26th Aug - sunny spells, very warm, 24C, light NW

Loughborough; A Hoopoe has been seen around an house area for a few days so this morning I decided to go and have a look. It had been seen first thing feeding on lawns in the favoured area, of course when I arrived it had just flown off over the houses.  So, searching by the gathered birders began, after 2 hours it still had not been re-located and I had to leave.  Although I did spot some interesting fungus in grass under a tree.

I returned a little later and the Hoopoe was sitting found on a pavement next to a road, it flew off over he houses.  Fortunately it eventually returned to its favoured lawn, where the lady resident was kind enough to let people in to her house to view the bird on her lawn, here I managed some photos too.

Shawell Laggons;  On the way back I visited here to see what Gulls I could find, I had begun checking the Gulls when 2 Green Sandpipers flew passed and settled on the shore.  Two adult Yellow-legged Gulls were present among the many Lesser Black Backed Gulls, I also found two LBBGs which were colour rings, one read as J374L, the other I could not read, we'll have to see where this one was ringed.

Stanford reservoir; This morning the ringers here had a very good catch, ringing 129 Whitethroat and 170 Blackcap plus other species including 2 Redstart, taking the total to 408.  Its amazing to think that so many birds are passing through on migration, most unseen when you go out birding.
Anyhow I popped here late afternoon to see the reported Wheatear, I did not find them, but did see a Spotted Flycatcher and the Greenshank.

25th Aug - sunny, very warm, 22C, light SSW

Willey; this morning a surprise, a Kingfisher flew over the field passed the cattle, a little off a normal route for a Kingfisher.    A Grey Heron flew over head - very fishy!   In the village a flock of c25 House Sparrows were feeding on the street verge, maybe some spilt cereal.

Stanford reservoir; 2 Wigeon were present today, the first returning birds of the autumn.

A couple of Little Egret and Greenshank were on the islands, a Little Grebe was nearby too.  At least 2 Kingfishers were whizzing about brightening things up.

Plenty of Warblers were around the bushes, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroats.  A Willow Tit also present occasionally calling, this was only my second record this year here.  Treecreeper and Goldcrests as usual.

24th Aug - mostly sunny, light SW, 20C

Willey; another Hedgehog succumbed on the main road near the village turning.  About 60 Swallows were on the wires this morning with others flying around.

Stanford reservoir; a Black Tern was reported, so after dinner I popped over to have a look, fortunately it was still present and busy feeding over the water, I expect it will migrate away by morning.  A single Swift was spotted feeding overhead and c20 Swallows.  A barn Owl was watched hunting at about 0745h over the game crop areas in the adjacent fields. A Tawny was heard calling again from the wood. A Greenshank was resting on the island next to a female Shoveler.  Otherwise all the other usual species were present this evening.

On a pile of wood shred waste from a felled Poplar tree clusters of fungi were noted.

23rd Aug - cloudy, dullish still morning, becoming sunny spells pm 20C, wing fresher West

Willey; first thing there were 2 Wheatear in a stubble field just along the Pailton road, about half hour later another was found on the field track just east of the village.   A Sparrrowhawk flew along the village then back each time pursued by the Swallows, about 150 flying around alarm calling.  A Nuthatch and Chiffchaff were calling in the church yard area.

I've not seen any Yellow Wagtails with the cattle in the fields on migration, usually now we have several stopping over to fatten up, may in the next day or two.

After lunch I had a look at the BH wood, there were 4 Spotted Flycatchers feeding from the Hawthorns on the bank.

I spotted a spider that must have hitched a ride on my car, phone photo, I thunk it is a False Wolf Spider..

