16th April - strong-gusty SW, 30-40mph, 15C, but feeling much cooler, sunny periods

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

A quick check here in case some Terns had been blown in, but no.

A Common Sandpiper was on the dam.  Most other birds were doing their best to find shelter, about from the Great-crested Grebes which seemed oblivious to the rough conditions.

Lilbourne Meadows;  evening.

A good count of 14 Yellow Wagtails, also 12 Pied Wagtails.  Redshank pair, a drake Shelduck, c20 Teal plus Mallard, Shoveler and Gadwall.   A Little Egret, and two Swallows.

15th April - mostly cloudy, light Easterly, 14C

 Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

A single Shelduck, plus Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler and Mallard.

Three Yellow Wagtails, four Pied, a Little Egret and Grey Heron.

Great Spotted Woodpecker investigation the fence posts for food.

20 Starlings feeding on the meadow.

14th April - Broken cloud, 14C, light S

Lilbourne Meadows; evening

Nothing new.  Eight Yellow Wagtails were notable around the field pools.

Single Little Egret still.

13th April - high cloud, 14C, mostly light SW

Lilbourne Meadows, morning.

Two Yellow Wagtails, three Swallows, two Little Egret, two male Reed Buntings, a Kestrel and two Little Grebes.

Bittesby Country Park; afternoon.

10 Speckled Wood and one male Orange -tip.

Blackcap and Chiffchaff singing, two Stock Doves and a hunting Kestrel.  Several Skylarks on the meadows and cock Pheasants calling/display.  

12 April - Sunny, high cloud increasing, 22C, light SE

 Burton Hastings; afternoon.

A male Ring Ouzel was reported this morning in a Sheep field near the canal.  I made it after lunch, only Gary Hobbs was present.  After watching the male for a sort while, and a male Blackbird collecting food for youngsters, I noticed another bird close by, which I soon realised was a female Ring Ouzel.  This had not been seen earlier by anyone.

Shawell Lagoons

Still 10 Lapwings present on the sand bar, plus a Cormorant, a Teal pair and Little Egret.  It is only my second record of Little Egret at this site.

11th April - Sunny, 22C, light Easterly

Honey Hill; Cold Ashby

A check here for Ring Ouzel, but no joy.  Pretty quiet, but a few Linnets were present.

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

A Redshank, plus the usual ducks.  Green Woodpecker heard.

10th April - Sunny, light NE, 16C. No frost last night.

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

Very similar to recent visits, a single Shelduck and Yellow Wagtail were present.

Walton; evening

c15 Fieldfares in field trees discovered whilst doing my annual Rookery count.

9th April - ground frost again, an hour of cold fog, dissipating to sunny day, light-mod NE, 15C

Willey;

A pair of Red-legged Partridges this afternoon east of old railway near bridle gate in to Hurls Furlong.

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

Surprisingly quiet.  Three Lapwings in territory, a Redshank, a Little Grebe, usual Ducks.

Sandy Lane, Cotesbach; afternoon.

A pair of Shelducks on the quarry pit, also three Canada Geese and two Coot.  Three Linnets along the lane.   Several Red Kites, 5+ and two Buzzards.

A Mute Swans on the Sandy lane field pool.

An Orange Tip Butterfly seen

8th April - Ground frost, then, sunny, light easterly, 15C

Willey;

A Tawny Owl called very early morning from the church area.

Lilbourne Meadows, evening.

Very similar to last visit, except four Yellow Wagtails were busy feeding.  A Little Egret, Snipe and Redshank again.

Male Reed Bunting.

7th April - Frost last night. Sunny, light easterly, 15C

Lilbourne Meadows, evening.

Waders included Lapwing pair, Redshank pair, a Snipe, an Oystercatcher and a Curlew.

A Little Grebe, two Little Egrets and a Grey Heron.

Shovelers c12, 32 Teal, Mallards and six Gadwall.

A Yellow Wagtail was with a Pied on the meadow, along with two feeding Starlings.

6th April - Sunny, gentle-mod easterly, 16C

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Three Sand martins flying high, a Sedge Warbler seen on Blowers Bay area, plenty Chiffchaffs and several Blackcaps.

