20th October Tuesday - light rain am, mod spell mid-afternoon, 12C, light easterly

Clifford Hill - Barrage Lake, Northants - afternoon.

I visited here to see the American Pipit that has been present a couple of days, I've never been here before.

When I arrived no-one had seen the bird since c1100am and so the search was on. Quite a few Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails around, which proved interesting.  On the shore line a Redshank and Common Ringed Plover, plenty of the usual ducks and feral Geese plus Little and Great Crested Grebes.

No joy, but luckily I bumped in to a Wiltshire birder, and his mate on the far side called to say he 'had it', so an orderly quick walk, picking up others on the way.

It was still there and showing well, preening and feeding, often with a Meadow Pipit for comparison.

Light was poor, but I manged to get a few record photos, the salient ID features can be seen.

19th October Monday - 7 mm rain during the night. light east, sunny periods, 13C

Willey; afternoon.

A Kestrel hovered over the lane next to the allotments and settled atop the Ash tree.

A couple of Ravens were patrolling above the fields, the range of calls they have other than ‘cronking’ is amazing.

Two Mistle Thrushes after the Mountain Ash and Yew berries, plus Song Thrush and Blackbird.

18th October Sunday - sunny am, sunny spells pm, mod-brisk NE, 13C

Willey; morning

I was not happy to see a Tawny Owl road casualty on the Coal Pit lane near the village turning.  The amount of traffic now on this road is many time what it used to be with all the development in the area, the Tawny has little hope of crossing, or verge hunting without disaster. 

Late morning - a Mistle and Song Thrush in the Church Yew, plus the other regulars. A Red Kite and Sparrowhawk flew passed. Green Woodpecker called nearby.

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

My first autumn Redwing in the corner copse.

At the island pool the Ruff was still present, but it is walking better now than it was.  14 Wigeon, 5 Mute, 8 Teal, 4 Mallard.

48 Linnets feeding and a Curlew in the adjacent field.

Three Roe deer were spotted near the large bank.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

The Common Scoter drake found this morning by Chris was still present.  Three 'redhead' Goosanders too.  A distant record shot in bad light was grabbed.

I saw 21 Little Egrets and five Great White Egrets.

c6 Redwings were seen.  A couple of Chiffchaffs with Long-tailed Tits, but not many other passerines about.

17th October Saturday - mod N, 13C, sunny periods

After visiting a vintage sale in Cambs, I popped over to Welney WWT

The Lady fen area was complete dry and the washes had water in the main observatory area, but also very dry eslewhere.

Whooper Swans were present, but many yet to arrive. A female Garganey was visible and was mostly asleep about from the occasional short walk when disturbed by other bird neighbours.

Three Cattle and one Great White Egret, plus a Grey Heron.  A couple of Marsh Harriers and a Buzzard were about, a Peregrine swooped in and out hunting.

Duck numbers were low, Mallard, Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall.

Waders included Snipe (often many flushed by the Harriers), Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit.

16th October Friday - 6mm of rain last night. Sunny spells am, short showers pm, mod-fresh NW, 14C

Willey; no Redwings or Fieldfares seen locally yet!

Morning - around the Church and Church lane area, a Mistle and Song Thrush. Chaffinches, Greenfinches and Goldfinches, a Goldcrest, a Nuthatch.  A Raven calling.

 A Red Kite over mid-day.

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

A Stonechat on the far rough area as before.

On the Island Pool, Mutes, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard and Shovelers, plus a Grey Heron and Kestrel, with a few Starlings moving over.

A Sparrowhawk was spotted preening on a very low branch in the rough grass area.

15th October Thursday - a few sunny intervals am, then mostly cloudy, very warm SW, brisk, 20C

Willey; I did find a half awake Peacock Butterfly in the wood pile this morning, I was moving it to a safer place, but it flew off.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon

Fairly quiet, but 69 Pochard were counted, plus Teal and Shovelers were present.

16 Little Egret and a single Great White Egret.

Grey and Pied Wagtails, Linnet and Meadow Pipit in the Spillway.

14th October Wednesday - sunny start, then cloudy increasing, mod-brisk SW-S, 19C

Lilbourne Meadows; late afternoon.

At the Island pool 6 Wigeon, 3 Teal, 11 Mallard, 5 Mute Swans and a Curlew.

A Stonechat on the lorry park tall wooden fence. c 20 Starlings on the meadows.