Willey
A Black rabbit was seen in the Perkins fields (middle hedge/spinney corner. A recent release? Funny, as we recall often seeing a black Rabbit here along time ago (25 years?).
40 Swallows on the wires 1650h
Ash Tree Farm, Bitteswell; morning.
A quick walk around here; all rather quite. Little Grebe, Moorhen and Mallards on the lake. Two Green Woodpeckers and two Ravens in adjacent sheep field.
Eyebrook Reservoir; afternoon.
Waders included a Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit, five Dunlin, 4 each Greenshank, Snipe and Green Sandpiper, two Common Sandpipers, two Ringed and three Little Rind Plovers, 148 Lapwings.
Plenty Common Terns, Little Egrets and a Grey Heron.
High over a mixed flock Swifts and House Martins (often chasing the Kites away when too close) and Swallows over the water).
Several Egyptian Geese including a pair with two mid-sized goslings.
Six Red-legged partridges came to drink., Linnets and Goldfinches.
A Clouded Yellow flew past the Leics bunker.
Stanford Reservoir; evening
This evening birds included two each Green and Common Sandpipers, a Hobby, three Grey, two Yellow and numerous Pied Wagtails.
The female Ruddy Shelduck was again present, also several Teal and Shovelers.
A single Lapwing on the dam.
Warblers were very active, with a Lesser Whitethroat showing well 'flycatching' from the boundary hedge
Still plenty of Common Terns present with youngsters, c20.
Willey.
A Red Kite and Buzzard top fields first thing and three Mistle Thrushes feeding in the long field.
Stanford Reservoir; evening
A single Teal on the dam with other ducks, a female Mandarin just off the dam and the female Ferruginous Duck (been here a few days now) with Tufties on the main water.
A Hobby flew over.
Willey;
A family of 6 half grown Red-legged partridges with female in long field, 0815h.
I have been putting food and water out for Hedgehogs the last few nights, the food had been taken and fortunately the camera trap confirmed a Hedgehog coming to the food. Others in the village have been feeding them too during the hot dry period and have seen adults and younger (smaller) ones. So, we still have Hedgehogs in the village.
Newton Cutting; late afternoon.
Birds were few, notable was a couple of Green Woodpeckers (motorway end), one a juv. Butterflies included Common and Holly Blue, Small Heath, two Painted Lady's, Large and Small Whites.
Willey;
I took these picture yesterday, one of Earls Furlong Pond - completely dry and one of the old 'landed' pasture next to the BH wood - like everywhere nicely a toast 'brown' and bone dry.
Similar to yesterday, a single Common Sandpiper, a Teal and two Shovelers on the dam, along with the Tufted Duck female with five ducklings.
The female Ruddy Shelduck showed in the ';narrows'.
c50 Swallows and House Martins were feeding around the dam and draw-off tower area.
A Red Kite and Raven over.
Misterton; morning
Green woodpecker, Treecreeper, adult Buzzard and juv calling, Song Thrush smashing snails on the lane.
Long-tailed Shrike
Decided it was time to see the 3rd Long-tailed Shrike ever recorded in the UK, it has been faithful to a farmland site and reported during the day.
When I got there it was in the favoured bush area and at times was busy catching food on the ground, seemed to be mostly Beetles. Completely, ignoring the many birders watching it, not that far away really.
Given the excessive bright sunshine I managed some good record shots.
Willey; a Raven flew over calling 1000h.
Shawell Sandpit/landfill; evening.
12 Little grebes and the Great Crested Grebe still.
First post-breeding season Teal (female), a Common Sandpiper. Only 3 Lapwings seen and one juv Egyptian Goose. Three Cormorants on an islet.
A few Sand Martins feeding.
Willey; a Kestrel first thing over Earls Furlong field.
Shawell sandpit/landfill area; evening
A Common Sandpiper, still the single Great Crested Grebe and six Little Grebes.
Only three Egyptian Geese spotted. Two Red-legged Partridge on the south side (one looked quite small when flying - juv?)
Plus the other regulars.
Stour Estuary; Suffolk/Essex border
After attending a vintage sale new St Ives, Cams, I thought why not continue on to see if I could find the Hudsonian Godwit that has been here several days. It had been seen moving between several areas, and as I arrived the tide was coming in fast and flooding the usual marsh, so no joy there. Next a look along the river shore upstream (plenty of Greenshank, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwits and a Common Sandpiper.
I had bumped in to another birder and we had spotted other birders further along the estuary east of the railway track, so a brisk walk to there next. Most were saying it had not been seen for over an hour, although there was a report it was out there on the bank with BT Godwits but not visible. We both scanned and almost together spotted a candidate roosting next to Canada Geese. Better views confirmed that it was the Hudsonian, and although a ittle way off views were quite good. A Marsh Harrier came over, and although it look way and almost flew, unlike the Black-tailed Godwits is remained rooted to the spot.
A good selection of other birds were present too, including a 'un-ringed' Snow Goose of unknown origin!
Willey;
0845h, a Sparrowhawk flew past the church with bird prey, chased by the Swallows.
Shawell Sandpit/Landfill; afternoon.
Gull number are slowly increasing, with a few more Great Black-backed Gulls seen today.
A Common Sandpiper around the main pit and the Egyptian Goose family on the south pit.
12+ Red Kites and all the covids over the landfill area.
Misterton; afternoon.
Spotted Flycatcher again. Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers. Grey heron at the lake.
Bittesby Country Park; afternoon.
A walk here primarily to check for Butterflies, these were in abundance, I spotted 14 species. Most pleasing was my first Clouded Yellow of the year, also a long time (years) since last seen along the old railway track at this site.
I was also treated to the great flight of a Hummingbird Hawk Moth, which you should be able to spot in the photo below.
Stanford Reservoir; evening
A look here this evening, c35 Pied Wagtails and three Common Sandpipers on the dam.
The female Ruddy Shelduck was spotted swimming past the hide in mid distance, when I got closer it had decided to take a rest in the willow stumps. It's been a regular a few years now, staying around the Whitwick area mostly.
I also spotted the Black-necked Grebe in the middle of the water, busily washing and preening, that has been here a couple of days now.
Willey;
0745h, a Red Kite over the village and two Cormorants flying to the west of village.
0945h, a Raven heard calling.
Lutterworth; evening
I checked the nesting LBB Gulls. The one nest that was visible has been lost (sloping roof), but there are still other gulls on the flat roof, so an inspection of these is needed.
Willey - 0800h a Red Kite over fields to the east and a single Red-legged Partridge in Earls Furlong gateway.
Stanford Res; evening
25+ Pied Wagtails and 3 Common Sandpipers on the dam. Also, a Teal. Otherwise just the regulars.
Shawell Sandpit/landfill; evening.
Only 2 juv Egyptian Geese showing, 12 Little Grebes. A few Sand Martins.
Out and about
While scoping fields I noticed a Hare very close to me, lovely.
