30th Jan - mostly sunny, mod NW, 8C

 No obs to report today.

29th Jan - low cloud and dull lifting during the morning. Light-mod SW, 9C

A5 Pools/DIRFT; morning.

Not looked here for awhile.  c150 lapwing, Shelduck pair, a Little Egret and Shoveler, Teal, Wigeon.

Lilbourne 'wet' Meadows; morning

Just the usual waterfowl today.  c15 Goldfinch feeding on seeds along the hedgerow.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon

Nothing new to report.  A male Bullfinch, Long-tailed Tits and a Goldcrest were feeding in the orchard area.

28th Jan - cloudy, 7C, very light N

Lutterworth;

This morning A Little Egret flew east over town.  I counted 15 House Sparrows in the bushes at Morrisons car park.

WIlley; morning

At the paddock feed station this morning birds included eight Greenfinches, a Yellowhammer, two Chaffinches, a Stock Dove, two  Collard Doves and two Long-tailed Tits.

Ravensthorpe reservoir; afternoon.

I popped over here principally to see the female Ring-necked Duck which has been here a few days, I had good views but it was busy feeding all the time, and difficult to get a clear photo..

Shawell Sandpit/landfill; late afternoon.

Interestingly the Coots have now increased to 15 -  so where have they come from?

11 Gadwall, four Shovelers, Teal, Tufted Ducks and Mallards.  c 60 Lapwings flew over.

Shawell Starling Roost;

Still coming to roost, c30000.  They all gather on the landfill before going straight in to the roost.  A couple of peregrines were hunting through the flocks.

27th Jan - cloudy, 6C, light N

Willey;

Two Ravens  in the fields behind the Church this morning.

A Red Kite flew over N, low, mid-afternoon.

I spotted a very large flock of Lapwings, very high, over the Ullesthorpe area from the home Paddock.  The size of the flock looked like a 'cloud', they wheeled round and headed off northward.  At least 1000 - not seen a flock of this size around here for decades.

26th Jan - mostly cloudy, light N, 6C. Ground still half frozen

Stanford reservoir;, afternoon.

About half frozen over still.

The drake Red-crested Pochard still here.  17 Goldeneye counted, plus other regular winter ducks.

A Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were hunting.  Two Mistle Thrushes feeding on the dam.

Plenty of Gulls on the ice.  Chris spotted a colour ringed Black-headed Gull, we read the code as X95K - lets see what it returns.

25th Jan - misty/fog cleared mid-day, then cloudy, temp rising slowly during the day, 4C late afternoon. very light WNW

Misterton; lake from, very quiet in the woodland

A Great Tit was singing for a short while.  A Song Thrush was exploring the Ivy on a tree.

24th Jan - frost -4C last night. Today sunny, 4C, very light NW

Willey; morning.

Two Ravens in the field trees behind Church lane.

Shawell sandpit/landfill; early afternoon.

Plenty of Gulls on the ice enable a number of rings to be read.  A smart adult Yellow-legged Gull was close.

Picture to be added

I counted 50 Ravens, a few Red Kites.  With most of the water frozen duck number are currently down, c50 Teal, four Gadwall plus Mallards.

23rd Jan - frost -2C. Today sunny, light S, 4C

 Wigston sewerage works area.

I checked here again for the YBW, but no luck.

Green and Great-spotted Woodpeckers, Treecreeper, Snipe over, plus usual Tits.  A good number of Pied Wagtails on the filter beds 20+, also Redwings and a few Fieldfares.

22nd Jan - frost last nigh -4C. Today high cloud, light NW, 3C

WeBs count day, so visited some lakes.

Soar Brook Lake;  99% frozen

A small open water area under the bushes held Mallard, Wigeon and a Little Grebe, a Snipe from the ditch.

On the lake ice c400 LBB Gulls plus small numbers of Black-headed, Common and Herring Gulls.   No colour rings spotted.

Mere Lane Lake;

Just a very small area of free water which held 3 Little Grebes and 14 Coots.

