9th Nov Monday- Fog, clearing slowly, then dull-cloudy and misty/hazy afternoon, light E, 6C

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

Four Stonechats around the site (2 m, 2f).

At the island pool - 4 Mutes, 36 Wigeon, 6 Shovelers, a Teal, a drake Pochard and a Lapwing.

I believe this is my first site record for a Pochard.

A Kestrel was hunting and a Roe Deer visible near the bank.

A Green Woodpecker heard, a Pied Wagtail and two Pheasants.

8th Nov Sunday - fog/mist persisted until late afternoon, very light SW, 8C

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. 

7th Nov Saturday - foggy, then misty all day, very light SW, 8C

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Four European White -fronted Geese were with the Greylags in the adjacent field by the driveway.

On the back field near the track were feeding Redwings, Fieldfares and Chaffinches c40, plus a flock of Skylarks 50+.

Still high numbers of Little and Great Egrets, plus usual other water birds, including two ‘redhead Goosanders’ and a drake Goldeneye.

Several Fungi now fruiting along the dam, here's a few examples -

Shawell sandpit and landfill area; late afternoon.

Lapwing, 93, on the south pit shore.

Five Red Kites and several Ravens.

Mallards, Teal, Tufted, Gadwall, Shoveler and a single female Pochard.

29 Stock Doves already in the roost trees.

6th Nov Friday - cloudy, dull, mostly near calm, hazy/misty pm with spots of rain, 11C

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?]

5th Nov Thursday - thick cloud, light NE, 10C

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.

4th Nov Wednesday - mostly cloudy, mod-breezy ENE, 11C

Willey; morning

A Sparrowhawk zipped through the gardens and along the street early.

Late morning a Kestrel was perched up in the back paddock and later hunting over the pikel paddock.

A few Redwings and Fieldfares were around, only one Greenfinch seen in the church Yew tree, also a Mistle Thrush.

A Bumble Bee was out and about - so not too cold yet.

3rd Nov Tuesday - mostly cloudy, breezy NE, 12C

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.

2nd November Monday; broken cloud, a few sunny intervals, light/mod N/NNE, breezier pm, 12C

A busy day, few obs.

A Kestrel was sitting on the telegraph wires along the Frolesworth road at  SP504897,1030h

1st November - cloudy and murky initially, then mostly cloudy, light N/NE, 12C

Bittesby Country Park; morning

Several small flocks of Fieldfares over from the north, some landed.

Passerine flock consisted of c20 Yellowhammers, c20 Chaffinches, c15 Linnets and Goldfinches, c6 Reed Buntings, two Greenfinch. At least 50 Meadow Pipits.

Willey; morning

More Redwings this morning and a couple of Fieldfares feeding on the berries.  The Nuthatch keeps taking Yew berries off, presumably stashing them somewhere. 

Otherwise, all the current recent regulars.

Draycote Water; afternoon.

The water level here is very low exposing a lot of bank side.

Generally quiet, but several Goosanders and Duck species along Hensborough bank, I did spot a female Common Scoter too.

A Rock Pipit but in a brief appearance at the Farnborough Spit.

On the sailing club pontoon a adult Yellow-legged Gull.

31st October Saturday - mostly cloudy, a few sunny intervals, light E/SE, 13C

Bittesby Country Park; morning

Checked here first, I found three Stonechats (2 males) on the meadows, not a lot else about.

I then checked the west side and on the undeveloped plot I found a mixed flock of passerines feeding, Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings, Goldfinches, Linnets, Meadow Pipits and a Brambling.

Willey; morning.

More redwings this morniing feeding on the Yew Berries and hedges, c 50.  A Peregrine flew over slow and quite low, off southwards. 

Ash Tree farm; afternoon.

Visited here to check for waxcaps, but none were found. Some other Fungi were found.

Usual birds, including a few Redwings.

30th October Friday - cloudy clearing to sunny periods, light SE, 15C

Willey; morning.

Several reports of Fieldfares arriving today, however none showed here, nor much indication of new Redwings.  Hopefully, tomorrow, last day for an October record. 

Other birds around included a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Sparrowhawk and Mistle Thrush.

29th October Thursday - 14C, calm, cloudy.

Willey; This morning around the Church area c30 Redwings, two Chaffinches, a Sparrowhawk flew through, a Raven over, a Nuthatch calling and a couple Mistle Thrushes.

Stanford Reservoir; late afternoon.  Visited to check the Gull roost again, The Sabine's Gull came in about 1625h.  Some slightly better photos and video before it was too dark

28th October Wednesday - sunny spells am, cloudy and light rain briefly pm, 14C, light SW

WIlley; a Red Kite Over first thing, and the Kestrel again near the allotments.

