7th April - touch of grass frost last night. sunny light breeze, 18C

Willey; 0915

Just seen a pair Grey Partridge at the top of the field barn track, they only flew a short way and later spotted feeding in Hurls Furlong field.

More extraordinary,  I was putting the trail camera up in the barn to check for Barn Owl, when one flew past me and landed on the beam, we both stayed motionless!  It was marvellous seeing one so close, eventually it flew out, but I’m sure it will be back.  Flew off in the direction of another old shed where I also have Owl box.

Another bird flew out of an old tree, not a good view but maybe a Little Owl, will have to check that out .

 Ash Tree farm; afternoon.

Plenty of Butterfly activity being so warm, 7+ Peacocks, Speckled Wood 2, Small White 3+ and a Orange-tip.

4+ singing Chiffchaffs, a Jay,  Green Woodpecker, Buzzard and Red Kite over. 

Four Canada and two Greylag Geese at the lake.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.

Three Yellow Wagtails and a 'Channel' Wagtail.  Very difficult to get close enough for pics, but managed some short record video clips at distance.

6th April - slight ground frost again last night. Warming to 15C, light/mod SE, sunny spells.

Willey;

First thing nine Canada Geese flew over low, north, I could also hear the two at the back field pond (which seem to have become resident at the m), calling as these flew over.

A Mistle Thrush was singing from the back field/allotment field corner tree top.

Two Swallows spotted on the telegraph wires today - need more back yet.

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

A pair of Greenfinches, two Swallows at the island pond and Oystercatcher.

Three Wigeon on the flood pools, plus Tufted pair, Shovelers, c10 Teal, Gadwall and Mallard.

Three Meadow Pipits on the meadows and Skylark.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

This mornings male Wheatear still present on the ploughed set-aside triangle.

Common Sandpiper still on dam.

Female Grey Wagtail and Pied Wagtail in spillway.

A male and two female Goldeneye and two female Goosanders spotted.

Butterflies included a Comma, several Peacock and Small Tortoiseshells.

5th April - 11C, blustery SW, sunny intervals, odd cloud shower around, feeling cool

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

The Oystercatcher, Redshank and Lapwings were present again.

Tufted Duck pair.

Most notsable was the singing Cetti's Warbler.

Stanford Reservoir.

The first site Spring Common Sandpiper was on the dam, spotted this morning by Chris, and still present this afternoon.

c30 Fieldfares flew into the trees by the dam car park, then off westward over the dam.

Female Goosander and two Goldeneyes.  SIngle Little Egret.

c100 Sand Martins feeding and a Swallow with them.

Male Grey Wagtail on the dam.

4th April - high cloud, light SW, increasing fresh then strong and gusty afternoon/night. 15C

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

No Wigeon seen this morning.  Lapwing pairs seem in good numbers, especially around the island pond.  Single Oystercatcher.

A few Gulls dropped in, Black-headed, Common, Herring and Lesser Black-backed.

Female Reed Bunting near island pond.    Several Skylarks and Meadow Pipits on the rough fields. 

Stanford reservoir, afternoon.

Five Goldeneyes, two Goosanders.  A Great Egret. 

A Grey and Pied Wagtails on the dam.

3rd April - cloudy, a little drizzle early, mod- gusting strong at times pm, -SW, 16C

 Lutterworth; Mistle Thrush singing from tree by Methodist Church, 0950h.

Lilbourne Meadows; late afternoon.

Four Wigeon, 18 Shovelers, plus Teal, Gadwall and Mallard.

A Little Egret dropped in. Several lapwings at the flood pools.

Two Stock Doves and several Woodpigeons feeding on the meadows.

A Mistle Thrush was also feeding on the meadows near the flood pools (my first site record).

The Water Rail showed again and feed out in the open.

2nd April - touch of ground frost last night. sunny intervals, light W, 12C

Willey; single Swallow still - hopefully more back soon.

Stanford Res; afternoon.

Rather quiet.

Eight Goldeneye.  A few Gadwall, two Teal.

 A Red Kite, two Buzzards.

Several Chiffchaffs singing, and a couple Blackcaps.  Single Goldcrest and several Long-tailed Tits.

A female Reed Bunting in one area and a male at a different location.

A couple Red-legged Partridges.

6+ Peacock Butterflies.  A Stoat running along the path.

Lilbourne Meadows, evening.

Only one Wigeon, still plenty Shovelers, Gadwall, and c50 Teal.  Single drake Tufted Duck.

A Redshank and Oystercatcher, several Lapwings in territories.

1st April - cloudy, very light-light WSW, 12C

Willey; Green Woodpecker 'yaffling' and great Spotted Woodpecker  'drumming'  - heard through the day.

Shawell Sandpit/landfill area; evening

28 Tufted Duck, several in groups after a female - although usually one drake had the lead and chasing the others away.  Only 8 Teal.

Seven Red Kites, several Ravens. 

A single Lapwing, a Little Grebe pair.

One Coot sitting on nest, other building etc.