Stanford Hall Lake area;

A good number of Wigeon and Mallard on the free water and grazing, 10 Moorhens, a Great Egret, female Goosander and Cormorant too.  The flock of Canada and Greylag Geese were on the adjacent fields.

Shawell;  bird food crop area

c70 Chaffinches, several Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers.  Adjacent field held c80 Fieldfare and 10 Golden Plovers.

21st Jan - frost -5C last night. Sunny, 4C, very light NW

Willey;

I checked my feed station before mid-day,still not an awful lot of variety visiting and still only one male House Sparrow.  At least we have a reasonable number of Greenfinches in the area visiting the feeders and the Church yews.

Magna Park Lake, morning.

I checked here today for the WeBs counts, but the lake was completely frozen over and no waterbirds were found.

Wigston Sewerage Works area; afternoon

A n afternoon here to find the Yellow-browed Warbler which was discovered a couple of days ago.  Despite being reported this morning it could not be found during the afternoon.  However, at least six Chiffchaffs were present, along with a variety of other biirds feeding around the works.

20th Jan - Frost last night -3C. Mostly sunny, light NNW, 5C

Shawell; afternoon

I checked the bird food area, nothing much present, except on the neighboring arable field there was 13 Golden Plovers.

Stanford reservoir;  afternoon

The red-crested Pochard was still present.  Otherwise just the regular winter birds, three Bullfinches were nice to see.

19thn Jan - Frost last night. mostly sunny, light NW, 3C

Decided to go to Norfolk, primarily to see the Geese and Ducks at Holkham.  

On the way stopped at Brancaster to see the Hume's leaf Warbler - which didn't show.  However, two Spoonbills were good to see.

When I arrived at Lady Anne's Drive a little crowd was gathered peering over the hedge, a quick query told me they were watching the Long-billed Dowitcher very close.  This bird I saw last autumn at Salthouse and has remained the winter along this stretch of coast.  

The main event of the Geese and Ducks coming back to fresh marsh to roost started about 1530h and continued to dusk, most were coming in to the west end of the marches, the sight and sound is always fantastic to see and hear, thoroughly worth seeing.

18th Jan - frost -2C last night. Today sunny periods, light NW, 5C

Shawell sandpit/landfill; afternoon.

Another look here, no white-wingers showing yet this winter.

20 Gadwall, 16 Shoveler were present today. 

Two Coots, may not seem too interesting but Coots have been absent for quite awhile, when once they were always here and bred.

17th Jan - frost last night -5C. sunny spells, light W, 3C

Shawell; afternoon.

Checked the bird  food cover crop here, 17 Reed Buntings, a few Chaffinches and Yellowhammers too.

Shawell sandpit/landfill; afternoon

An area of ice cover today - c10%

A large number of Gulls, many, many Herring Gulls.  Two Caspian Gulls - an adult and 1W seen.

All the usual ducks and corvids

16thn Jan - mostly cloudy/sunny spells, a wintry shower mid afternoon, 3C, mod breeze NW

Willey; afternoon.

I check of my feed station area, somewhat more activity today than in recent weeks,

One male House Sparrow - as commented previously I usually have c25.  Also, a male Yellowhammer was present, along with 3 Chaffinch, c10 Blue Tits, 8 Great Tits.  Greenfinches kept dropping in, and going to the Church yews, I reckon at least 10 were present.  

A Bullfinch pair was feeding in the church lane hedge, a Goldcrest was nearby.

A Green Sandpiper was in the muddy gateway just over Wyatts bridge.

A few redwings and Fieldfares were around, a Rooks were flying over from the fields back to the Rookery in the Long Spinney.

15th Jan - mostly cloudy, mod WSW, 8C

Willey;

c50 Redwings feeding on the pasture, Perkins fields, 0900h

Husbands Bosworth sandpit pool; morning.

A few Duck - Teal, Wigeon, Mallard, Gadwall and Tufted Duck, one Little Grebe.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Red-crested Pochard Drake on the dam.  Usual winter ducks.