Seven Goldeneye, a pair Shovelers, and a single Teal.  A Great White Egret.

5th April - Sunny, mod-brisk NE, 16C

WIlley; Raven over low 0730h

Lilbourne Meadows; morning/evening

I checked here twice as wader movement in Northants had been noted during the day, however no migrants were found.

The pair of Redshanks were on show. 12 Shovelers and 10 Teal.  A Little Egret and Little Grebe.

A female Reed Bunting feeding on the Blackthorn bushes, later on the ground.  Three Goldfinches.

4th April - Sunny, mod-brisk easterly, 18C

Willey; 

0845h c50 Fieldfares on the fields and trees.

Shawell sandpit/landfill; morning

Just the regulars, but interesting to see a Common Gull with 'bleached' wing feathers.  I've only seen this on larger Gulls previously, that I recall.  Very noticeable in the glaring sunshine

A Speckled Wood.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Made it just too late to see the flock of Little Gulls that came in during the morning.

Three Wigeon were noted and great White Egret, Oystercatcher pair on the dam.

Four Green-veined Whites spotted.

3rd April - Sunny, light-mod easterly, 18C

Willey;

A Red Kite over 0930h, and a Blackcap heard singing a little on the old railway track.  A Goldfinch pair around the church area, maybe they will nest in the Horse Chestnut this year as previously.

A Swallow flew in, c1030h, and hung around the old stable area, later three were seen flying around.  First of the year returning birds for home.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.

Two each Redshanks and Snipe feeding.  A Little Egret, several each of Teal and Shoveler and a single Gadwall. 

2nd April - mod-brisk NW-Easterly, Sunny, 16C, but cool feeling in the wind

Stanford reservoir, afternoon.

A look here, hoping that some of the Little Gulls reported in the Midlands would show, but alas no.

A couple of Goldeneye on the main water, and a pair Teal.  A Red Kite over.  A single Little Egret.

Butterflies were 3 Peacocks and a Green-veined White (my fist for the year record).

1st April - Touch ground frost last night. Becoming sunny, mod, occasionally brisk easterly, 16C. Feeling cool in the wind, but very warm in sheltered areas.

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

A look at the field flood pools area.

Six Shovelers, 26 Teal, a few Gadwall and mallard. Two Little Grebes. A Little Egret.

First Little Ringed Plover passing through.

Goldfinches singing in the corner spinney.

Butterflies were two Peacocks and a Small Tortoiseshell.

31st - ground frost last night. Sunny, light S/SW, 16C

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

Had a short look around Keepers Bay up to the main reed bed.  Toads were calling at the reed bed.

Five Goldeneye, three Shovelers, Gadwall.

Red Kite, Grey Heron. Great White Egret.

Chiffchaffs in good numbers and Blackcap singing now.

A Brimstone and Peacock butterfly seen.

30th March - mostly sunny, mod - fresh NW, 13C. Cool in the wind, but warmer inn sheltered spots

Shawell Sandpit/Landfill; morning

Eight Gadwall, 18 Teal, one Shoveler, only two Red Kites, a few Ravens, Green Woodpecker.

Black-headed and Common Gulls c15 each, larger Gulls pretty much absent.

Brandon Marsh; afternoon.

Cetti's Warbler and Green Woodpecker heard.

On the East Marsh 69 Shovelers, Teal, Gadwall, a Shelduck, 6 Lapwing (territories?), two Cormorants, Red Kite over, plus the other expected birds.

A Wren was collecting moss off a tree trunk for a nest.

Three Comma Butterflies and six Peacocks.  An unidentified shot past, possibly a Speckled Wood.

Plenty of Primroses flowering on the bank.

29th March - Frost -1C last night. Sunny with cloudy increasing, Mod-fresh SW, 12C but feeling cooler

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

No Wigeon seen at the flood pools today.

One Little Egret, 17 Shoveler, Gadwall and Teal, three Little Grebes.

Red Kite over and Green Woodpecker present.

Otherwise pretty quiet.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

Two each Wigeon, Pochard and Teal.  Nine Goldeneye.

