30th May Saturday - mostly sunny, light SW, 26C - hot again

Lilbourne Meadows; morning

Just checked the winter flood pools area. Two Ravens still at the dry winter pools area, a couple Black-Headed Gulls at one small pool. 

Misterton; morning

Still no Spotted Flycatcher found here.  

A surprise was a Bullfinch, c 50 ft up in the canopy base feeding.  A Moorhen with chi9cks at the lake.

Shawell Area; afternoon.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker pair were feeding young in a nest.

A walk through the meadows area towards the old railway Whitethroat was seen and two Garden Warblers were singing, a Green Woodpecker was heard..

Various Butterflies were spotted, plus quite a few day-time flying moths.  A nice Brown Argus, several Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood.

29th May Friday - becoming sunny and warming to 24C, light SW

Lilbourne Meadows; evening. Circular walk

A Raven family (2 adults, 3 fledged juvs) were very noisy, the reason being a Fox was searching the ground for food and they didn't like it.

Several Reed And Sedge Warblers seen, and Meadow Pipits, pair Yellow Wagtails.  A fledged Whiitethroat being followed by a parent along the fence line.  Four Stock Doves.  Three Reed Bun ting singing males.

The Painted Lady was n the regular area on the posts.  Several others were seen during my walk.  Other Butterflies included Small heath 10+ and Large Skipper, 

A Hare was on the edge of the development area and two Roe Deer.

28th May Thursday - hot again, 28C, light.mod SE, mostly sunny.

Sea Palling.

I decided it was time for a 'twitch' and try for the Black-winged Kite at Hempstead Marsh near Sea Palling, Norfolk, so it was off to find it.  Somewhat nervously as by early to mid-morning it had been reported on a bird news service,, but today it had not been reported, and still not reported when I was less than an hour away!

I was lucky that on arrival and scanning the area I quickly spotted it hunting over the marsh area.  Sometimes, quite high and with short hovers too.  I had good views of it for quite awhile, also again later from a different location over looking the marsh area.

A super looking bird in flight and well worth the trip, despite that photos were not possible due to heat shimmer and haze and also too active.

At Sea Palling there were quite a lot of Painted Lady Butterflies, particularly on Red Valerian.

27th May Wednesday - sunny, hot, 27C, mod Eastery

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.

A Ringed Plover, a Little Egret, Reed Warblers singing, male Reed Bunting, Skylark and Meadow Pipit, plus other usual current birds.

Painted Lady, same area as the other days report/photo.

Red Fox - walked close past me carrying TWO Rabbits - obviously cubs somewhere nearby.

26th May Tuesday - Mostly sunny and hot, 34C, light S. Some spots rain later afternoon but no thunderstorm as suggested

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

Nothing new today.  Whitethroat singing usual area and a pair Yellow Wagtails on the flood pools.

Shawell Sandpit/landfill area; morning

The Common Scoter was not present today.  

Egyptian Goose family still. and the other recent regulars.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

Chris found an Avocet on the dam this morning, it stayed and was still present late afternoon.  Last recorded here in 2017, so overdue.

Misterton

I spot this lovely 'Beautiful Demoiselle', in fact there were two.  Still, cant find any Spotted Flycatchers here though.

25th May Monday - very hot, sunny, very light SW, 32C

Willey; Two Red-legged partridge in the barn fields stack yard area, 0800h

Shawell Sandpit/Landfill; mid-morning

Egyptian Goose family still, c 20 Sand Martins, A few Gulls.

Single Great Crested Grebe still.  Buzzard and two Red Kites (landfill not working today.

The surprise today was a female Common Scoter on the main pit, feeding. 

I got some poor record shots.  The last record here was in July 2023, also a female.

Newton Arches; afternoon.

A search for Butterflies here in the heat with Mick and Sandra (the Butterfly Lady), a nice selection of commoner species and some first of the year for me.

Species included, Peacock, Common Blue, Brown Argos, Orange-tip, Painted Lady, Large and Small Skippers, Speckled Wood, Small Copper and Small Heath.

Also a Banded Damoiselle.

