16th August Sunday - mostly sunny, 25C, light NW-W

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

A Common Sandpiper and 34 Cormorants on the dam, along with Pied, Grey and Yellow Wagtails.

On the draw-off tower railing a Spotted Flycatcher and a noisy Water Rail in the reeds.

Duck included Nine Shoveler, eight Teal and the Ferruginous Duck among the Tiufted flotilla.

Plenty Warblers in the buses including Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat.  A male Bullfinch was spotted deep in the Blackthorn orchard thicket.  A Jay flew past.

Butterflies were few, a Clouded Yellow, a Brown Argus, two Speckled Woods and several Large and Small Whites.

15th August Saturday - cloudy am, clearing to sunshine, 24C, light breeze mostly northerly

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

Vary quite this morning.  A female Kestrel, a Raven over, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and the Little Owl called from its usual thick hedgerow.

Eyebrook Reservoir; afternoon.

A nice selection of waders were showing; Greenshank (5), a Redshank, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, Snipe, Dunlin, Lapwing, , a Wood Sandpiper.Green and Common Sandpipers.

15+ Yellow Wagtails, 10+ Egyptian Geese.

14th August Friday - SUnny hot 26C, light breeze

Soar Brook Lake; morning

Two Green Sandpipers, c250 Blacked-head, c100 Lesser Black-backed and c10 Herring Gulls.

A Little Egret, a Little Grebe., two Cormorants.  Moorhens and Coot.

Sandy Lane Pools, Cotesbach; evening.

Gulls were gathering on the field next to the new pool, including a couple of Yellow-legged Gulls (Ad, 1CY).

Shawell Sand pit/landfill area; evening.

A Common and Green Sandpiper, four Lapwings.

Three Egyptian Geese, 30 Little Grebes.

13th August Thursday - Very hot, 36C, sunny, light SE. Drought conditions worsen over much of England

Willey - 0820h two Red Kites over the fields to the east of the village.

Welford/Sulby Reservoirs; evening

I thought it may be worth check these waters as they can have good shorelines when the water is low, as now.  

Plenty Mallard and Greylags. Six grey Herons and three Little Egrets, two Common Sandpipers.

Swallows, House Martins, Grey, Pied and Yellow Wagtails around Welford dam.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

12th August Wednesday - Sunny, 32C, light SE

Shawell Sandpit//landfill area; evening

After the partial Eclipse at 1912h I had a quick look here. 

A single Egyptian Goose on the main pit with the other regulars and a Little Ringed Plover at the south pit.

I didn't see any Red Kites, I wonder if the Eclipse made them head to roost early!!

11th August Tuesday - Hot, 28C, Sunny, light SE

Willey;   0800h, first of the post-breeding Redstarts was on the fence post, usual top hedge, prob a juv. 

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Common and Green Sandpipers are taking advantage of the little shore now appearing after the long dry spell, two each.

The female Ferruginous Duck was with the main Tufted Duck flock.  Two drake Pochards too.

A juvenile Little Ringed Plover was in the spillway.

10th August Monday - Sunny, light NW-NE, 24C

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.

Two Foxes were staking Rabbits in the long dead grass, they Rabbits knew they were there!

A Curlew, Green Sandpiper and Lapwing flock.  Ten Swallows dropped in over the pool.

The female Redstart still in the same area as the last visits.  A juv Yellow Wagtail on the dry flood meadow.

A Kestrel was on a fence post.  A reed Warbler was along the brook near the bridge.