30th November - cloudy, dull, some drizzle at times, some mist, light NW, 8C

Cotesbach Landfill; Plenty of Gulls but viewing conditions were poor.  49 Teal, a few Shoveler and two Red Kites were seen.

More Stock Doves came in to roost today, 55.

29th November - cloudy, misty/murky all day, practically still, 6C

Willey; all the usual at the feed station, including four Greenfinch, two Coal Tits, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers.  

Cotesbach Landfill; after lunch still very difficult to see much, but I could just make out the two Shelduck were still present.

Stanford reservoir; fortunately the mist lifted and thinned a little improving visibility.  

Eight Goldeneye and a drake Goosander, along with the other usual ducks.  A Stonechat near the dam was in the usual area.  Green And Great-Spotted Woodpeckers, a good number of Fieldfare and Redwings.  Blackbirds were more numerous - more migrants noticed on the east coast in the last few days.

I was watching a couple of Tree Sparrows at the feed station when a Sparrowhawk flew in like an arrow and flushed the passerines.

Linnets were starting to come in to roost and a single Goldfinch was seen. 

28th November - cloudy, misty and dull all day, light rain pm, light eatery. 8C

Cotesbach Landfill; Few Gulls in the murk this morning, no tipping occurring today, Carl Baggott was already checking for the Glaucous Gull that was reported in yesterday evenings Gull roost at Draycote.

A couple of Shelduck were present, unusual here this time of year (first November record here for me, did have a single 23 Dec 2019, see blog then for photo). A couple of Cormorant too, otherwise usual Ducks were present.

Stanford reservoir; a walk here during the afternoon in the misty gloom.  A Kingfisher flew along the side over the water, four Shoveler were on the water, with the other ducks, A Great Egret was in the Northants reed bed, chased off by a Grey Heron. A single Grey Wagtail in the spillway.

A Green Woodpecker was feeding along the by-pass path, it flew in to a Ash sapling staying long enough for a record photo.

27th November - cloud, sunny periods, calm-light NE

Cotesbach Landfill; a look this afternoon, plenty of Gulls (including Yellow-legged and Caspian) again, Starlings and jackdaws on the tipping area and eight Red Kites seen.

A colour ringed LBBG was noted, VF7S, this has been seen here several times and in previous years.

41 Teal and seven Shoveler and three Mute Swans, plus a few Mallards were on the water in the sandpit area.  

A Raven and Meadow Pipit flew over. Nearby a Green Woodpecker was around, flushed by a Sparrowhawk at one time.

Starling roost; I visited the Starling roost site, still,c25000 coming in to roost, a lovely evening to watch them on.

26th November - frost last noght, sunny, calm, 6C

Willey; a check of the feed station area again.  Male and female Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Coal Tit with other regulars, Nuthatch, a Sparrowhawk flew nearby with disturbing the feeding birds.  Two Jay heard nearby, a few Rooks flew over northwards to the fields, also Stock Doves and woodpigeons.

25th November - light rain/drizzle am, cloudy, brighter pm, light W, 10C

Willey; checked my feed station and area midday-ish.  More redwings and Fieldfares now visiting the Holly tree for berries, Yew berries have nearly gone, but plenty of Haws and Sloes still.  Six Greenfinch visited the feeder and bushes, plus a couple of Goldfinch and Chaffinch.  

A Goldcrest was present in the Church old Yew and Blackbirds were visiting too.  A male and female Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Collard Doves and three Magpies dropped in.  A Green Woodpecker was heard a few times, a party of Long-tailed Tits passed along the hedgerow.

Cotesbach Landfill; a check this afternoon, lots of Gulls around the landfill and mostly distant, checking for an early 'white-winger'.  Records are increasing now around the country and with more northerly weather it may bring them in.  

Stock Dove numbers at the roost have reduced, now 24.  A good number of Starlings feeding on the landfill, c300.

24th November - sunny spells, light-mod Southerly, 12C

Hinckley; As I had to visit here this morning, I walked through St. Marys to the War memorial area. I noticed that several birds were being attracted to some old Yew trees that were carrying many berries.  A few Redwings, Blackbirds and two Mistle Thrush.  a flock of 25 Greenfinches was also present, sometimes sitting in the Poplars then coming to the Yews.   A couple of Goldcrest also present.

Stanford reservoir;  another check for the Bearded Tit pair, the wind had picked up again, straight through the reed bed.  However, I was rewarded with a very brief view of one flying.  Maybe next time better views.