 

24thj May Sunday - Sunny, hot, 27C, light Sw

Lilbourne Meadows; morning

A early check here, but nothing new in the birds.

However, whilst standing quietly in a gateway, a small rustle heard in the grass resulted in a Weasel, carrying small mammal prey, running past me, almost over my feet!

Small Heath and Small Copper butterflies seen.

Stanford-on Avon

A pair of Spotted Flycatchers found this afternoon.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

The main sightings were the drake Garganey on the dam, along with a Shoveler pair and a lone drake Teal.

More Damselfly and Dragonfly activity now.

23rd May Saturday - Sunny - hot, 26C, light SW

Lilbourne Meadows; morning

A look at the flood pools area, Ringed Plovers and Dunlin seem to have gone.  Six Little Egrets and two grey Herons though.

Otherwise the other current regulars.

Misterton; morning.

Watches a Nuthatch gathering food and taking to a nest. Also, a very busy Treeecreeper, likely doing the same.

Rutland Water; afternoon.

I visited here this afternoon to catch up with the Kentish Plover which has been showing on Lagoon 4 a couple of days, I soon found it and had good views.  I took some digi-video, which given the heat shimmer and distance is better than I expected.

Also, present on Lagoon 4 were: a Glossy Ibis, a Barnacle Goose, Sanderlings, plus the other seasonal regulars for the site.

A Lesser Whitethroat sang near the Dunlin hide and a Cuckoo in the wood.  I noted an Egyptian Goose family too.

22nd May Friday - Mostly sunny, 27C, mod SW breeze

Willey; a rare sight these days was juvenile Starlings on the old pub roof.  Breeding Starling in the village is rare these day.  There are just a few still nesting in old trees and other places in the parish.

Claybrooke Parva; afternoon.

Green and great Spotted Woodpeckers, singing Goldcrest.

Frolesworth Manor Lake; afternoon.

Mute Swan pair with 6 cygnets.  Six pair of Tufted Ducks on the lake, hopefully some will breed.

Three Greenfinches, a pair and a single male.  Two pairs of Linnets on the hedgerow along driveway.

Only two House Martins seen here today, historically more, but will check again.

A single Great Crested Grebe seen, hopefully a pair prersent.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.

Two ringed Plovers still present, otherwise all the current residents.

Long-tailed Tit family in hedgerow.

A Painted Lady flying a circuit and returning to a post.

21st May Thursday - Sunny intervals, 21C, light/mod SW

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

Little Egret three, Oystercatcher two, Ringed Plover 14, Dunlin 1, a Redshank, Gadwall, 14+ Greylags.

A Yellow Wagtail, Sedge Warbler singing.

Four Small Heath Butterflies.

20th May Wednesday - mod/blustry SW, 12C

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

Five Ringed Plovers, two Dunlin, Mute Swan three, Oystercatcher, Gadwall.

Linnet Pair, Reed Warbler singing by brook bridge.

Two Little Egrets and a Yellow Wagtail.

Plus the current regulars.

19th May Tuesday; 14C, mod SW, mostly cloudy

Lilbourne Meadows - evening.

Eight Ringed Plovers, a Dunlin, a Redshank, a Yellow Wagtail and a Kestrel

18th May Monday -High cloud, 11C, mod SW

Soar Brook lake; mid-day

Three Greylag broods and 20m goslings., a Mallard brood with 5 ducklings.

Two Oystercatchers, Tufted Duck pair. A Cormorant. Two  Mute Swans.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.

14 Ringed Plovers, three Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, a Redshank, Oystercatcher and Reed Bunting pair.

Stanford Reservoir; evening

A drake Shoveler plus other current regulars.

17th May Sunday - sunny intervals, mod W, 13C, showers late afternoon.

Stanford Reservoir; morning

Most notable was a Quail singing from the adjacent winter cereal field (heard yesterday by Chris Hubbard).

Otherwise all the usual current birds.

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

A check of the winter flood pools (now very reduced in size due to lack of rain this Spring).  A Dunlin and Ringed Plover still.

