25th July Saturday - Sunny, 27C, mod W/NW, cloud increasing evening,

Misterton; morning

Green woodpecker, Treecreeper, adult Buzzard and juv calling, Song Thrush smashing snails on the lane.

Long-tailed Shrike

Decided it was time to see the 3rd Long-tailed Shrike ever recorded in the UK, it has been faithful to a farmland site and reported during the day.  

When I got there it was in the favoured bush area and at times was busy catching food on the ground, seemed to be mostly Beetles.  Completely, ignoring the many birders watching it, not that far away really.

Given the excessive bright sunshine  I managed some good record shots.

24th July Friday - sunny, 27C, light NW

Willey; a Raven flew over calling 1000h.

Shawell Sandpit/landfill; evening.

12 Little grebes and the Great Crested Grebe still.

First post-breeding season Teal (female), a Common Sandpiper. Only 3 Lapwings seen and one juv Egyptian Goose.  Three Cormorants on an islet.

A few Sand Martins feeding.  

23rd July Thursday - sunny, 26C, light NW

Ash Tree Farm, Bitteswell; afternoon.

Still a good number of Butterflies, especially Common Blue, Small Copper and gatekeepers, several Speckled Wood, Whites, Meadow Brown and a single Red Admiral.

Juv Little Grebe  and Moorhen family on the lake.  Six Goldfinch feeding on the wildflower meadow.

Stanford-on Avon; evening

The Spotted Flycatcher family was showing well this evening with two juvs sometimes being fed, sometimes catching their own food.

Stanford Reservoir; evening

Female Ruddy Shelduck still present, Four Little Grebes, c220 Black-headed Gulls, single Common Gull, a Jay, a Raven over.  Gadwall family and single Pochard.

22nd July Wednesday - Sunny spells, light NE, 25C

Willey;  a Kestrel first thing over Earls Furlong field.

Shawell sandpit/landfill area; evening

A Common Sandpiper, still the single Great Crested Grebe and six Little Grebes.  

Only three Egyptian Geese spotted.  Two Red-legged Partridge on the south side (one looked quite small when flying - juv?)

Plus the other regulars.

21st July Tuesday - sunny spells, light N, 25C

No obs today 

20th July Monday - sunny spells, light NW, 25C

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.

Now the flood pools are dry, there's little likelihood of waders for sometime, but the Oystercatchers and a a Curlew are still present.  

A Kestrel hunting  A couple of Swifts and 15 Swallows dropped in over the island pool, also a Grey Heron.

A female Redstart was spotted on the fence line near the island pool.

 

19th July, Sunday - sunny intervals, light-mod N, staring cooler becoming sunnier 22C

Shawell Sandpit/landfill; morning.

23 Little grebes (ads and juvs), including a pair attending a nest..  A Little Egret, single great Crested Grebe, seven Cormorants and two Common Sandpipers.

A Kestrel over and a peregrine on the works yard light.  Several yellow-legged Gulls with the Lesser Black-backed, Herring and Black-headed.

Usual Red Kites and Ravens, and a Buzzard attending to a calling juvenile.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

A short visit, the Ruddy Shelduck still, a single Common Sandpiper, plus the other regulars.