Bittesby Country Park; morning.
Not too much near the west car park, c40 Lesser Black-backed and c10 Herring Gulls bathing in pool on undeveloped site.
On the adjacent field bird food area there were c15 Yellowhammers, c40 Chaffinches, c25 Linnets, plus Reed Bunting.
Six Skylark flew in to the field and a few Fieldfares and Redwings were around, plus six Starling over. A Kestrel was present and another flew over near the Mere Lane with prey.
Willey; late morning.
Five Long-tailed Tits in the Church lane hedge, a few Redwings around, more Blackbirds today, and seven Starlings over. Nuthatch again in the yew trees.
Draycote Water; afternoon.
A Snow Bunting had been seen here for a couple of days and early this morning, but not found this afternoon.
Otherwise, all the regulars, Nothing else new was in.
Willey; morning
A couple of Buzzards and Kestrel over the fields to the east of village.
The Church yard is always a good place for Fungi, like these just fruiting.
Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.
The number of Greylag and Canada Geese currently here seems large, I counted 200 Canada Geese in one field.
Equally the number of Great and Little Egrets is at our highest numbers, with them spread out all around the reservoir, the low water providing some shore and bountiful fish fry, they are in heaven! (as are the Cormorants)
All the regular ducks, two Goosanders (redheads, probably the regular two) and four Egyptian Geese - which looked like three large juvs and a female, if so they would have hatched relatively late, not early as they usually do.
A few Redwings and c50 Fieldfares, Long-tailed Tit flock and a few Chaffinches feeding.
[Its worth noting that again this little reservoir keeps turning up goodies; yesterday evening at the gull roost Chris found a Great Skua, and this morning Barry reported a small flock of White-fronted Geese, both hot on the heals of the Sabine's Gull - what next?]
Willey, morning.
Both the Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were seen a couple of times dur9ng the morning.
Again small number of Redwings coming to the Yew trees, c 15 Fieldfares in the corner pikel paddock trees, and c25 Starlings exploring the fields.
The Great Spotted Woodpecker searched in the tall church lane hedge. Chaffinch, 2+occasionally put in an appearance and only one Greenfinch seen.
The local Rooks and Jackdaws were doing there usual tour of the fields to feed.
Willey; morning.
A Red Kite and two Ravens over.
Less Redwings coming to the Yew trees today, a Song Thrush and several Blackbirds though.
Three Greenfinches were feasting on the Yew berries, and the regular Nuthatch.
A single Fieldfare, Goldfinch and Chaffinch were spotted nearby.
A busy day, few obs.
A Kestrel was sitting on the telegraph wires along the Frolesworth road at SP504897,1030h
Willey
The poor weather didn't help getting out and about but mid-afternoon a few Redwings were finally moving around and I did hear a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling.
The recent wet weather should encourage Fungi and I did spot 'Saggy Ink' caps in the churchyard.
Willey; morning
C15 Redwings around the Church Yew, lane hedge and Holly trees.
Male Blackcap too. Four Chaffinches, a Goldfinch and four Greenfinch plus a Goldcrest.
Clifford Hill - Barrage Lake, Northants - afternoon.
I visited here to see the American Pipit that has been present a couple of days, I've never been here before.
When I arrived no-one had seen the bird since c1100am and so the search was on. Quite a few Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails around, which proved interesting. On the shore line a Redshank and Common Ringed Plover, plenty of the usual ducks and feral Geese plus Little and Great Crested Grebes.
No joy, but luckily I bumped in to a Wiltshire birder, and his mate on the far side called to say he 'had it', so an orderly quick walk, picking up others on the way.
It was still there and showing well, preening and feeding, often with a Meadow Pipit for comparison.
Light was poor, but I manged to get a few record photos, the salient ID features can be seen.
After visiting a vintage sale in Cambs, I popped over to Welney WWT
The Lady fen area was complete dry and the washes had water in the main observatory area, but also very dry eslewhere.
Whooper Swans were present, but many yet to arrive. A female Garganey was visible and was mostly asleep about from the occasional short walk when disturbed by other bird neighbours.
Three Cattle and one Great White Egret, plus a Grey Heron. A couple of Marsh Harriers and a Buzzard were about, a Peregrine swooped in and out hunting.
Duck numbers were low, Mallard, Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall.
Waders included Snipe (often many flushed by the Harriers), Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit.
Willey; no Redwings or Fieldfares seen locally yet!
Morning - around the Church and Church lane area, a Mistle and Song Thrush. Chaffinches, Greenfinches and Goldfinches, a Goldcrest, a Nuthatch. A Raven calling.
A Red Kite over mid-day.
Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.
A Stonechat on the far rough area as before.
On the Island Pool, Mutes, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard and Shovelers, plus a Grey Heron and Kestrel, with a few Starlings moving over.
A Sparrowhawk was spotted preening on a very low branch in the rough grass area.
Willey; I did find a half awake Peacock Butterfly in the wood pile this morning, I was moving it to a safer place, but it flew off.
Stanford Reservoir; afternoon
Fairly quiet, but 69 Pochard were counted, plus Teal and Shovelers were present.
16 Little Egret and a single Great White Egret.
Grey and Pied Wagtails, Linnet and Meadow Pipit in the Spillway.
Shawell Sandpit-Landfill area, morning.
Not much variety, but 48 Teal, four Mute Swans, five Tufted and 14 Mallard. Coot 71 and six Little Grebes. Plenty of Gulls, several Red Kites and Ravens.
Soar Brook Lake; morning.
Two each Little Grebe, Little Egret and Mute Swans, 14 Cormorants, 105 Greylag Geese,and a Tufted Duck. Gulls - LBB 35, HG 2, BHG 3
Wells, Outer Harbour; dawn
As the tide was well in again, few Waders were visible roosting in this area. But, the early flight of the Pink-footed Geese over is always a sight worth seeing.
Cley, sea watching, morning
Apart some the same birds as yesterday, today included two Pomarine Skuas, a Mediterranean Gull and a Sandwich Tern - all west.
Kelling Water Meadows; afternoon
Egyptian Geese (2), Grey Herons and Little Egrets, the usual Duck species and Snipe, a Stonechat, a Kestrel and Linnet flock.
North Point Pools; late afternoon
Sighting included two Marsh Harriers, 9+ Snipe, Ruff, a Water Rail, two Greenfinch and a Linnet flock, plus the other usual Ducks and Waders.
Two Cattle Egrets were pecking insects of a cow water side - distant hazy record photos.
After quite a while searching the water edges I finally found a Jack Snipe, which showed well.