Two broods of Mallards, plus several Coot and Moorhen broods.

Mute Swan 3, A Redshank, two Oystercatchers, a Yellow Wagtail, a Little Egret.

16th May Saturday - cloudy, sunny intervals, mod W, 13C

Shawell Sandpit/Land fill area; morning.

14 Red Kites, c 25 Sand Martins, single Little Grebe.

Egyptian Goose pair and 6 goslings still.

Two broods of Mallards.

Stanford Reservoir; morning

Drake Garganey on the dam.

Kingfisher, a Oystercatcher, Grey Heron, several Gadwall.

Misterton; afternoon.

A check here for Spot Flycatchers, but none found. 

A Coal Tit was taking food to a nest.  two Song Thrushes were singing.

Ash Tree farm, Bitteswell; afternoon.

A Little grebe on the lake.  Green Woodpecker 'yaffling'. Long-tailed Tit family.

A Orange-tip and Green-veined White was seen.

15th May Friday - Chilly night again, sunny spells, mod/fresh WNW, 14C, but feeling cool

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon

Similar to yesterday, with Hirundines being attracted again to the island pool for food in this cool weather - c10 each Swallows and House Martins, one Sand Martin.

Dunlin and two Ringed Plovers still present.

14th May Thursday - sunny spells, slightly warmer, less windy and fewer showers than yesterday.

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

Four Mute swans, Gadwall and Mallards.

Redshank, a Dunlin, Oystercatcher pair and two Ringed Plovers at the flood pools.

Swallows and House Martins around the island pool, and a single Swift.

Flock Starlings with noisy juvenilles.

Three Small Heaths, a Brimstone and a few Orange-tops

13th May Wednesday - a blustery day, N/NW, only 11C but feeling much cooler, sunny inteerval and many showers some sharp ans short (a bit wintry too) especially pm.

Lilbourne Meadows - a very quick look at the winter flood pools, 1920h, nothing new except a Shelduck pair.

Also, a Barn Owl flew into the lane trees from the fields, then off again just as a heavy blustery showers was about to hit.

Stanford Reservoir; early evening.

A good flock of Hirundines over the water due to the poor weather, c100 each Swallow and House Martins, c10 Sand martins and c30 Swift.

A pair of Yellow Wagtails washing at the spillway and two Little Egrets over westward.  Two Grey Herons present near the spillway.

Plenty of Great Crested Grebe display activity.  

A single Red-legged Partridge and a Green Woodpecker.

12th May Tuesday - sunny interval, mod W breeze, 13C, but feeling cooler

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

Single Ringed Plover, and Redshank. Gadwall pair, oystercatcher pair.

A male Yellow Wagtail.  A Cormorant on island pool.  

Plus other usuals.

11th May Monday - drizzle light rain am, sunny intervals pm, mod NE, 12C

A very cool day for May, and cool nights

No obs today. 

10th May Sunday - high broken c,loud am, sunny intervals pm, mod-fresh NE, 13C, feeling quite cool.

Willey;

First thing a Raven over.

Two Grey Partridge at middle gate, four Canada Geese and four Mallards at Earls Furlong pond area.

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

Nothing new, a Little Egret and Grey Heron, a Redshank and Oystercatcher pair (lost first brood).

Single Swallow and House Martin over. Sedge and Reed Warbler singing near island pool.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

Not much happening on the water, c 12 Common Terns and four Black-headed Gulls see (hope they don't drive the Terns off the rafts).

A Hobby and a few Swifts hawking over the water.  

Plenty of Garden Warblers singing and the occasional Blackcap.  A Whitethroat was carrying food.

Butterflies were - Peacock, Red Admiral, Green-veined Whoite, Orange-tip and Speckled Wood.

Quite a few Red-eyed Damselflies about to.

9th May Saturday - hazy sunshine, 20C, light SE

Willey;

Little Owl again.   

J Moore found a Pheasants nest with 18 eggs on the edge of a grass field.  We don't find many nests these days, since local shoot on Newnham paddox ceased.