Stanford reservoir; visited here in the morning as it was hoped some migrants may have stopped over. A Redstart had been reported nearby and with my Wheatear it suggested they may be others about to find.  In terms of passerines there were several roaming feeding flocks of Chiffchaff, Willow Warblers, Goldcrest and Tits.  At least 2 Whitethroat were in the thickets and a Blackcap along Blowers Bay.
The  2 juvenile Shelduck are still here, the adults probably gone to moult off Germany.  The usual duck and plenty of Lapwings were around too.  A single Little Egret in the inlet area.  A couple of Raven flew over SE.

Shawell Lagoons; mid afternoon look here. There were plenty of Gulls present but none found with colour rings.  Yellow-legged Gulls are frequent now, like this sub-adult pictured.

Also present was a Common Sandpiper on the shore, 97 Canada Geese, a Little Grebe, several Tufted Duck including the female with 3 ducklings still.

Cotesbach Sandy Lane; next was a look in this area, a Red Kite was in the tree and a Green Sandpiper on the flooded area.  A couple of Bullfinch were calling from the lakeside and 4 Buzzards were overhead, one a juvenile calling and pestering a parent.

22nd Aug - cloudy, dull, 18C, humid, light breeze SE

Willey; about 60 Swallows and a few House Martins were on the telegraph wires this morning.  My first autumn Meadow Pipit flew over calling. A Green Woodpecker was feeding on the ground in the paddock. There was about 70 Gulls, probably all Lesser black-backed resting on the pasture field first thing, no doubt off the the arable fields later.

Stanford reservoir; an evening visit, generally quite with the usual ducks and Geese present.  A Green Woodpecker was calling and flying around.  A mixed flock of Swallows, Sand and House Martins dropped in before moving off again.  A single Greenshank and Common Sandpiper were in the narrows island area.

21st Aug - cloudy, dull but mild, 19C light breeze SE

Willey; this morning a Fox sneaked across the pasture to the old railway.  There were only about 25 Swallows on the wires, but others were flying around the fields, so unsure whether some have gone or not.  A Nuthatch and Coal Tit were vocal in the Church area.

Watermead CP North; I ventured here in the afternoon to see a Spotted Crake that has been around a couple of days.  After a while I had several good views of it on the mud-Reed fringes as it fed and wandered along before dissapesring in to the Reed bed.  Also present was the Pectoral Sandpiper, presumed the one from Cropston reservoir I saw last weekend, this has been here a few days too.  Plenty of Lapwing and 2 Common Sandpipers added to the wader variety.
A roving Tit and Warblers flock were in the Hawthorn bushes, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, plus Long-tailed and Blue Tits.

20th Aug Norfolk - sunny am, cloudy late pm, light SW, 20C

Cley Marsh NWT; a sunrise visit again, 3 Green Sandpipers were flying over calling, so I thought there may be new bird in. In fact nothing new was found and generally little was moving about. A mixed flock of about 20 Ringed Plover a Sanderling and Dunlin flew in and settled on the shingle bank before heading off.  Plenty of Juvenile Shelduck around, quarrelsome Avocets, Coot, Teal and Moorhen.

Walsey Hill NOA; I next had a walk around the observatory area and pool.  There was a nice flock of Chiifchaffs and Willow Warblers with Blackcap working the thicket Blackthorn.  Two male Sparrowhawk were having a dispute near the confers, while 2 Jay called loudly.  A Little grebe was on the pool but not much else.

Wells-next-the sea; later I visited the harbour entrance area, the tide was well out.  There were plenty of waders feeding out on the mud and sand - Knot, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Grey and Ringed Plover..  Also, 60 Sandwich and 3 Common Terns.  A single Brent Goose was also spotted, presumably an injured bird that has summered here as no wintering returning flocks have been reported yet. 

 Sandwich Terns

Warham; 5 Swifts and House Martins were flying over the village while having lunch in the pub garden.

Titchwell RSPB; a late afternoon walk here along the main path to the beach.  The only new bird from Friday was a Great (white) Egret that flew in. A Cettis Warbler was heard calling and a few Chiffchaff in the bushes around the car park.  A Little grebe was also spotted on the open water.