31st October Saturday - mostly cloudy, a few sunny intervals, light E/SE, 13C

Bittesby Country Park; morning

Checked here first, I found three Stonechats (2 males) on the meadows, not a lot else about.

I then checked the west side and on the undeveloped plot I found a mixed flock of passerines feeding, Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings, Goldfinches, Linnets, Meadow Pipits and a Brambling.

Willey; morning.

More redwings this morniing feeding on the Yew Berries and hedges, c 50.  A Peregrine flew over slow and quite low, off southwards. 

Ash Tree farm; afternoon.

Visited here to check for waxcaps, but none were found. Some other Fungi were found.

Usual birds, including a few Redwings.

30th October Friday - cloudy clearing to sunny periods, light SE, 15C

Willey; morning.

Several reports of Fieldfares arriving today, however none showed here, nor much indication of new Redwings.  Hopefully, tomorrow, last day for an October record. 

Other birds around included a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Sparrowhawk and Mistle Thrush.

29th October Thursday - 14C, calm, cloudy.

Willey; This morning around the Church area c30 Redwings, two Chaffinches, a Sparrowhawk flew through, a Raven over, a Nuthatch calling and a couple Mistle Thrushes.

Stanford Reservoir; late afternoon.  Visited to check the Gull roost again, The Sabine's Gull came in about 1625h.  Some slightly better photos and video before it was too dark

28th October Wednesday - sunny spells am, cloudy and light rain briefly pm, 14C, light SW

WIlley; a Red Kite Over first thing, and the Kestrel again near the allotments.

Stanford Reservoir; late afternoon.

Visited again to check the Gull roost, should the Sabine's Gull return, and it did at 1645h.  Good views but light faded fast.

Also, two Mediterranean Gulls (ad, 1W) seen, three Goosanders, still 10+ Great and 20+ Little Egrets.

27th October Tuesday - mostly sunny, a few brief cloud showers pm, mod SW, 14C

Willey; I noticed a few fresh Barn Owl pellets around the field barns, so will have to keep and eye open, and cameras up.

The obligatory Red Kite over the field (1400) and a female Kestrel flew and sat on top of the home barns near the church.

Stanford Reservoir - Sabine's Gull.

Yesterday in the Gull roost here, Chris Hubbard discovered a Sabine's Gull among the throng, just as the light disappeared. He also saw it leave the roost this morning and flew off westward.

I thought possibly if may have joined the  other smaller Gulls at the Shawell sandpit and searched there this morning, no luck.  During the afternoon the plan was to check Shawell again and then go to the reservoir for the roost.  Again no luck at Shawell, so off to Stanford.

Chris was already checking and Gulls were just slowly drifting back, but not until 1630h did large numbers return to roost.  Still no joy, and as numbers built, the Gulls tended to move steadily towards the dam end, light was beginning to fade quicker now.  I and a couple of other stayed our vantage point and Chris moved down to where he saw it last thing yesterday.  We got a call it was back there!

Good views of this small Gull in fading light, but well worth it, quite striking wing pattern when it flies.  A few wobbly, bad record photos/video were made.

Shawell Sandpit; morning

Although Sabine's here there was a good selection of birds to watch, including a Green Sandpiper and Peregrine Falcon.

The Gulls included several Caspian and a couple of Yellow-legged.  Many more were too distant to ID for today on the landfill.

26th October Monday - light rain from 0900h till 1400h, dull and cool, mod-blustery at times S, 11C, warming late 14C

Willey

The poor weather didn't help getting out and about but mid-afternoon a few Redwings were finally moving around and I did hear a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling.

The recent wet weather should encourage Fungi and I did spot 'Saggy Ink' caps in the churchyard.

25th October Sunday - 9 mm rain yday. Sunny periods, blustery W, sometimes gusting 40mph, 13 mph.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

13 Great Egrets and plenty of Little too.  A juv Goosander, Teal, Gadwall and Shovelers.

Among the Gulls a 1W Caspian and Yellow-legged.

A few Redwings and Chaffinches near the car park.

Shawell Sandpit/landfill, afternoon.

Very similar to yesterday, however 20 Gadwall and 22 Wigeon plus two great-crested Grebes.