31st March - sunny at first,chilly, then sunny spells, light NE, 8C

Willey;  
A few redwings were in tree tops in the Perkins area first thing.

Again checking the feed station area and immediate area around paddocks and church. A couple of hen Pheasants, three Collard Doves, eight Yellowhammers, Chaffinches, several Greenfinch dropped in at times, Goldfinch flew over, two Tree Sparrows and c15 House Sparrows.

The male and female Great Spotted Woodpeckers showed well and a Green Woodpecker ‘yaffled’ nearby.  A Blackbird did a bit of sunbathing for a short while.  A Buzzard flew up from the paddock disturbing everything.

30th March - mostly cloudy, light N, 7C, feeling cold

Willey;   This morning a Nuthatch was calling in the Long Spinney in the Perkins area.  A Buzzard flew over the village again, this time being hassled by two Jackdaws.  Long-tailed Tits were heard in the church lane and at mid-day c10 Redwing flew over northward in to the wind.

Checked the feed station this afternoon. Only one Tree Sparrow, male and Female great Spotted Woodpeckers on the peanuts, otherwise all the usual one mentioned in recent days.    A small mixed flock of Fieldfare and Redwing flew over. A a couple of Buzzard did their usual circle overhead.

1730h a Grey Heron flew over SE.

29th March - cloudy, sunny intervals, mostly pm, brisk 15-20 mph N/NE wind, gusty at times, 8C, feeling very cold

Willey; had an hour checking the feed station area.  Five Tree Sparrows turned up today, plenty of Yellowhammers again, Chaffinch and Greenfinch.  Four Goldfinch flew over.

A couple of Stock Doves flying around displaying.  A Great Spotted Woodpecker, female, came to the peanuts for a short while.

More digiscoped 'regulars'.

28th March - cloudy, fresh NE, 8C, feeling cool

Willey; checked the feed station and immediate area this morning.  Four Tree Sparrows feeding today, plus Chaffinch, Greenfinch, House Sparrows, Blue and Great Tits. Jackdaw, Magpie and Carrion Crow also visited.

Three Stock Doves, Rook and Wood pigeon were all flying over. A Goldfinch was atop the lane hedge.  A single Buzzard did a circle of the village then headed off west.

A few more digiscoped  ‘locals’.

Mere Lane lake area; a walk across the fields to this area.  A Chiffchaff and Goldcrest were singing and a Bullfinch pair in the thicket.  A Mute Swan was sitting on her nest, while two pairs of Little Grebe 'trilled' and chased each other.

27th March - frost last night, cloudy-chilly start, sunny 12C, light NE breeze

Willey; checking the feed station and area I also decided to digiscope a selection of the 'locals'.

A couple of Tree Sparrows today, eight, maybe more, Yellowhammers, several Chaffinch, Great and Blue Tits.  A pair of Goldfinch flew in to the thick hedge, where I spotted a pair of Bullfinch busy eating Blackthorn blossom.  A couple of Buzzards circled over slowly in a territory joust.

On the road side I noticed a recently killed Polecat.  I took some photos, it looks pretty good for a pure Polecat but I cant be completely sure without a DNA test being done.

26th March - Frost last night. Sunny, 13C, light NE

Another beautiful sunny day - the weather is mad.

Willey; a good number of Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies about today, dancing together!

A single Tree Sparrow and Greenfinch pair at the feed station this pm. In the thick church lane hedge a Chiffchaff was feeding (singing this morning), also a male Blackcap. A single Goldfinch flew over.


I recently (20th) mentioned a colour ringed LBBG I recorded, I have received some sighting history for it, shown below. Certainly, likes landfills and the Midlands area.

25th March - frost last night. sunny, light SE, 13C

Willey; 0840h 7 Fieldfare flew from tree tops SE.  Mid-morning a Raven was flying and calling over the Sheep fields to the west.  The Goldcrest was singing from the church Yews.

Mid morning a Peacock butterfly was out. A Brimstone was flying the church yard this afternoon.

Checking the feed station after lunch did not produce any birds, four Yellowhammers still, two Chaffinch and a single Goldfinch.  A cock Pheasant was present, a hen bird around earlier.

I have been told that a male Blackcap has been visiting feeders along the gardens at Parsons Close during the last week.

24th March - Sunny, warm 15C, light SSE

New restrictions have been brought in on travel to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, this will impact on sites visited over the coming days.

Willey; first thing c5 Fieldfare flew over home SW.  About 1400h a Red Kite was circling low over the fields to the SE.

With such a splendidly warm day several Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were on the wing.

A later afternoon a check on the paddock feed station; at least 4 Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Greenfinch (a male, plus singing birds nearby), several House Sparrow and two Tree Sparrow, a hen Pheasant, Magpies and Jackdaws.  A green Woodpecker called, while  Great Spotted Woodpecker flew in to the trees nearby. A male Sparrowhawk flew by causing birds to dive for cover.