13 Stock Doves feeding on game crop in adjacent field.  A couple of Raven again.  Only 1-2 Redwings and Fieldfares about.  A Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker were heard.

14th Jan - early rain clearing to broken cloud, mod WSW, freshening pm, 10C, but cooling down

Eldernell - Nene 'Washes'

A visit to the Nene washes in winter never fails to disappoint, just the spectacle of thousands of birds, often being disturbed by a predator is worth it.

Today was special as three Long-eared Owls were roosting and visible, also two Short-eared Owls, whilst a Barn Owl kept flying past the area hunting.

A Marsh Harrier, Red Kite, Kestrels, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Buzzard and a brief Hen Harrier in to roost completed the raptors seen.

Very few Swans were present, whilst checking some in the field, all Mutes,, three Whoopers flew in to join them (a pair and juv).  Later four Bewick Swans flew east passed the car park area.

All the usual winter duck, a very good number of Pintails on view.  c20 Black-tailed Godwits were feeding and thousands of Lapwings.

Three Common Cranes flew in and began feeding distant though.  Grey Herons, Great and Little Egrets were seen.   Two ravens were flying around.

The thing about digiscoping is that you can be a distance from sensitive species and still get a close-up, as with the Long-eared Owls.

13th Jan - sunny am, mostly cloudy pm, mod-freshening SW-W, 9C

Willey;

A couple of Ravens over this morning.

Frolesworth Manor Lake; morning

Not looked here for a long time.  c40 Greylag Geese, two Mute Swans, a few Tufted and mallard, seven Coot and two Moorhens.  A mixed flock of Common, Black-headed and Herring Gulls were coming and going, a Red Kite hunting over the fields.

Stanford Hall; afternoon.

A good sized flock of Canada and Greylag Geese, but still no 'wild' geese dropping in.  Going to include this site in WeBs counts from hereon in.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

The drake red-crested Pochard was at the dam, otherwise just the expected winter wildfowl.

An adult Caspian Gull came in among the Gulls beginning to gather for roosting.

Barn Owl  - Ring recovery info

The unidentifiable bird remains I found on the A5 roadside 27th Dec 22 turns out to be a Barn Owl ringed as a nestling 12Km away on 11th July 22 (169 days prior to find).

As with the Kestrel I picked up late last year both birds became road casualties within a few months (weeks!) of life.

12th Jan - showers, 8C, mod SW

Shawell Sandpit/landfill; afternoon.

Plenty of Gulls inn the area and other regulars.

I did count 52 Ravens

11th Jan - partly cloudy am, rain from 1300h and blustery wind SW, 8C

Willey; morning

Most mornings, 0800-0815h flocks of Starlings head over the village, W/NW, dispersing from the Shawell roost site.  

Usually a few small flocks will gather on the pastures for a while to feed, however this morning a larger group, c500, were busy feeding on one field along with a few Redwings and Fieldfares.  They kept moving from field to field until mid-morning before flying off.

10th Jan - rain till midday. Pm cloudy, showers later. Mod SW wind, 8C

 No obs to report today.

9th Jan - sunny spells, mod W, 7C

Willey;

A Song Thrush was singing at 0800h from the Church lane hedge.  A couple of Greylag Geese flew over a little later, eastward.

Shawell sandpit/landfill; afternoon.

Very large number of Gulls over the landfill site, proportionately few in the sandpit to view.  

c 40 Ravens, several red Kites, 10 Wigeon, 5 Gadwall, only one Shovelers seen, c120 Teal,

8th Jan - mostly cloudy, mod S/SW, 8C

Willey;

Four Buzzards this morning  on the Perkins pasture, walking about. I guess yesterdays rain has forced some worms up and they are after them.

DIRFT A5 Pools, morning.

Three Shelducks, c15 Shovelers, Teal and Wigeon.  109 Lapwing. A Grey Heron and Little Egret.

