15th July Wednesday - cloud clearing mid-morning, sunny, dry again, 25C, light/mod NE

Soar Brook lake; morning

The Oystercatchers have one youngster.  Other broods included Coots, Mallards, Moorhens and Mute Swans (3 cygnets).

At least two juv Green woodpeckers were around.

My first Common Gull post-breeding season, also c50 LBB, c30BHG and c10 HG - mostly on warehouse roof adjacent.

A Grey Heron and two Cormorants.

Misterton, evening.

I finally found a Spotted Flycatcher here, slightly different area than usual, will have to check again for a  family.

Lots of Red Admirals 'dancing' in the tree gaps in the sunlight, 12+, I tried to video them, not too successfully!.

Shawell Sandpit/landfill; evening

Five juv Egyptian Geese on view.  Single great Crested Grebes and nine Little Grebes.

Ten red Kites and all the Covids.  A single grey Wagtail.

Water is being pumped out of the main pit, so this should return the islets and shore making it better for Gulls and possible waders, depending how low they take the water.

14th July Tuesday - cloudy am, then clearing to sunshine, mod NE breeze, 25C

Willey; 

0745h, a Red Kite over the village and two Cormorants flying to the west of village.

0945h, a Raven heard calling.

Lutterworth; evening

I checked the nesting LBB Gulls.  The one nest that was visible has been lost (sloping roof), but there are still other gulls on the flat roof, so an inspection of these is needed.

13th July - cloudy am,,becoming sunny, 27C, mod NE, becoming brisk/strong later afternoon.

Willey - 0800h a Red Kite over  fields to the east and a single Red-legged Partridge in Earls Furlong gateway.

Stanford Res; evening

25+ Pied Wagtails and 3 Common Sandpipers on the dam.  Also, a Teal.  Otherwise just the regulars.

Shawell Sandpit/landfill; evening.

Only 2 juv Egyptian Geese showing, 12 Little Grebes. A few Sand Martins.

Out and about

While scoping fields I noticed a Hare very close to me, lovely.

12th July - cloud clearing quickly, then sunny, 28C, mod-fresh NE breeze

Willey;

A Red Kite checking the fields out to the west first thing.

This afternoon the Green Woodpecker family was very noisy around the Church yard area.

It's nice to see so many  (common) Butterflies around this summer after several poor years. Currently, Meadow Browns, Peacocks, Comma, 'Whites', Red Admiral, Gatekeepers and Holly Blue are numerous around the village.

Shawell Sandpit; morning.

Again quiet, 9 Little Grebes, c12 Lapwings, a few Red Kites, a Buzzard and juv calling from Spinney, a Green Woodpecker.

11th July - Sunny, 33C, light NE

Shawell Sandpit; morning.

Usual birds, a bit quiet with most birds already resting from the sun/heat.

12 Red Kites.  15 Little Grebes, so some new in.

10th July - Another scorcher. Sunny, light breeze, 33C

Willey; a Greenfinch pair and juv on the Earls Furlong to hedge, 0815h.  I think they nested in the bushes around the pond.

Husbands Bosworth Sand pit, afternoon

Sometimes Tufted Duck have bred here, but I didn't see any young today.  However, Little Grebes, Moorhen and Mallards did have youngsters on the water.

Stanford Res; late afternoon.

Two Common Sandpipers and 36+ Pied Wagtails, 4 Grey and 2 Yellow Wagtails on the dam.

Otherwise quiet, no doubt due to the heat.

9th July - Sunny, very hot, light W, 33C

Willey;  0900h a Red Kite over the Perkins fields.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.

A male Redstart along the western hedge down to the flood pools area.

Red Warblers singing a little, Linnets and Goldfinches around, a single Oystercatcher and Grey Heron.