Male Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tits, Treecreeper, a Grey Wagtail.

28th March - early liught rain, giving ay to sunny spells, mod NW becoming fresh, 13C

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Plenty of Chiffchaffs around singing now.

Highlights were - seven Goldeneye, c 30 Fieldfares, a Great White Egret, two Oystercatchers, and 15 Sand Martins through SW.

Some Blackthorn is now in full flower.

27th March - cloudy am, sunny pm, light-mod SW, 17C

Lilbourne Meadows; morning

Only c30 Wigeon around the flood pools today, plus a few Teal and Gadwall.  A Little Grebe pair.

Two Kestrels were hassling a Buzzard.  A Green Woodpecker 'yaffled' and a Chiffchaff was singing in the corner spinney and a male Reed Bunting at the paddock entrance gate,.

9 Fieldfares were in the hedgerow trees.   Four Roe Deer on the 'bank'.

Shawell Sandpit/Landfill; afternoon.

Plenty of Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls, a few Common Gulls, and an adult Caspian Gull.

10+ Red Kites, a few Ravens.  Three pairs Canada Geese.

Ducks were 8 Teal, 4 Gadwall, c20 Tufted and a Mallard pair.  Two Little Grebe.

A Chiffchaff, Blackbird and Song Thrush were singing.

26th March - cloudy am, lovely sun pm, light W/SW, 14C

 Willey:

A Buzzard was  performing a great display flight over the field behind d the church at 1430h, which another circled close by.  One or both called at times.  Doing it's own 'big dipper' impression'!

c20 Redwings feeding on the Perkins pasture between the road and spinney, 1400h.

25th March - cloudy, short rain spell morning, light, mostly NW, 14C

Busy, no obs, except a Song Thrush that flew up in to a tree at 1900h, out side the lambing shed, and gave 10 minutes of loud full song, which was lovely.

24th March - cloudy, giving way to a lovely sunny day, light NW, 14C

Busy day again. 

Willey; Red Kite over again this morning.  Greenfinch giving super display flights this morning.

Soar Brook lake; early afternoon -a quick look, but very quiet.

The Oystercatcher pair seems settled in now.   Green Woodpecker heard.  Mallard pair, four Coots.

23rd March - Cloudy, dull and mist at times, very brief bright spells pm, light-mod NE, 12C, but feeling cool

Willey; A red Kite over again mid-morning and nine Canada Geese flew over low, maybe going down on field pond.

Shawell lagoons; afternoon.

On the south pool two great-crested Grebes (not a pair), two Teal and 32 Lapwings.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Two female Goosanders, 10 Goldeneyes, and two Teal.  Oystercatcher pair.  A Great White Egret.

A Pink-footed Goose with the Greylags/Canada Geese on the field behind the spillway.

Several Chiffchaffs, two each Linnet and Bullfinch.  Two Red-legged Partridges.

A Red Kite and Buzzard around.

22nd March - cloudy, light SE/E, 16C

Lilbourne Meadows; morning

Similar to last visit, 16 Shoveler, four Little Egrets and two Little Grebes along with the other recent usual birds.

A single Redwing was feeding on the pasture a hedge and a Chiffchaff singing from the lane corner thicket.

Bittesby Country Park; early afternoon.

My first Chiffchaff for the site this year was singing in trees near the tunnel. Plenty of Skylark activity over the meadows, plus a Kestrel perched up, and two Buzzards around and frequently calling.

A Grey heron, two mallards and a Canada Goose flew over. A Green Woodpecker was heard 'yaffling', also a Song Thrush was singing. Several cock Pheasants were seen and were displaying.

Several Toads were calling for a mate from a SuDs pool near Westland Way.

A nice display of Lesser Celandines proving colour and also pollen and nectar for insects was spotted.

All reactions:

55

21st March - high cloud, light/gentle Easterly, 17C

Willey; 0830 Red Kite drifted over westward.

Shawell Sand Quarry/Landfill; afternoon.

A good number of Gulls preset, notable were two adult Caspian, which seemed to be having some form of 'chat'.

Oystercatcher pair, drake Shelduck, 14 Gadwall, two Shoveler, Teal, Tufted.