15 Skylarks and c50 Linnets feeding.

Two Ravens over.

Eyebrook reservoir; afternoon.

A Red Kite, four Buzzards, Peregrine (trying for a duck) and  two Ravens.

The usual wintering ducks, including six Smews (4 drakes) and a female Scaup, three Pintails.

7th Jan - rain, light-heavy at times, untill1430h. Then sunny periods. SW mod/blustery, easing mod pm, 9C

Shawell sandpit/landfill; afternoon.

with a washed-out morning and no tipping this afternoon there were very few Gulls to observe, even on the exposed tip face.

Duck numbers were good, 23 Gadwalls (my highest count here), c120 Teal, c30 Tufted, c15 Shovelers and Mallards.  Ravens 15+, red Kite 2.

Stanford reservoir, afternoon.

A look here over the main water, the Red-crested Pochard was in the corner of Blowers Lodge Bay.

Over the adjacent field three Red Kites and a gathering of 15 Ravens.

6th Jan - cloudy, mod SSW, 9C

Willey.

A Sparrowhawk flew along the village street, then in to fields, 0833.

A Red Kites flew low over the village heading off W, 1400h, a Green Sandpiper was at the pond behind the old railway track, 1430h.

A few fresh Barn Owl pallets in another shed where I have put a box.  I expect a wintering bird in the area, probably the same bird as I mentioned recently.

5th Jan - broken cloud, mod SW, 11C

 Stanford Reservoir, afternoon.

Pretty quiet.  Red Kite, 2 Ravens around.  Just the usual ducks and Gulls.

4th Jan - sunny intervals, mostly light SW, 12C

WIlley;

The two Barn Owl Pellets I showed the other day (27th Dec)  contained five skulls.  One was a Field Vole the others were Mice.   Not too surprising as the Barley straw in the barn has been home to many mice.

However, I've not captured the Owl on the field camera yet.

3rd Jan - light rain/drizzle most of the day, mostly light SW, 10C

Shawell sandpit/landfill; early afternoon.

Tipping activities resumed after the holidays and Gull numbers were picking up again. As were the Red Kite and Raven numbers too.

A couple of Caspian Gulls, 1W and "W.

A colour ringed LBBG, X0CT, from the Thames group, details awaited.

Always nice to see the first Catkins flowering.

2nd Jan - sunny am, broken cloud pm, 7C, light SW/W

Willey; 1650h

A Tawny Owl 'hooting' from cover on the disused railway.

Shawell sandpit/landfill; morning.

Pretty quiet, not filling activity so very few gulls.  Only one Red Kite, several Ravens.

c60 Lapwings flew over, c 100 Teal, c10 Shovelers, eight Tufted Duck.

Harborough Magna/St. Mary's bird food/cover field

c25 Linnets, c15 Chaffinches, a kestrel, c40 Starlings, a few Redwings and Fieldfares.

Draycote Water, afternoon.

A look here to see the Long-tailed Duck and Great Norther Diver.  I soon spotted the LT Duck feeding in the Toft bay area.  After some time of scanning I found a adult GN Diver, which was soon joined by a second, both busy having a 'wash'.

Several Goosanders, Goldeneyes present, other duck numbers seemed low.  Plenty of Little Grebes.

A Green Woodpecker was heard.

Shawell Starling roost;

Checked the roost this evening, c30000 coming to roost, but still not 'murmurating' much, going down to roost very quickly.

1st January 2023 - sunny am, cloudy pm, 11C, light SW

A look a several local sites today.

DIRFT/A5 pool; morning

Quiet generally, five Shelduck still.  410 Lapwings and two Golden Plovers.  Plus Shovelers, Teal, Mallards and Wigeons.

Shawell;

Sunflower/cover field, eight Reed Buntings and four Yellowhammers with c15 Chaffinches.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

All the usual ducks, the drake Red-crested Pochard, four Goldeneyes, plus the other usual birds.  

A Red Kite, a Treecreeper, c60mFieldfares, c 15 Redwings.