, a Green Woodpecker heard.

Stanford Reservoir, afternoon.

Two Common Sandpipers on dam along with c50 Canada and c250 Greylag Geese, a single Teal.

A female Tufted with seven young ducklings.   Female Ruddy Shelduck still present.

A few Swifts, Sand and House martins and Swallows feeding over the water.

A mix of usual Warblers, including a Lesser Whitethroat, a family of Long-tailed Tits.

25th July Saturday - Sunny, 27C, mod W/NW, cloud increasing evening,

Misterton; morning

Green woodpecker, Treecreeper, adult Buzzard and juv calling, Song Thrush smashing snails on the lane.

Long-tailed Shrike

Decided it was time to see the 3rd Long-tailed Shrike ever recorded in the UK, it has been faithful to a farmland site and reported during the day.  

When I got there it was in the favoured bush area and at times was busy catching food on the ground, seemed to be mostly Beetles.  Completely, ignoring the many birders watching it, not that far away really.

Given the excessive bright sunshine  I managed some good record shots.