13th Nov - Sunny, light SW/W breeze, 11C

Waxwing had been reported for a couple of days in Loughborough, and again this morning.  As none have yet been reported  close to me in Warks, I decided the 35 mins trip up the M1 would be worth it.  On arrival the news was that 4 Waxwing had been flushed by a Sparrowhawk from the Rowan in the Iceland store car park, so I decided to wait.  After about 40  mins one was spotted atop a tree across the road looking down at the Rowan and occasionally calling.  I managed some reasonable photos, such a great looking bird I have included several pics.

There were more reports of Waxwing in Leicestershire today, so soon some should be found in Warks.

While waiting for the Waxwing other birds were seen in the town area, these included Grey and Pied Wagtail on the roofs, A flock of Long-tailed Tits, with Blue and Great Tits. House Sparrow and Wren in garden bushes, two Goldfinch and Corvids over and on roofs - Carrion Crow, Rook, Magpie and Jackdaw  A Sparrowhawk spent sometime circling low over town, occasionally diving at the feral pigeon, without success.

I visited Stanford reservoir during the afternoon, the usual birds were present including a Chiffchaff, a Raven over south, plenty of Redwing and Fieldfare feeding.  Wildfowl highlights included 224 Greylag (highest count for quite awhile), Goosander 8, Teal 3, Pochard c30 as well as Gadwall, Tufted Duck and Mallard.  A Kingfisher was watched, a single Little Egret fed along the reeds, two Grey Heron.

12th Nov - wet and windy night. Light rain am, slowly clearing pm, 8C, light S breeze

The wet weather, and mist later made the day very quite.  I wanted to count the duck etc at Shawell lagoons and sand pit for the WeBs survey, Carl usual does this but he is away.

This afternoon, in the drizzle, the first stop was Shawell sandpit, here there was on 18 Teal and a single Moorhen.  Next to the lagoons, very few gulls, but some of all the usual species including 35 Great black-backed Gulls.  A small number of Mallard and Tuffted. Duck were present and 54 Lapwing were on the shore, two Snipe were feeding near the reeds.  The Fox decided to have an amble over the shore area, most birds ignoring it unless it got too close for them.

Then some loud noise and commotion as about 40 Canada Geese flew in, these were quickly followed by a good number of Wigeon, these likely had been disturbed from another water somewhere locally, eventually I counted 185 Wigeon.

11th Nov - mostly sunny, light SW, 8C

Early morning a couple of Great-spotted Woodpeckers attended the peanut feeder in the garden and at least 15 Collared Doves were flying around.

This morning I took a walk along the old railway track near South Kilworth, it has a good area of rough and bird food/cover crops.  At least 40 Tree Sparrows were feeding there, along with Chaffinch, Reed Bunting and a few Linnet.  One of the Tree Sparrows perch up nicely on a Hawthorn bush.

Two Bullfinch were in the thick bushes along the track, along with a good number of Fieldfare and Redwing.  A couple of Buzzard were flying and calling over head, while a Kestrel was hunting on the fields.

Late afternoon quite a few Redwing were feeding on the Church Yew tree, the sunshine was encouraging quite a bit of subdued sone too.  At my feed station, still only two Tree Sparrows, but about  15 House Sparrow.  A Nuthatch, Coal Tit and two Great-spotted Woodpeckers paid a visit too. A couple of Chaffinch, but no Yellowhammers, maybe the generally good weather of the autumn so far is allowing birds to find food all around, certainly the bushes still are loaded with berries and the fallen apples under the trees are not attracting the number of birds as I would expect.

10th Nov - occasional shower, mostly cloudy, 9c, light NW

I made a visit to Stanford reservoir this morning, shooting nearby was causing some disturbance, but still plenty about.  The female Scaup was still present, diving off the main Reed bed.  The other usual ducks were present and four Little Grebe were out on the water.  In the reed bed, two Water Rail were 'squealing'.  A bird flew over and caught my attention, it was a male Peregrine Falcon, it disappeared behind the adjacent wood.

Near the inlet there was at least 300 Fieldfare and along the by-pass bushed about 70 Redwings were feeding.  Plenty of Long-tailed Tits were around roving the trees and bushes, along with them were Goldcrest and Treecreepers, although I could not find a Chiffchaff today.

After lunch I had to pop in to Lutterworth, so I decided to have a quick look at the country park area, really with the thought of potential Waxwing here or on the nearby estate which has a variety of food trees.  The thick hedgerow on the northern boundary is very good as it has a variety of food bushes, trees, including apples.  At least 12 Blackbirds were there, a few Redwings and plenty of Tits and Finches.  There is a small pond area too, which is reed fringed, three Moorhen and Mallard pair were visible and two Water Rail were calling from reed cover - I was not expecting that.

9th Nov - rain last night, clearing, cloudy cool dull morning, slowly clearing, 4C

About 1130h two Ravens were flying low and calling just east off the village.

Three Mistle Thrush were feeding and squabbling in the church Yew tree early afternoon.

8th Nov - Frosty night, sunny, clouding over 4C, light breeze W

The other day I mentioned I heard two Ring-necked Parakeets at Stanford reservoir, well today Chris Hubbard, who lives in the nearby village saw this bird on his feeder this morning.  So, I did not image it.

Ring-necked Parakeet (thanks to Chris Hubbard)

I visited Stanford reservoir this morning, all the usual birds were seen, new birds included a Little Egret flying over and later feeding in the reeds, two male Goosanders in the bay and a Chiffchaff calling in the willows.

I had good views of a Cetti's Warbler as I surveyed the water, feeding in the reeds and then singing nearby.  Plenty of Redwing and Fieldfare were feeding on the bushes or the adjacent fields, one field held 26 Lapwing and four Stock Doves feeding.

7th Nov - touch of frost, sunny morning, becoming cloudy, light NW, cool, 6C

A Heron flew over the village first thing, probably doing the local ponds, seen again a little later.  There seemed to be more Redwing around locally today and a small number of Fieldfare.   A couple of cock Pheasant were feeding near the wood to the east.