9th Feb - a few sunny intervals, mod SE, 9C

Welney WWT; afternoon

Washes fully flooded and Lady Fen area water-logged but held most birds.

c15 Cranes were mid-distance, great to see and hear them before they flew off.

Whooper Swans, Black-tailed Godwits, Marsh Harrier and Great Egret.  Thousands Lapwing and large Golden Plover flock.

8th Feb - mostly high cloud, except showers occasionally, light SE/S, 10C

Rutland Water; afternoon.

Checked out the dam area, generally quiet, however I did get some decent views of the RED-necked Grebe which has been present a couple of days.

I also checked out the North Arm, there was certainly a perception that wildfowl numbers were lower then normally expected for February.  Fortunately a Black-necked grebe was present, although mostly asleep!

Otherwise the usual expected birds were seen around the site.

7th Feb - light rain am un til, about m id-day, then a few short light showers pm, light SE, 10C

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

I did pop down this morning, but the rain was miserable and on meeting Stuart, who had already had  a look around, he informed me there was not too much new about, except an Oystercatcher, so I decided to comeback straight after lunch.

I did find the Oystercatcher on the island pond with Lapwings. 70 Golden plovers were also in the area.  A Buzzard was around and a Kestrel hunting.

Around field flood pool I counted 48 Pied Wagtails.  Otherwise the other expected recently seen birtds.

Three Roe Deer feeding on the bank.

Stanford Res; afternoon.

When I arrived I could see there were some Geese on the water at the dam end.  On scanning through the Greylags and White-fronts I spotted four Tundra Bean Geese.   I got a couple of poor record digiscoped pics and then they were off.

Fortunately thy moved to the cereal field behind the dam area and I managed a few more pic before they walk over the brow out of view.

6th Feb - Rain through the hight and until mid-day, then light rain/drizzle at time, cloudy, dull, misty, light East breeze, 7C

Everywhere is now waterlogged again, with brooks ands ditches overflowing in to fields.

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

Plenty Wigeon and Lapwings and c60 Golden Plovers again.

A few greylags, then a flock flew in with Canada Geese and a female Ruddy Shelduck.

Two male Tufted Ducks.

A Green Woodpecker called a few times.

5th Feb - am rain, pm drizzle/light rain at time, cloudy, dull, mod-fresh at time E, 6C

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

Two Pink-footed Geese with Greylags.

c400 Lapwing, c100 Golden Plovers, Wigeon, Shoveler and Gadwall.

A few redwings and Fieldfares. c25 Goldfinches.  Two Pheasants (cocks).

4th Feb - cloudy am, sunny intervals pm, light/mod breeze, SE-E, 8C

Willey;  I spotted the female Blackcap this morning in the Church lane area, hope it makes it to Spring.

Bittesby Country Park; afternoon.

A male Stonechat, sing Skylark and Song Thrush, A Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk..

Three Mute Swans on the lake.   18 Goldfinches feeding/drinking nearby.

 

3rd Feb - cloudy, dull/grey/hazy, 3C with a mod E

Market Bosworth Country Park; afternoon.

On the adjacent sunflower patch was a mixed finch flock - Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, 6 Bramblings and Reed Bunting.

A flock of Rook and Jackdaw on the parkland grass.  Several Stock Doves and a Buzzard over.