3rd June Wednesday - a few showers, becoming blustery, sometime strong, SW, 18C

Shawell Sandpit/Landfill area; evening.

The blustery wind had brought in more Sand Martins to the main pit, c60, plus a few Swifts and a couple of Swallows.

29 Mallards, plus a pair Gadwall and a drake Pochard.

Plenty of Covid activity around then landfill area, including Rooks, now they have left the Rookeries.

At least six Red Kites.

2nd June Tuesday - initially rain, then clearing to sunny spells. Thundery showers later afternoon, then sunny spells.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening

Pretty quiet, a nice pair of Yellow Wagtails on the island.  A single Oystercatcher.

1st June Monday - cloudy, mod SW, freshening S, 19C, drizzle/light rain evening.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.

A look here this evening, a couple of Oystercatchers and two Little Egrets on the flood pool area.  A Grey Heron and drake Gadwall at the island pool. Otherwise the other current regulars.

A couple of Roe Deer bucks were next to the island pool, later a hind was seen nearby.

30th May Saturday - mostly sunny, light SW, 26C - hot again

Lilbourne Meadows; morning

Just checked the winter flood pools area. Two Ravens still at the dry winter pools area, a couple Black-Headed Gulls at one small pool. 

Misterton; morning

Still no Spotted Flycatcher found here.  

A surprise was a Bullfinch, c 50 ft up in the canopy base feeding.  A Moorhen with chi9cks at the lake.

Shawell Area; afternoon.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker pair were feeding young in a nest.

A walk through the meadows area towards the old railway Whitethroat was seen and two Garden Warblers were singing, a Green Woodpecker was heard..

Various Butterflies were spotted, plus quite a few day-time flying moths.  A nice Brown Argus, several Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood.

29th May Friday - becoming sunny and warming to 24C, light SW

Lilbourne Meadows; evening. Circular walk

A Raven family (2 adults, 3 fledged juvs) were very noisy, the reason being a Fox was searching the ground for food and they didn't like it.

Several Reed And Sedge Warblers seen, and Meadow Pipits, pair Yellow Wagtails.  A fledged Whiitethroat being followed by a parent along the fence line.  Four Stock Doves.  Three Reed Bun ting singing males.

The Painted Lady was n the regular area on the posts.  Several others were seen during my walk.  Other Butterflies included Small heath 10+ and Large Skipper, 

A Hare was on the edge of the development area and two Roe Deer.

28th May Thursday - hot again, 28C, light.mod SE, mostly sunny.

Sea Palling.

I decided it was time for a 'twitch' and try for the Black-winged Kite at Hempstead Marsh near Sea Palling, Norfolk, so it was off to find it.  Somewhat nervously as by early to mid-morning it had been reported on a bird news service,, but today it had not been reported, and still not reported when I was less than an hour away!

I was lucky that on arrival and scanning the area I quickly spotted it hunting over the marsh area.  Sometimes, quite high and with short hovers too.  I had good views of it for quite awhile, also again later from a different location over looking the marsh area.

A super looking bird in flight and well worth the trip, despite that photos were not possible due to heat shimmer and haze and also too active.

At Sea Palling there were quite a lot of Painted Lady Butterflies, particularly on Red Valerian.

27th May Wednesday - sunny, hot, 27C, mod Eastery

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.

A Ringed Plover, a Little Egret, Reed Warblers singing, male Reed Bunting, Skylark and Meadow Pipit, plus other usual current birds.

Painted Lady, same area as the other days report/photo.

Red Fox - walked close past me carrying TWO Rabbits - obviously cubs somewhere nearby.