Stanford Reservoir; late afternoon.

Visited again to check the Gull roost, should the Sabine's Gull return, and it did at 1645h.  Good views but light faded fast.

Also, two Mediterranean Gulls (ad, 1W) seen, three Goosanders, still 10+ Great and 20+ Little Egrets.

27th October Tuesday - mostly sunny, a few brief cloud showers pm, mod SW, 14C

Willey; I noticed a few fresh Barn Owl pellets around the field barns, so will have to keep and eye open, and cameras up.

The obligatory Red Kite over the field (1400) and a female Kestrel flew and sat on top of the home barns near the church.

Stanford Reservoir - Sabine's Gull.

Yesterday in the Gull roost here, Chris Hubbard discovered a Sabine's Gull among the throng, just as the light disappeared. He also saw it leave the roost this morning and flew off westward.

I thought possibly if may have joined the  other smaller Gulls at the Shawell sandpit and searched there this morning, no luck.  During the afternoon the plan was to check Shawell again and then go to the reservoir for the roost.  Again no luck at Shawell, so off to Stanford.

Chris was already checking and Gulls were just slowly drifting back, but not until 1630h did large numbers return to roost.  Still no joy, and as numbers built, the Gulls tended to move steadily towards the dam end, light was beginning to fade quicker now.  I and a couple of other stayed our vantage point and Chris moved down to where he saw it last thing yesterday.  We got a call it was back there!

Good views of this small Gull in fading light, but well worth it, quite striking wing pattern when it flies.  A few wobbly, bad record photos/video were made.

Shawell Sandpit; morning

Although Sabine's here there was a good selection of birds to watch, including a Green Sandpiper and Peregrine Falcon.

The Gulls included several Caspian and a couple of Yellow-legged.  Many more were too distant to ID for today on the landfill.

26th October Monday - light rain from 0900h till 1400h, dull and cool, mod-blustery at times S, 11C, warming late 14C

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.

25th October Sunday - 9 mm rain yday. Sunny periods, blustery W, sometimes gusting 40mph, 13 mph.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

13 Great Egrets and plenty of Little too.  A juv Goosander, Teal, Gadwall and Shovelers.

Among the Gulls a 1W Caspian and Yellow-legged.

A few Redwings and Chaffinches near the car park.

Shawell Sandpit/landfill, afternoon.

Very similar to yesterday, however 20 Gadwall and 22 Wigeon plus two great-crested Grebes.

24th October Saturday - cloudy and mod SW, 8C until 1100h then light rain and blustery SW/W stopped 1830h, 10C

Shawell Sandpit and Landfill area; morning.

Nice to see an increase in duck numbers here. On the main and south pits were 71 Teal, 3 Pochard, a Wigeon, 6 Shovelers, c15 Mallards, c10 Tufted, 12 Gadwall and 6 Little Grebes.

Gulls included Herring, Lesser and Great-Blacked, Black-headed and 3 Common.  Three 1W Caspian and two 1W Yellow-legged.

15 Red Kites and several Ravens.

A flock 0f 35 Cormorants flew over, had a look, but continued southward.

23rd October Friday - cloudy light E with showers, then NW becoming strong gusty (40 mph) and light rain, 10C. 17mm rain since yday morning and this evening

Willey; morning

More Redwings around first thing, c30.  In church Yew Mistle Thrush and other regulars, c10 Goldfinches around and several Chaffinches.  Four Long-tailed Tits and Chiffchaff moved through lane hedge.  A Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch too.

A Red Kite over at 1300h

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

I had a look here for an hour before it became too wet and wild, winds gusting c45 mph.

Plenty of Shoveler, Teal and Cormorant on the water.

The Egrets were sheltering as much as possible from the wind. I counted 14 Great and 33 Little Egrets, my highest ever counts here are 18 and 44 respectively. If I could have pinned them all down I may have had more today as I did see some flying, possibly leaving the reservoir.

22nd October Thursday - brisk SW, sunny spells, 11C. 5 mm rain since yday morning.

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

Rather quiet, duck included two Shovelers, 10 Teal, four Mallard, 10 wigeon flew in and three Mute Swans.

A few Linnets, a Kestrel, a Grey Heron, a Skylark, two Meadow Pipits and Long-tailed Tits.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

A really good count of Little and Great Egrets, 29 and 12 respectively.

The usual ducks, plus a female Goldeneye (my first for this winter here).  Two Little Grebes. A Water Rail heard near the draw-off tower.

A couple of mid-sized Dragonflies and a Hornet were noted.

21st October Wednesday - 8mm in last two days. Sunny start, then clouding over mid-morning then light rain, more pm, 10C. Light, mod later pm SW, 12C

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.