19th July, Sunday - sunny intervals, light-mod N, staring cooler becoming sunnier 22C

Shawell Sandpit/landfill; morning.

23 Little grebes (ads and juvs), including a pair attending a nest..  A Little Egret, single great Crested Grebe, seven Cormorants and two Common Sandpipers.

A Kestrel over and a peregrine on the works yard light.  Several yellow-legged Gulls with the Lesser Black-backed, Herring and Black-headed.

Usual Red Kites and Ravens, and a Buzzard attending to a calling juvenile.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

A short visit, the Ruddy Shelduck still, a single Common Sandpiper, plus the other regulars.

18th July Saturday - sunny interval, light breeze mostly N, 22C

Stour Estuary; Suffolk/Essex border

After attending a vintage sale new St Ives, Cams, I thought why not continue on to see if I could find the Hudsonian Godwit that has been here several days.  It had been seen moving between several areas, and as I arrived the tide was coming in fast and flooding the usual marsh, so no joy there.  Next a look along the river shore upstream (plenty of Greenshank, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwits and a Common Sandpiper.

I had bumped in to another birder and we had spotted other birders further along the estuary east of the railway track, so a brisk walk to there next.  Most were saying it had not been seen for over an hour, although there was a report it was out there on the bank with BT Godwits but not visible. We both scanned and almost together spotted a candidate roosting next to Canada Geese.  Better views confirmed that it was the Hudsonian, and although a ittle way off  views were quite good.  A Marsh Harrier came over, and although it look way and almost flew, unlike the Black-tailed Godwits is remained rooted to the spot.

A good selection of other birds were present too, including a 'un-ringed' Snow Goose of unknown origin!

17th July Friday - Sunny, light NE, 26C

Willey;

0845h, a Sparrowhawk flew past the church with bird prey, chased by the Swallows.

Shawell Sandpit/Landfill; afternoon.

Gull number are slowly increasing, with a few more Great Black-backed Gulls seen today.

A Common Sandpiper around the main pit and the Egyptian Goose family on the south pit.

12+ Red Kites and all the covids over the landfill area.

Misterton; afternoon.

Spotted Flycatcher again.  Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers.  Grey heron at the lake.

16th July Thursday - Sunny, 26C, light NE

 Bittesby Country Park; afternoon.

A walk here primarily to check for Butterflies, these were in abundance, I spotted 14 species. Most pleasing was my first Clouded Yellow of the year, also a long time (years) since last seen along the old railway track at this site.

I was also treated to the great flight of a Hummingbird Hawk Moth, which you should be able to spot in the photo below. 

Birds were sheltering mostly, except Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls 'hawking' insects above.  I could here a Spotted Flycatcher, but it remained in the trees out of view.

Stanford Reservoir; evening

A look here this evening, c35 Pied Wagtails and three Common Sandpipers on the dam.

The female Ruddy Shelduck was spotted swimming past the hide in mid distance, when I got closer it had decided to take a rest in the willow stumps.  It's been a regular a few years now, staying around the Whitwick area mostly.

I also spotted the Black-necked Grebe in the middle of the water, busily washing and preening, that has been here a couple of days now.

A mid-distant photo through the heat haze of the Ruddy Shelduck.

15th July Wednesday - cloud clearing mid-morning, sunny, dry again, 25C, light/mod NE

Soar Brook lake; morning

The Oystercatchers have one youngster.  Other broods included Coots, Mallards, Moorhens and Mute Swans (3 cygnets).

At least two juv Green woodpeckers were around.

My first Common Gull post-breeding season, also c50 LBB, c30BHG and c10 HG - mostly on warehouse roof adjacent.

A Grey Heron and two Cormorants.

Misterton, evening.

I finally found a Spotted Flycatcher here, slightly different area than usual, will have to check again for a  family.

Lots of Red Admirals 'dancing' in the tree gaps in the sunlight, 12+, I tried to video them, not too successfully!.

Shawell Sandpit/landfill; evening

Five juv Egyptian Geese on view.  Single great Crested Grebes and nine Little Grebes.

Ten red Kites and all the Covids.  A single grey Wagtail.

Water is being pumped out of the main pit, so this should return the islets and shore making it better for Gulls and possible waders, depending how low they take the water.

14th July Tuesday - cloudy am, then clearing to sunshine, mod NE breeze, 25C

Willey; 

0745h, a Red Kite over the village and two Cormorants flying to the west of village.

0945h, a Raven heard calling.

Lutterworth; evening

I checked the nesting LBB Gulls.  The one nest that was visible has been lost (sloping roof), but there are still other gulls on the flat roof, so an inspection of these is needed.

13th July - cloudy am,,becoming sunny, 27C, mod NE, becoming brisk/strong later afternoon.

Willey - 0800h a Red Kite over  fields to the east and a single Red-legged Partridge in Earls Furlong gateway.

Stanford Res; evening

25+ Pied Wagtails and 3 Common Sandpipers on the dam.  Also, a Teal.  Otherwise just the regulars.

Shawell Sandpit/landfill; evening.

Only 2 juv Egyptian Geese showing, 12 Little Grebes. A few Sand Martins.

Out and about

While scoping fields I noticed a Hare very close to me, lovely.