23rd March - frost -2C last night, sunny, 11C, light SE

Willey; a busy day. Goldcrest and Nuthatch vocal around church area.  At lease 4 Yellowhammer at the paddock feed station along with several Chaffinch and House Sparrows.
A Yellowhammer was singing nearby yesterday morning.

22nd March - mostly sunny, mod easterly, 10C

Shawell lagoons; checked here this morning, very similar to yesterday.  A Mistle Thrush was singing from a boundary tree.

Cotesbach landfill; a Raven was displaying for a while, a green Woodpecker called often from the spinney.  Otherwise, nothing new.

Stanford reservoir; a walk round during the afternoon. Somewhat quitter than expected. Five Chiffchaffs, a Kingfisher, five Teal, three Goosander and six Goldeneye.

21st March - sunny spells, mod/keen easterly, 9C, but feeling cool.

Shawell lagoons; 70 Wigeon, Shelduck pair,  7 Snipe and 5 Lapwing were on show.  The usual Gulls, including a colour ringed LBBG 2G5B.

Cotesbach Landfill; a check here, 3 Red Kites present.  New site record for me was a pair of Egyptian Geese, on the far side, with 2 pair of Canada Geese.  The Red Kites didn't seem to like them by occasionally diving at them, but the geese stayed.

20th March - cloudy, mod NE, 10C but feeling cool

Willey; The day start with (0700h) a Chiffchaff singing in then church lane.  Sometime later a small mixed flock of Redwing and Fieldfare headed over SE.

Shawell Lagoons; a look here first after lunch, a single Snipe showing well, 7 Lapwings on the shore along with a good number of Gulls.  I was able to read one colour ring on an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, red/black F2CT.
On the bank and waters edge 77 Wigeon were feeding, with a few Teal and Tufted Duck around.  The Great Crested Grebe pair were present, although the Coot may have already spotted their nest to take over.

Cotesbach Landfill; Gull numbers seem to be on the up, hopefully we shall get some late white-wingers found, but not today.

I was sure I heard a Little Ringed Plover among the noisy Gulls and with a bit of searching I found my first of the year.

19th March - cloudy, some light rain at times, 6C, light NE

Willey; about midday c80 Fieldfare flew over northward, quite low.

18th March - cloudy, drizzle/light rain all day, 8C, light NW

Willey; a couple of Grey Heron flew over first thing, one chasing the other calling.

Shawell Lagoons; late afternoon -a single Snipe sitting out, 5 Lapwing on the shore, six teal - nothing else notable.

17th March - cloudy, mod SSW, 12C

Willey; mid-morning c20 Redwing along the trees top end of village.

Shawell Lagoons; a couple of Lapwing along with the Gulls along the shoreline.  On the bank 38 Wigeon were feeding and 5 Snipe were visible.

Cotesbach Landfill; nothing different than usual, only one Red Kite seen, 14 Shoveler and 17 Teal.  A group of 10 Magpies were busy together on the bank.

16th March - mostly sunny, light SW, 12C

Pretty hectic day helping with lambing today.

I did notice a Small Tortoiseshell resting on a tiled roof in the sun for a short while before flying off.

c30 Fieldfare were feeding on the pasture to the west in what’s called ‘Perkins area’,

I was just think I have not heard and Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming locally yet, when one flew over towards the Long Spinney, surely drumming soon here.

15th March - rain from 0900h till mid-afternoon, light WSW, 8C

Shawell Lagoons; no Avocets had departed when I checked this morning.  However, it was good to see 23 Snipe out, this is not usually they case as they are in the reeds, but this morning showing on the far bank.

Also, the Great crest Grebe pair were busy building a nest, hopefully they will succeed and not be ransacked by Coots, as happened last year.  5 Lapwing were also on the shore.

Cotesbach Landfill area; the only new birds were 3 Shelducks, a pair and single drake.

Stanford-on Avon;  a check here through the Geese flock, no Pink-footed  Geese seen (9 were reported from the reservoir this morning), a couple of Oystercatchers were feeding at the flood pool.

Stanford reservoir; (afternoon) 154 Wigeon counted, a Goosander pair and nine Gadwall.  A Jay was feeding on the ground near the dam, a Green Woodpecker called and a Great-spotted Woodpecker was drumming.  A Kestrel pair were at a nest box, they usually get booted out this one by Stock Doves.   A Great Egret was feeding along the waters edge.

13th March - mostly mid cloud, light SW, 10C

Shawell Lagoons and Cotesbach Landfill; at the Lagoons still 38 Wigeon present, and three Snipe resting or preening on the reedbed edge.

New birds at the landfill area included eight Red Kite and a Common Sandpiper  Twelve Shoveler still and a few more Teal, than yesterday, at 11.

14th March - mostly cloudy, light SSW, 10C

Shawell Lagoons; a look here after lunch turned-up three Avocet, resting on the shore.  They didn't do much other than rest while I watched, but still a good record for the county away from Rutland Water. a new site record and I think the third for SW Leices, last in 2011.

Other birds included a single Snipe and Lapwing, Wigeon, Teal and two pairs of Mallard.