7th March - sunny spells, light SW, 11C

I managed to get a brief visit to Stanford reservoir this afternoon.  Goosanders numbered about 50, have some left and headed off to their northern breeding grounds?  Wigeon, Pochard Goldeneye, Teal and Tufted Duck were in good numbers.  The Long-tailed Duck was present still, a little closer for some photos.

10 Little Egret were counted, on the low island a few Lapwing lingered along with a mixture Gulls.

As I walked back a Blackbird gave alarm from within a bramble thicket, immediately a Woodcock flew out, and settled again in the thick cover a little further away. About 20 Fieldfare were in the border trees and flew off over the adjacent fields to the north.

6th March - ground frost, sunny periods, light NW, 9C

This morning 12 Goldfinch flew over the village northward, later in the day a male was singing in the  church Horse Chestnut, maybe they will nest again in it.  A Coal Tit and Goldcrest was singing in the area too.

Later in the morning I had a quick look at the Cotesbach pools area hoping for a very early returned Little-ringed Plover.  Of course there was not one, however one was reported from Titchwell in Norfolk, so they are returning.   Already, several Sand Martin have been seen in the country, plus Wheatear and even today a Swallow very north in Aberdeenshire.  So, the Spring migrants are on their way here.  There were 56 Pied Wagtails and c10 Meadow Pipit feeding at the pools.

Occasionally a Redwing was heard flying overhead, no Fieldfare seen today though.  Late afternoon the Mistle Thrush pair were again feeding in the pasture to the east of the village.

At about 1600h I noticed a falcon flying slowly past,  near the church, a quick check confirmed it was a female Peregrine.  This is only my second record within the village area.  It turned around, again very leisurely, and came back past the church and almost directly over me, super views.

5th March - rain period first thing, showers and sunny spells later, mod-fresh SW, 10C

Another very changeable day, feeling cool at times, countryside has lots of standing water pools, but there are lots of signs of Spring, daffodils, young leaves opening, Blackthorn blossom, Ladybirds and so on, if you look for them.

About mid-night last night, when checking the in-lamb ewes, there was a 'large' Toad outside the door, I snapped with my phone.  I moved it on so it was not walked on in the dark.

After lunch I decided to brave the showers and wind and headed off to Stanford reservoir.  The water level is now even lower with much shore and islets beginning to show.  The low water is still attractive to the ducks with really good numbers of all the expected species and a record number of 70 Goosanders. Goldeneye, Wigeon and Pochard are in good numbers and Teal are becoming more numerous, 50+.  Best was the Long-tailed Duck and 'redhead' Smew are both still present, both are scarce visitors here so such long stayers are very unusual for this site.  Only Shoveler seemed low in number, I only saw 2.

8 Little Egrets and a Couple of Grey Heron were fishing.  A Green Sandpiper was preening then feeding along the waters edge.  It is hoped that as Spring migration progresses with the low water we have a good crop of waders dropping in.

The following photos give an idea of how the reservoir is looking now.  Also, with the showers and sunny spells, rainbows were numerous and stunning.

4th March - sunny periods, light-fresh SE, 10C

This morning I popped in to view the field pools at Cotesbach, which after yesterdays rain were overflowing.  Feeding in the vegetation between the pools I counted 65 Pied Wagtails, all busy feeding, plus 1 Meadow  Pipit.  My highest count here this 'winter', I wonder where they go to roost.   A flock of ~ 50 Starling were also feeding, 3 Red-legged partridge flew off, while 3 Lapwing remained, one giving some display flight. Two pairs of Mallard were around, hopefully they will nest in this area.

After lunch I visited Cotesbach landfill to check out the Gulls, at first I was disappointed as there was only a few, ~ 100, present so hopes of finding much were low.  However, an adult Glaucous Gull was spotted sitting on a rubbish bag among other Gulls.  After watching it for a while I realised that it may have a colour ring on, so re-positioning a little closer I managed to get better views through the scope and sure enough it had a orange colour ring, too far to read the digits though.  However, Carl spotted a similar colour ringed Glaucous Gull on 11th February here and managed to read it.  It is very likely the same same as earlier, it was ringed at Pitsea landfill, Essex, UK in 2015.  Just think where this may have traveled in the intervening time, it has been recorded in Northamptonshire and Cheshire too.

The Gull flew off towards the lagoons site do I decided to see if I go find it there where a photo would be possible.  It was not there, little was initially one show.  With searching 30+ Tufted Duck and 31 Coot were present - where all the Coot have come from I don't know.  A single great-crested grebe was present and two immature Mute Swans on the water.  Sitting on the mid-bank was a Grey Heron, 2 lapwing  and 11 Canada Geese.  The Grey heron kept this pose for a long time, I then decided it was facing in to the wind and probably the most comfortable position to be in

In the boundary hedge a few small birds were found including Long-tailed tits and a Goldcrest, plus a couple of Goldfinch.

3rd March - wet, wet, wet, 8C, light breeze S

started to rain at 0800h, and continued...

Female Sparrowhawk sat on garden bird feeder at breakfast time before flying off.

....well, it did stop, just about at 1430h for a while.  Immediately bird song started and the feed station became very busy, although it had been in use all day.  A short watch at the feed station produced 25 House Sparrows, 5 Tree Sparrows, 7 Yellowhammers, plus Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Blue and Great Tits, a couple of Long-tailed Tits and Nuthatch to name a few.

A couple of Mistle Thrush were about, I expect they have a nest nearby.  A few Redwing and Fieldfare flew over.  

Strangely to me, a flock of ~200 Black-headed Gulls, with a few other larger Gulls, were flying slowly in a rather loose flock quite high.  They looked like a flock of Lapwing searching a field to land on, very slowly they headed south, and seemingly 'unsure', then a sudden change in direction back over me and off SW.  Can't say I've seen such a flock flying like this around here.  Late afternoon they are usually purposely in formation headed back to Draycote for their nightly roost.  I had wondered if there was a large unusual predator around, but nothing visible.

2nd March - sunny spells am, brighter pm, light SW, 9C

As the weather was fairly settled and fine I decided to go and stake out a local barn that can host Barn Owls.  I erected a nest box there some years ago and it is regularly used through the year. So, I positioned myself in a gateway at 1815h and waited whilst scanning the fields and barn from a very cautious distance.  At 1825h a Barn Owl flew on to the surrounding barn yard wall and sat for about 5 mins before turning round and flying back under the barn.  Hopefully a pair will use my nest box.  The light faded quickly after this and it was getting chilly, so feeling very chuffed I have a Barn Owl present I left.

1st March - sunny spells, light SW, 8C

This morning a flock of 30 Redwings flew over heading south.  The Mistle Thrush pair were on the usual fields to the east and another was singing near to the village.

 Mid-morninga Buzzard was performing its territory flight display over the village.  It's a bit like a rollercoaster ride lots of ups and downs and calling.

Mid-afternoon a mixed flock of Redwing and Fieldfare flew over, also southward.