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.

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.

23rd May Saturday - Sunny - hot, 26C, light SW

Lilbourne Meadows; morning

A look at the flood pools area, Ringed Plovers and Dunlin seem to have gone.  Six Little Egrets and two grey Herons though.

Otherwise the other current regulars.

Misterton; morning.

Watches a Nuthatch gathering food and taking to a nest. Also, a very busy Treeecreeper, likely doing the same.

Rutland Water; afternoon.

I visited here this afternoon to catch up with the Kentish Plover which has been showing on Lagoon 4 a couple of days, I soon found it and had good views.  I took some digi-video, which given the heat shimmer and distance is better than I expected.

Also, present on Lagoon 4 were: a Glossy Ibis, a Barnacle Goose, Sanderlings, plus the other seasonal regulars for the site.

A Lesser Whitethroat sang near the Dunlin hide and a Cuckoo in the wood.  I noted an Egyptian Goose family too.

22nd May Friday - Mostly sunny, 27C, mod SW breeze

Willey; a rare sight these days was juvenile Starlings on the old pub roof.  Breeding Starling in the village is rare these day.  There are just a few still nesting in old trees and other places in the parish.

Claybrooke Parva; afternoon.

Green and great Spotted Woodpeckers, singing Goldcrest.

Frolesworth Manor Lake; afternoon.

Mute Swan pair with 6 cygnets.  Six pair of Tufted Ducks on the lake, hopefully some will breed.

Three Greenfinches, a pair and a single male.  Two pairs of Linnets on the hedgerow along driveway.

Only two House Martins seen here today, historically more, but will check again.

A single Great Crested Grebe seen, hopefully a pair prersent.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.

Two ringed Plovers still present, otherwise all the current residents.

Long-tailed Tit family in hedgerow.

A Painted Lady flying a circuit and returning to a post.