7th April - high cloud, sunny pm, 14C

During early morning a Grey Heron flew very low over the village center and a Swallow sat on the telegraph wires

During mid-morning I dropped in to Frolesworth manor lake for a look.  A single Swallow was present, a Great-crested Grebe pair and a few Tufted Duck were on the lake, plus Moorhen and Coot. A Chiffchaff was singing, but no other warblers yet.  On the adjacent cultivated field at least 15 Yellowhammer were feeding, a male was also singing nearby.  Also, several Skylark were present as well as others singing in the neighbouring fields.

I then stopped off at the local lake, things were fairly quite here, just the recent usual species, although a male Reed Bunting was perched and no doubt will stay to breed as in other years.

Just about lunch time news came through that there was a summer plumed Red-necked Grebe at Stanford reservoir, so after lunch I made a visit.  The Red-necked Grebe was found feeding not too far from the hide, the light was not perfect, too bright, but good views were had, and of the Long-tailed Duck too. Overhead a Red Kite and Buzzard shared the same thermal and circled very close to each other.

A very good number of butterflies were out during the sunny afternoon, which was good to see.  Brimestone, Peacock, Orange-tip and Speckled Wood were seen.

6th April - sunny day, 14C, light W

I had a look at Shawell lagoons this morning to see what Gulls were about, well none were present initially when I arrived and viewed the north pool.  Two Little-ringed Plover were present and a single Sand Martin flew over.  I moved to look at the south pool, when I had got there I could see that  about 300 Gulls had come in and were on the other pool and dividing bank.  On the north pool were a Cormorant, several Canada Geese, a Little Grebe and 18 Tufted Duck.  Going back to the other pool to look through the Gulls did not produce any scarce species or any wearing colour rings.

An evening walk at Stanford reservoir produced a Snipe, 2 Oystercatcher, 6 Lapwing, 10 Goldeneye, 1 Pochard, 3 Wigeon and the other usual duck species, but no Long-tailed Duck.  A Treecreeper was calling loudly and seen making its way up a Popular Tree. 6 Little Egret and 5 Grey Heron were feeding.  At one time 45 Carrion Crow were scavenging along one section of the shore.  A few Sand Martin and single Swallow were feeding over the water.

The low water level is shown well, with the point off the hide being favoured by some birds including Oystercatcher.

5th April - grass frost last night, mostly, sunny, 12C, light- mod NW

This morning, at the allotments area of the village, I could heard a Nuthatch calling loudly, a Blackcap popped up singing, then a couple of Linnet (the male sang awhile) a Goldfinch, followed by a couple of Yellowhammers on the hedge.  A Mistle Thrush sang distantly from the Long Spinney and two Buzards patrolled overhead.

A look at Stanford reservoir during the afternoon showed the Long-tailed Duck and Shelduck were present, along with all the usual species.

4th April - sunny spells, light NW, breezier later W, 14C

Two Canada Geese were on the pond behind the cottages this early morning, they flew off towards Newnham paddox.

The first Swallow of the year for the village put in a brief appearance, calling and singing as it did a fly-over at 0900h, it will be back.

Late evening a Fieldfare was heard but not seen.

At Stanford reservoir there was c100 Sand Martins and a couple of Swallow.  The long-tailed Duck and 3 Shelduck, the pair and a single bird some distance from them.  3 Wigeon remain, but I did not see any Goldeneye this time, maybe they have gone on their return migration.  Little Egret numbered 4 near the inlet, with a few Grey Heron too.

3rd April - mostly sunny, warm 16C, light/mod SW

Another lovely Spring day, thenHorse Chesnut sticky buds have just about burst open, so soon the tree will be green instead of the bare brown of winter.

I had a quick look at the local lake as passing this morning.  A Comma butterfly was about and lots of larger insects.  On the lake 3 pairs of Little Grebe were very active defending and challenging their territories, a couple had a proposed fight, the likes of which I've not seen before.

A look at a Stanford reservoir during the afternoon produced the Long-tailed Duck and Shelduck still. 5 Wigeon are still present, along with Goldeneye, Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall, Tufted Duck and Mallard.  Over the last week or so there has been quite a few predated Mallard eggs, their remains scattered around the paths.  It's not unusual for the first clutches to be heavily predated as lack of cover makes their nests easier to find.  I expect most will lay again.

4 Lapwing were feeding in front of the hide and 1 Little-ringed Plover was present.

~40 Linnet were flying around between the fields, Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a Willow Warbler were singing.  A Great-spotted Woodpecker was in the trees being noisy, a pair of Bullfinch were nearby.

A Muntjac deer tried to hide as I walked passed the Willows it was hiding in.  A Peacock butterfly was soaking up the sun by spreading its wings wide.

2nd April - sunny day, light NW/W breeze, 14C

A day at the races, however when returning about 1530h, just outside the village a Fox dashed across the road in broad daylight.

I popped to Stanford reservoir in the early evening, the Long-taile Duck and Shelduck were present.  About 10 Wigeon only remain now, c40 Teal and c15 Goldeneye still.  No Little Egrets were seen, not sure where they are, have they left?  Several Grey Heron were fishing though and 3 lapwing were feeding on the mud.

Several Blackcap were singing and numerous Chiffchaff.  A great-spotted Woodpecker was drumming, a Treecreeper sang and a Tawny Owl called from the adjacent copse, while a jay called loudly as I disturbed it in the hedge.

1st April - sunny periods, 17C, light SW

Early morning a Raven was feeding on a dead lamb in a field to the west of the village.  4 Fieldfare were in the Church lane Blackthorn hedge at 1400h.  The Blackthorn looks splendid now in full flower.

A quick look at the pools field at Cotesbach did not produce too much, a Green Woodpecker was calling loudly, a Mallard pair was on one pool and only 4 Pied Wagtails remained, compared to the 60 or so recently.

After lunch I made a visit to the Cotesbach landfill area, Carl was there so we search through the Gulls.  After a short while I spotted a Iceland gull sitting among the other Gulls, I took some distant record photos, which have been cropped shown here, you can clearly make out the Iceland Gull.

A Red Kite flew over, as did Buzzards which are regular here.

In the evening I popped to Stanford reservoir, it was a little quite this evening, but the usual duck species including the Shelduck pair and Long-tailed Duck still.

On the way back i went past the old tree that is favoured by Little Owl, and sure enough one was sitting on the top and could be seen in silhouette.