Thursday, 17 September 2026

17th Sept Thursday - a little light rain early, then sunny intervals, mod W becoming fresher later, 19C

Frolesworth Manor Lake; morning. 

A walk around the lake area, Mute Swan family still, Tufted, Moorhens, Coots and two Great-crested Grebes.
Three Swallows over, c 20 Linnets on the game food area and a single Greenfinch in the hedge. 
Four+ Chiffchaffs.


Theddingworth, afternoon.

In a walled garden area, a Clouded Yellow, 2+ Common Blue and 3+ Small Coppers.

Wednesday, 16 September 2026

16th Sept - sunny spells, mod SW, 19C

Willey; no Swallows seen for a couple of days now.
Usual Red Kite over mid morning.
A small Frog, about 2cm at Rose Cottage.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.

A Mute a few Mallards, a single drake Gadwall, Canada and Greylag Geese and two Lapwing at the island pool.

A Green Woodpecker, two Linnets. feeding.

Watched a Roe Deer feeding for quite awhile.










15th Sept - mod W, 19C, sunny spells.

Misterton; morning.

Checked the woodland and lake around the church area.  Nuthatch, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Coal Tit.
Buzzard calling from tree perch.

Three Speckled Woods and a Red Admiral.

Monday, 14 September 2026

14th Sept Monday - light drizzle early on, then sunny spells, mild, 22C, light SW

Willey; 12+ Swallows flying around trees top end of Main Street.

A Brimstone at Parsons Close gate c1430h.

Soar Brook Lake, WeBS; morning.

c50 Canada,20 Greylags, two Little Grebes, a Little Egret, four Moorhens and two Coot.  

Three Cormorants.

BH, Herring and LBB Gulls coming a coming all the time, no doubt from the nearby pig fields.

Shawell Sandpit/landfill area; early evening.

Nothing new, 10 Teal and six Gadwalls with the other ducks, otherwise the usual regulars.

c50 Lapwings, south pit.

13th Sept Sunday - cloudy am, few sunny spells pm, v warm 23, light W

Willey; 

12mm rain over night - good, still we need some more, but vegetation is looking greener now..

12 Swallows on the wires first thing.

Mere Lane Lake, WeBs count; morning

I heard a Cetti's warbler here, my first site record.

Seven Little Grebes, five Tufted, seven Mallards, 10 Moorhen, four Coot. 

Lilbourne Meadows, later afternoon.

Five Mute Swans, Six Teal and nine Mallards, a Grey Heron.

Three Swallows and a Kestrel, two cock Pheasants.

Saturday, 12 September 2026

12th Sept Saturday - a few sunny spells am, cloudy increasing and SW freshening, but quite warm 22C

Willey; midday-ish two Swallows feeding around the Sheep Perkins area, and on adjacent stubble c100 Linnets,  A Red Kite over.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

A Ringed Plover still on the dam, has been present for a couple of days previously.  From Chris's photos it does seen to have suffered an injury as blood clotted fathers on the lower breast, however, it seem to be in fine health at the moment.   Also, present two Common Sandpipers and 10 Pied Wagtails.

Otherwise similar to last visit.

I was fortunate to see a Grass Snake swimming past me on the Northants side.

Friday, 11 September 2026

11th Sept Friday - high cloud, light SW, 19C

Willey; a couple of Swallows first thing over the village.  Two Red Kites over c1300h and a Jay flew from the Church lane towards the Long Spinney.

Stanford Reservoir; late afternoon.

Eight Swallows around the dam area, two still entering the tunnel, presumably with young in a nest.  Four House Martins flying up to the Lodge, presumably a nest with young  too.

A Common Sandpiper on the dam.  A Grey Wagtail and three Linnets in the spillway.

Two Blackcaps and six Blue Tits enjoying Blackberries near the pumping station.

Plenty of Chiffchaffs and several Willow Warblers # with Long-tailed Tits a Goldcrest in the waterside Willows. 

A Great Spotted Woodpecker in hedge trees and a Green Woodpecker on the Lodge lawn..  A Raven over high calling.

c15 Teal and single female Pochard with the other ducks, plus three Little Grebes.  Several Grey Herons and a Little Egret.