A good flock of Fieldfares feeding on the berries, maybe 400 and lesser number of Redwing.  Nothing unusual on the water though.

I noted 45 Linnets coming in to roost in the waterside trees/bushes.

23rd November - some frost last night, sunny, light SW, 9C

Cotesbach landfill; a quick look this afternoon, only notable was the 12 Red Kites looking for food. 

22nd Nov - sunny, very light SW, 9C

Stanford reservoir; the Bearded Tits were seen again this morning but I could not make it until 1300h. I spent the afternoon there but there wass no sound or sighting of them -I wonder where they disappear to?

While watching the reed bed and good flock of Fieldfare, c300, came over and some Redwings, three Water Rail were heard.  Two Treecreeper, Long-tailed Tits and Goldfinches were around too.  A Raven flew over SW.

21st Nov - sunny spells, light-gentle SW, 12C

Stanford reservoir; this morning I searched for the Beared Tits in the main reed bed - but no joy.  

Redwings were present and c300 Fieldfares.  On the water a large flock of Greylags which included a Barnacle Goose and a Pink-footed Goose, later Chris found three.

Cotesbach Landfill; not much present this afternoon, although seven Red Kites were present feeding. Also, 18 Goldfinches were feeding on weeds, Redwings and Fieldfare were feeding on berries.

A good count of 41 Teal were on the water.

Shawell Lagoons;  a good count of 263 Lapwings were present.

Starling roost;  still plenty of birds coming to roost at this site.

20th Nov - cloudy am, rain, dull low cloud pm, light SSW, 8C

Willey; this morning a Mistle Thrush was in the Church Yew tree.

Cotesbach landfill; a look mid-afternoon but the weather was pretty miserable, dull and damp.  The 'Nordic Jackdaw' was spotted again.  Only a c5 Stock Doves came ion to roost.  Otherwise all the regulars present.

19th Nov - rain til late am, then broken cloud/sunny spells, light NW, 9C

Cotesbach landfill; this afternoon, 33 Tufted Duck, 31 Teal, Shoveler 2and a drake Pochard, Gull numbers were very good, seemingly a few more Common Gulls than recently, c20.  Carl turned-up and found Yellow-legged and Caspian Gulls.

c25 Stock Doves came to roost. A few Redwings came over, a 3 Meadow Pipits were around.

Undisclosed site; went to check the Starling roost again, birds are still coming in, c25000, but could easily be more.

18 Nov - cloudy, occasional shower, blustery SW, 13C

Cotesbach landfill; two Green Sandpipers were together today.  c 500 Starlings were in the tree tops of the spinney making a lot of noise, not sure whey they weren't feeding in the tipping area.  Only a few Teal and Shoveler present, plenty of Canada and Greylag Geese though.  

The 'Nordic Jackdaw' was again present with other (Western) Jackdaws feeding along the slopes. Three Red Kites were present.  Twelve Long-tailed Tits were moving along the boundary hedgerow.

17th Nov - low-ish cloud all day, mod SSW, mild 14C

WIlley; Noted several fresh Barn Owl pellets this morning, I will collect a few and examine for prey species.

At my feed station, late afternoon, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a few Blue and Great Tits, two Chaffinch and two Goldfinch, generally very quiet though.  

After a while the GSWs left, but the male headed to the top of a Ash tree.  It hung on to the very top twig, sometimes calling, but mostly eyeing the surrounding area.  It stayed there for a good 10 minutes before coming back to the feeder.

GSW in very top of Ash tree -  can you see it?

Now digiscoped from the same spot......

A few Redwing and Fieldfare came in to roost in the old railway bushes, but numbers seem to have dropped locally in the last few days.  

c200-300 Starlings flew over in waves at 1540, heading for a roost site.

16th Nov - cloudy, light SW, freshening pm and light rain later, 10C

WIlley; a Barn Owl flew from a hay barn, 0840h, maybe its using the Owl box I have erected nearby.

A neat cluster of fungi was spotted in a grass gateway.

Cotesbach Landfill; 48 Teal today, a Raven flew over calling, several Jackdaws feeding on the slopes, including the 'Nordic Jackdaw'.  Eight Red Kiters looking for food.

Stanford reservoir; Two Bearded Tit were seen this morning and a little later caught and ringed.  I could not find them this afternoon.

As the Beech mast has failed this year some supplemental feeding has been put down under the Beeches.  Currently c50 Chaffinch, a Brambling, Nuthatch and Tits are taking advantage of it.  c200 Fieldfares and fewer Redwings were feeding along the water by-pass trees.