14 Red Kites, Ravens.

20th March - Sunny, 17C, light SE

Very warm weather for the Spring equinox, and remaining warm tonight.  So much so, that I noticed two bats whizzing around at 1850h at home, probably Pipistrelles.  Will have to get the detector out.

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

Two, presumed pair, Redshanks back, c200 Wigeon, 12 Shoverlers, Teal, a Gadwall, 14 Lapwings, two Little Egrets, a Little Grebe.

c25 Starlings, a Collard Dove.

19th March - frost last night -2C. Sunny, warming to 16C, light SE

Busy, but I did heard the Chaffinch and Greenfinch singing more today around then Church area.

Near the barns a single Partridge whizzed by, in to the sun, so I can't be sure of the species, probable Red-legged, but there is a chance of a Grey.  Hopefully, I will find it/them again.  John M reported seeing two last  week very near this spot.

18th March - ground frost. Sunny spells, gentle easterly, 8C

Willey; busy, however, I did notice a Mistle Thrush 'sunning' itself early afternoon near the field barns.

A Red Kite flew over the village 1130ish

17th March - Cloudy, light Easterly, 8C

Willey;  a Red Kite over west at 1130h 

16th March - mostly cloudy, gentle NE, 8C

The last winters WeBs count day, so it had to be a quick visits to three sites for counts.  Obs included the following-

Soar Brook Lake - seven Teal, three Cormorants, Oystercatcher pair, 234 Black-headed Gulls and a few Common and Herring Gulls.  Green Woodpecker around.

Mere Lane Lake - 12 Tufted, a few Mallard, Mute Swan pair and four Little Grebes with lots of 'trilling'.

Stanford Hall - plenty of Canada and Greylag Geese, still c40 Wigeon present.  Mistle Thrush singing.

15th March - Frost last night. sunny intervals, 7C, light/mod NE

Willey; two Red Kites moving over westward, 1530h.

Magna Park Lake - a WebS visit, most interesting was a Water Rail still present.

Lilbourne Meadows, early afternoon.

Still c300 Wigeon, 12 Shoveler, a single Shelduck, a few Teal and Gadwall, plus a single Little Grebe.  Two Little Egret.

A couple of Snipe showing and three Lapwing, one displaying.  c20 Common Gulls and several Black-headed Gulls on the flood pools.

c50 Starlings and a couple of Fieldfare.   Both Green ab Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

14th March - Sunny spells, short showers around pm, light NE, 7C

No obs today.

13th March - cloudy, short sharp showers pm, gentle-mod N, 7C

Quinton Park, Coventry

Whilst waiting for my car service at the dealership I had a walk around this small park, it has a small lake, and thicket area, with trees around the perimeter.

The ubiquitous Feral Pigeon was numerous, c80, and clearly get well fed here.  On the lake Canada, greylags, Mallards, Coot (2) and Moorhens (4) were at home.  25 Black-headed Gulls were around and three Lesser Black-backed Gulls were sitting it out.

Woodpigeons and Jackdaws were feeding, a Carrion Crow pair were nest building.

Eight noisy Starlings were atop the trees. 

Further along Quinton Road a Mistle Thrush flew and landed atop a tall conifer.

12th march - mostly cloudy, scattered showers around mid-afternoon, only 7C with gentle NE breeze.

Willey:  a Red Kite very low, circling over village 1300h.

11th March - mostly cloudy, light-gentle N, 10C

Now in peak lambing time, so posts will be often very short for awhile.

Willey; 14 Stock Doves around the barns to the east, some pairs already at nest locations there.

10th March - Cloudy, mist/dullish, light/mod NE, 10C, but feeling much cooler

Willey

Two Ravens flew over, low and noisily east at 1210h.   These will be patrolling the sheep-lamb fields regularly now for causalities.

9th March -0 Sunny, light/mod ENE, 18C

Willey; a Red Kite and two Buzzards over the BH wood area late morning.

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

A couple of Little Egrets and Little Grebe on the flood pools along with the usual waterfowl.

Stanford Reservoir

Pretty quiet, two Goosanders and c12 Goldeneye.  Great White Egret.

