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.

More notes to be added

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.

26th May Tuesday - Mostly sunny and hot, 34C, light S. Some spots rain later afternoon but no thunderstorm as suggested

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

Nothing new today.  Whitethroat singing usual area and a pair Yellow Wagtails on the flood pools.

Shawell Sandpit/landfill area; morning

The Common Scoter was not present today.  

Egyptian Goose family still. and the other recent regulars.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

Chris found an Avocet on the dam this morning, it stayed and was still present late afternoon.  Last recorded here in 2017, so overdue.

Misterton

I spot this lovely 'Beautiful Demoiselle', in fact there were two.  Still, cant find any Spotted Flycatchers here though.

25th May Monday - very hot, sunny, very light SW, 32C

Willey; Two Red-legged partridge in the barn fields stack yard area, 0800h

Shawell Sandpit/Landfill; mid-morning

Egyptian Goose family still, c 20 Sand Martins, A few Gulls.

Single Great Crested Grebe still.  Buzzard and two Red Kites (landfill not working today.

The surprise today was a female Common Scoter on the main pit, feeding. 

I got some poor record shots.  The last record here was in July 2023, also a female.

Newton Arches; afternoon.

A search for Butterflies here in the heat with Mick and Sandra (the Butterfly Lady), a nice selection of commoner species and some first of the year for me.

Species included, Peacock, Common Blue, Brown Argos, Orange-tip, Painted Lady, Large and Small Skippers, Speckled Wood, Small Copper and Small Heath.

Also a Banded Damoiselle.

 

24thj May Sunday - Sunny, hot, 27C, light Sw

Lilbourne Meadows; morning

A early check here, but nothing new in the birds.

However, whilst standing quietly in a gateway, a small rustle heard in the grass resulted in a Weasel, carrying small mammal prey, running past me, almost over my feet!

Small Heath and Small Copper butterflies seen.

Stanford-on Avon

A pair of Spotted Flycatchers found this afternoon.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

The main sightings were the drake Garganey on the dam, along with a Shoveler pair and a lone drake Teal.

More Damselfly and Dragonfly activity now.