A Great Egret flew west along the reservoir and a Stonechat was near the spillway.

15th Nov - mod-gusty, sometimes strong SW, showers, 9C

Another pretty miserable day weather wise.

Shawell Lagoons; this afternoon, 152 Lapwings were present, plus a few Gulls, a Great Crested Grebe, few Teal and Tufted Ducks.

Cotesbach Landfill; 37 Teal, 7 Shoveler, a few Tufted and Mallard, Canada 103 and 81 Greylag Geese.  Three Red Kites were looking for food.  A couple of Raven flew from the tipping area.

A group of 25 Magpies gathered and were feeding and chasing each other.

80 Stock Doves came in to roost today.

14th Nov - moderate-gusty southerly wind , with showers and rain, 14C

Cotesbach landfill; a mid-morning visit, a Green Sandpiper was flying, not too much else due to the weather conditions, apart from four Shoveler, a few Teal and Tufted Duck.

A check mid-afternoon was good for counting the Stock Doves that came to roost.  I counted 89 from a photo I took and there were a few more, so c100 can in to roost.

13th Nov - sunny am, cloud later pm, 10C, light S

Stanford reservoir; Chris called to say he had just found twom Bearded Tits in the main reedbed, the last record here was 1980.  Unfortunately, the flew up and away eastward as I travelled there, so did not see them. 

A Water Rail was calling in the reed bed, two Kestrels were nearby and Redwings and Fieldfares were feeding on the bushes.  Several Goldfinches were feeding on the seeds and a Chiffchaff was flitting about.

12th Nov - sunny spells, light SSW, 12C

Cotesbach landfill; early afternoon. Plenty of Gulls present today, lots to look through. Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls were numerous.  Two Egyptian Geese still present.

Undisclosed site; checked out the Starling roost this evening -  good show again.

11th Nov - cloudy, dull pm, mod-breezy SSE, 12C - feeling cool.

Willey; this morning a steady movement of Redwings and some Fieldfares south following the old railway track.

Cotesbach landfill; a look late afternoon, about 150 Jackdaw were in the sandpit area, including the 'Nordic' type, still challenging to get a decent photo'

A couple of Egyptian Geese were present among the Greylag Geese.

 

10th Nov - mostly cloudy, 12C, light SSE

Willey; I checked my feed station and area midday-ish.  A couple of Nuthatch, a male and female Great Spotted Woodpecker, four Greenfinch and three Goldfinch, plus other regulars.  A jay dropped in briefly and a couple of Magpie were hanging around.

c30 Fieldfare were flying over and back to the local fields.  c20 Redwings were coming to the Church Yew tree berries and the Sloes and Haws in the lane.

At about 1600h a reasonable flock of Starlings flew over heading to their roost site.

9th Nov - cloudy, light ESE, 13C

Cotesbach Landfill; Ruddy Shelducks still, a Green Sandpiper and 9 Red Kites.

Stanford reservoir;  a couple of Barnacle Geese were spotted on the water this morning by Peter, a little later photographed by Chris on the adjacent field.  This showed that one had a ring, however the metal ring did not appear to be a BTO type.  The Barnacles were still present ton the fields with a large number of Greylag Geese.

Now the Greylag Geese seemed to spending more time here and feeding on the adjacent fields I am hopeful that other wild Geese will be drawn in for a stay (Pink-footed, Brent, Bean?).

A drake Goldeneye was present on the reservoir, along with the other usual winter Ducks.

8th Nov - cloudy, misty, dull, very light ESE, 12C

Cotesbach landfill; a nice selection of ducks in the sandpit area this morning. Gadwall 6, Teal 43, Pochard 3, Wigeon 14, Mallard, Tufted Duck and Shoveler5, plus the five Ruddy Shelducks still.  

Also, the Green Sandpiper feeding around the islands. Eight lapwings, single Red Kite and Buzzard.

Stanford reservoir; this afternoon, 20 Goldfinch and several Lesser Redpolls feeding on weed seeds, roving Tit flocks again included a Chiffchaff today. A Bullfinch pair were present too.  Duck included 11 Shoveler and 17 Teal plus a Goldeneye.

The Starling roost again this evening, if you have an entrance permit and live local you can currently visit the site, to see the roost murmuration.

Some interesting Fungi appearing now.

Undisclosed site; due to the current virus lockdown rules its not possible to disclose the site to avoid numbers of people gathering together.