19th August Wednesday - Sunny intervals, mod W, 23C. a few spits of rain - nothing really.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.

At the island pool a Green and Common Sandpiper and a Snipe feeding.  33 Lapwings and a single Grey Heron.

18th August Tuesday - mostly cloudy, shower before dawn, 22C, light W

Bittesby Country Park; afternoon.

Despite the very dry conditions persisting the park area does contain areas of flowers and greenery still and the main lake contains a reasonable amount of water.  But, generally quiet this time of day.

The two broods of Tufted Duck and Little Grebe brood were on the main lake.

A Kestrel was hunting and juv Buzzard calling with adult nearby.

Some butterflies were about especially Green-veined Whites and Speckled Woods, a Red Admiral and Peacock too.  Only one Meadow Brownseen. 

17th August Monday - sunny periods, very light breeze, humid, 25C

Daventry Reservoir; afternoon

Popped down to see the Pectoral Sandpiper, got good views of the American wader, was associating with a Dunlin often.

Other waders included Green (5) and Common  Sandpipers (2), Lapwing, Dunlin, a Little Ringed Plover.

16th August Sunday - mostly sunny, 25C, light NW-W

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

A Common Sandpiper and 34 Cormorants on the dam, along with Pied, Grey and Yellow Wagtails.

On the draw-off tower railing a Spotted Flycatcher and a noisy Water Rail in the reeds.

Duck included Nine Shoveler, eight Teal and the Ferruginous Duck among the Tiufted flotilla.

Plenty Warblers in the buses including Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat.  A male Bullfinch was spotted deep in the Blackthorn orchard thicket.  A Jay flew past.

Butterflies were few, a Clouded Yellow, a Brown Argus, two Speckled Woods and several Large and Small Whites.

15th August Saturday - cloudy am, clearing to sunshine, 24C, light breeze mostly northerly

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

Vary quite this morning.  A female Kestrel, a Raven over, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and the Little Owl called from its usual thick hedgerow.

Eyebrook Reservoir; afternoon.

A nice selection of waders were showing; Greenshank (5), a Redshank, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, Snipe, Dunlin, Lapwing, , a Wood Sandpiper.Green and Common Sandpipers.

15+ Yellow Wagtails, 10+ Egyptian Geese.

14th August Friday - SUnny hot 26C, light breeze

Soar Brook Lake; morning

Two Green Sandpipers, c250 Blacked-head, c100 Lesser Black-backed and c10 Herring Gulls.

A Little Egret, a Little Grebe., two Cormorants.  Moorhens and Coot.

Sandy Lane Pools, Cotesbach; evening.

Gulls were gathering on the field next to the new pool, including a couple of Yellow-legged Gulls (Ad, 1CY).

Shawell Sand pit/landfill area; evening.

A Common and Green Sandpiper, four Lapwings.

Three Egyptian Geese, 30 Little Grebes.

13th August Thursday - Very hot, 36C, sunny, light SE. Drought conditions worsen over much of England

Willey - 0820h two Red Kites over the fields to the east of the village.

Welford/Sulby Reservoirs; evening

I thought it may be worth check these waters as they can have good shorelines when the water is low, as now.  

Plenty Mallard and Greylags. Six grey Herons and three Little Egrets, two Common Sandpipers.

Swallows, House Martins, Grey, Pied and Yellow Wagtails around Welford dam.

Great Spotted Woodpecker