5th August Wednesday- cloudy a little drizzle early, then sunny spells, light, mod and fresh/blustery late pm, West, 22C

Bittesby Country Park; morning.

On the lake were two broods each of Tufted Duck and Little Grebe, 6 and 2 and 4 and 2 respectivelty.

A Clouded Yellow was spotted near the community orchard on adjacent path.

Lilbourne Meadows, evening.

A Curlew, Green Sandpiper and 57Lapwings were at the island pool.  A Little Egret flew in.  Only one Greylag, four Canada Geese and two Mallard.  

A hen Pheasant with four poults in the meadow.

4th August Tuesday - mostly cloudy, 22C, light S/SW. Cold front thru late afternoon/evening with brief light showers and blustery wind

Willey.

A Red Kite and Buzzard top fields first thing and three Mistle Thrushes feeding in the long field.

Stanford Reservoir; evening

A single Teal on the dam with other ducks, a female Mandarin just off the dam and the female Ferruginous Duck (been here a few days now) with Tufties on the main water.

A Hobby flew over.

3rd Aug Monday - sunny hot, 30C, light East

Willey;

A family of 6 half grown Red-legged partridges with female in long field, 0815h.

I have been putting food and water out for Hedgehogs the last few nights, the food had been taken and fortunately the camera trap confirmed a Hedgehog coming to the food.  Others in the village have been feeding them too during the hot dry period and have seen adults and younger  (smaller) ones. So, we still have Hedgehogs in the village.

Daventry Reservoir; afternoon.

Visited here to see the two Spotted Redshanks that have been present a couple of days, they were showing well.

Also birds included three each Little Ringed Plovers Common Sandpipers.  Little Egrets and Grey Heron. c10 Little grebes and c50 Lapwings. a nice mix of other commoner birds were present too.

The water level is quite low allowing a good wide muddy shoreline - one to watch as autumn progresses.

2nd August Sunday - Sunny, NE mod, 24C

Norfolk Day

Cley NWT

Initially in the morning a look at the sea, nice to see Sandwich and Little Terns fishing for food, and a  slow movement of Gulls west.

Then a walk along East Bank to the Serpentine water, a nice mixture of the expected waders and other birds. A single Common Snipe was feeding, but not the reported Jack Snipe.

Late afternoon a look at the reserve pools from the main hides, two Curlew Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper and other usual waders were present (Avocets, Little Ringed Plover, Curlew, Godwits, Oystercatchers and Redshank).  Shelducks and 6 Egyptian Geese too.

At least 15 House Sparrows were in the reeds/cattle pen area along the road side path.

Also, what I considered to be a Caspian Gull.

Kelling Water Meadows

Nothing unexpected, a lot of Linnet families was good to see. A Great Spotted Woodpecker in the lane side trees.

North Point Pools; early evening.

Birds included Wood Sandpiper, Two Greenshank, nine Green Sandpipers, 17 Barnacle Geese, Ruff, Godwits, Avocets.

1st August Saturday - mostly sunny, 24C, light/mod breeze

Shawell Sandpit/landfill; morning

The Peregrine was atop the works yard light again.

A single juv Egyptian Goose (slightly damaged leg), a ICY Yellow-legged Gull and a Caspian.

Large number of Greylag Geese, 144 and 40 Canada Geese.

Usual Red Ktes and Ravens.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

One of the two juv Black-necked Grebes was seen, also a Green Sandpiper.

Warblers were showing well and included Whitethroat and Lesser, Willow and garden Warbler, Blackcap and CHiffchaff.

A couple of Pochard and Shovelers, a single female Teal and Common Sandpiper on dam..

On the dam c150 Jackdaws, unusually high count, sitting on the slope and among the Greylags.

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.