5th Oct - sunny spells, breezy NW again, 16C, feeling cool at times

Willey;  A Chifchaff was singing in the church lane hedge, along with a Blackcap and Nuthatch, a Mistle Thrush flew in to the Yew tree for berries.
As yet no Redwing or Fieldfare seen  in the immediate area, inward migration seems slow, probably due to the weather we are having.

Draycote Water; a meeting here this morning with the warden for Stanford reservoir gave me time for a quick look.  A Great-spotted and Green Woodpecker were noisy, plenty of Meadow pipits and Pied Wagtails along the dam area.  10+ Little Grebes were by the pontoons, with a good number of Great-crested Grebes on the open water.  ^ Little Egret were along one shore area.  Surprisingly very few Gulls were present - they must have gone off feeding elsewhere, e.g. Cotesbach landfill & the fields.  Just he usual ducks were present, so a little disappointing as recently they have had some scarce birds present, e.g. Little Stint.

Frolesworth; along the Brought road on a recently sown field 6 Stock Dove were feeding along with black-headed Gulls and Wood Pigeon.

4th Oct - mostly cloudy, breezy, 14C, Westerly

Stanford reservoir; an afternoon visit, the Gulls seemed to be enjoying the breezy conditions by flying up in to the wind, at last a Common Gull was present.  The Greenshank and Green Sandpiper were present in their usual area, about 50 Lapwing were on the point. A single Little Grebe was out in the rough water and 2 Water Rsils were calling from the nearby Reed area. Otherwise as expected and passerines were keeping their heads down in the wind.

3rd Oct - mostly cloudy, a few sunny intervals, light NW, 14C

A Autumnal day with plenty of leaves falling and more fungi spotted - yet another
busy day.

Willey; A Jay flew from a hedge Oak tree towards the Long Spinney, during the afternoon a Sparrowhawk flew over and a little later a single Swallow was flying around over the BH wood and field area.

A couple of butterflies were seen distantly, including a Comma

2nd Oct - cloudy and breezy, westerly, 14C

A busy day, little time for obs.

Willey; a Raven flew over mid- morning.

1st Oct - Swallow- drizzle early, then cloudy, light SW, 16C

Willey; 0900h a adult and Juv Swallow were flying over the village feeding.

Stanford reservoir;  a Ruff, Greenshank and Green Sandpiper were seen.  The mixed Tit flock held over 10. Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrest, 6 Chiffchaff and a Coal Tit. A family of 4 Bullfinches also worked their way through the bushes.

Shawell Lagoons; a look here after lunch did not produce much.  At least 17+ Great-black backed Gulls were present, one with an orange ring, but it flew off before I could read it.  Shame as we don't get many cr GBBGs here.  A Green Woodpecker was calling loudly while a Buzzard passed over the pools.

30th Sept - sunny spells am, cloud increasing light rain later, light SW, 15C

Willey; 4 Swallows on the wires this morning, 1 adult and 3 very recently fledged juveniles - will we see them in October?

Cotesbach sandy lane pools; I had a look here in the morning, very little found, although Pied Wagtail numbers have begun to increase, c15, as they did last autumn.

Stanford reservoir;  a mid-afternoon visit, with cloud increasing and rain not too far off it was a quick walk to the hide for shelter.  Three Ruff were in the flooded vegetation with Lapwings, Teal and other duck.  There was over 200 Teal today, still a good number of Shoveler too.  The high number of Greylag and Canada geese at the moment sometimes get very excited and cause the other duck to become alarmed and often fly off to a new area of water.  The female Red-crested Pochard is still here, and still only a single drake Pochard, the others seen having left which makes me wonder if this one is injured and can't flew.

The Greenshank was also feeding along the waters edge, 4 Snipe flew over and the green Sandpiper was again on the inflow weir.

A roving mixed Tit flock was in the bushes, including Chiffchaff and Goldcrest.

29th Sept - RCP - rain am, clearing to sunny spells pm, 19C, light SW

Willey; this morning 2 Swallows were over the fields to the east.

Theddingworth; mid-morning there were 8 Mistle Thrush feeding on Rowan berries on a tree at my brothers.

Stanford reservoir; a late afternoon visit, a female Red-crested Pochard was feeding off the point, first record of the year, maybe others to follow.  Also, 3 Juv-near adult Shelduck and the other usual ducks. A single Ruff was spotted in the flooded vegetation.