Stanford Reservoir; morning

Rather quiet with no Sandpipers seen on the dam.  A Red Kite over. Cuckoo, 3, singing.

Northants Wood; afternoon

Visited a wood where Nightingales occur, heard one singing, no chance of seeing it though.

Garden Warblers, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs singing well.  Jay and Green Woodpecker.

Yellowhammer on the hedge, two Red-legged partridges, Pied Wagtail pair, House Sparrow pair on the farmhouse chimney and Collard Dove singing.

6+ Small Heath Butterflies on the sparse meadow, plus orange tip, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood and Large White seen.

A Hare crossed the track.

8th May Friday - sunny spells, 18C, light SE

Lilbourne; early afternoon

Check the winter flood pools, but nothing new, three Little Egrets, a Redshank and an Oystercatcher though.  A Sparrowhawk had caught prey (Starling, I think) and was being pursued by Carrion Crows and Jackdaw in to a hedge.

Stanford Reservoir; late afternoon.

Cuckoo calling and a Common Sandpiper on the dam. Mallard brood, but only to ducklings.

Plus the current regulars.

7th May Thursday - sunny intervals, light NE, 15C

Willey; morning.

0850h, The Grey Partridge pair were spotted in usual area, tried a phone pic from the truck window.

At Earls Furlong pond there was Three Greylag Geese and five Canada Geese.

Towards mid-day I saw the Little Owl in the usual tree.

A Fox walked along the hedge and though the gate, I snapped a phone pic before it spotted me.

Shawell Sandpit - Landfill area; evening.

A check here did not produce anything new, however the Egyptian Goose family are still present and seven Mute Swans were present (mostly immatures).

Ten sand Martins around the south pit.  Only a single Little Grebe seen.

First site brood of Mallards seen

6th May Wednesday - mostly high broken cloud, a few sunny intervals until mid-day. Mostly light NE, 12C

Willey; a Holly Blue and Red Admiral in the Church garden at mid-day.

c19345h, two Foxes were fighting over dead prey (Rabbit), the loser moved off, whist the winner took the prey off.

Holly Blue

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

Two Greenshank and Ring Plovers and three Dunlin.  Single Redshank and Oystercatcher on the flood pools, and a Oystercatcher pair on the island.  Single Wigeon  and four Gadwall.   

c20 Swallows, c15 House Martins, c10 Sand Martins and a single Swift.

30 Starlings collecting food on the pastures. Red Kite over.

5th May Tuesday - 14C, light/mod N/NNE, high light cloud, breif sunny spells later afternoon.

Stanford Reservoir; late afternoon.

Ring-necked Duck still present.  

Chris found a Black Tern first thing this morning, which has stayed all day so far.

On a Tern raft a Black-headed Gull pair maybe nesting - if so it will be the first record I know of for here.

A Common Sandpiper on the dam.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.

On the flood pools -  Two Greenshanks, three Dunlin, a Redshank, two Ringed Plovers,  a Oystercatcher, a Grey Heron and Little Egret.   First  record of a Great-crested Grebe.  Gadwall and Shoveler pairs, single Teal drake.

Three Yellow Wagtails around.  Tufted Duck pair on island pool.

4th May Monday - Cloudy, mostly light NW, 12C - cool.

Lilbourne Meadows; morning. 

Notable this morning was a super male Whinchat on the meadows.  Also, a Meadow Pipit collecting food, so presumably has young.

On the flood pools were two greenshanks and five Dunlin, plus three Wigeon (two drakes) and the recent  regulars

Bittesby CP; morning.

It is worth noting that there is a good population of Skylarks and several pairs of Meadow Pipits on the meadows.  Also, a pair lapwings are holding a territory.

Magna Park Central; afternoon.

Great to find 5 singing Garden Warblers, plus Blackcaps and a Whitethroat along then eastern border.  A good population of of Song Thrush too.

Two Long-tailed Tits and Red-legged Partridges.

Stanford Res; evening.

Ring-necked Duck still.  Two Common Sandpipers on dam.

c70 Swallows, c100 House Martins, c50 Sand Martins, c10 Swifts.