First Comma butterfly of the Spring and a Six-spot Ladybird.

Also, checked the Red-belted Bracket that is still growing well.

8th March - Sunny, mod ESE, 16C

Shawell Sandpit/Landfill; morning

New bird in was a drake Shelduck and a Great-crested Grebe.  Oystercatcher pair still on the south pool area.  28 Kites, 10+ Ravens.

A Jay in the corner trees and Green Woodpecker 'yaffling'.

Shawell Lagoons

32 Lapwings today and a couple of Grey Herons.

Bittesby Country Park (CP); afternoon.

No  Stonechats found, have they left?

A Kestrel hunting, Stock Dove over.   First Spring CP butterfly a Peacock. 

Soar Brook Lake

Oystercatcher pair.  A singing Red-legged Partridge.  'Yaffling'  Green Woodpecker.

c200 Black-headed and c20 Common Gulls.  A single Little Egret.

7th March - Mostly hazy sunshine, light-mod SE, 16C

Shawell Sandpit/landfill area; afternoon

A moderate number of Gulls around, but  nothing scarce.  The usual water birds including four Wigeon and two (pr) Oystercatchers feeding around the south pool.

Shawell A5 Lagoon pool

50 Lapwings resting on the exposed ashore, two cormorants fishi8ng.  A pair of Teal, 11 Tufted, four Coot and two Moorhens.  Three Mute Swans.

6th March - touch ground frost last night. Sunnymorning, cloud increasing and light SW becoming fresh for awhile mid-afternoon. 16C

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

Little Egret and Grey heron on the dam.  A great White Egret in Blowers bay near the point.

II Goldeneye - 9 females and 2 males.  Shoveler pair near dam.  Wigeon numbers looked down on recent visits.

A Red Kite and Fieldfare over.  A few Common, Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls dropped in.

5th March - frost -1C last night. Mostly sunny, light SW, 14C

Lilbourne Meadows; late afternoon

Still plenty of Wigeon, c200, plus Shoveler, Teal and Gadwall.  Only four Lapwings present, possibly these will stay and breed.

On the adjacent arable fields was 47 Fieldfares, c20 Redwings and c100 Starlings.

4th March - frost -1C last night. Sunny, gently SW, 13C

Willey;

First thing a mixed flock, 20 Fieldfares, 2 redwings and c30 Starlings feeding on the barn field pasture.

1530h, four Mistle Thrushes feeding in similar area.

Shawell Sand Quarry/landfill; afternoon.

Plenty of Gulls in, but no scarce species.

An Egyptian Goose and Oystercatcher pair present.

Nine Gadwall, three Wigeon, plus Teal, Tufted and mallard.  Two Mute Swans and six Little Grebes.

12 Red Kites, and all the Corvids. c1000 Starlings present, often murmurating over the landfill.  Possibly a peregrine had put them up and the Gulls were alarmed too.

3rd March - frost -1C last night. Sunny, light WNW, 11C

Willey

I spotted a Brimstone flying in the garden at lunch time, another year first. . The same or another an hour later in the vegetable garden

2nd March - frost -2C last night. Sunny, light SW, 10C

Norfolk for the day, here's a few highlights.

North Point pools were a little quiet, just the usual regulars, with a Snipe showing well, plus Black-tailed Godwits, Curlew, and Avocet, a Male Marsh Harrier.  A Chiffchaff was in the driveway hedgerow.

At the Stiffkey floods seven Lesser White-fronted Geese were showing well.  Five adults and two first winters from the Swedish re-introduction program. Another nice selection of birds was present on the flooded meadows. 

Holkham gap held seven Shore Larks in the roped off area.  Distantly, off-shore a good sized Common Scoter flock, with Great-crested Grebes and a unidentified Diver flew by.  A couple of Sanderling were along the shore line.

Holkham meadows from Lady Anne's Drive, a good number of Pink-footed Geese and one Barnacle with them.  Four Red Kites over head.

Thornham Harbour at the end of the day was interesting with  a male Hen Harrier showing well, plus Short-eared and Barn Owls, and a Merlin over the marsh.