Tuesday, 14 November 2017
Sunday, 12 November 2017
12th Nov - sunny, cool, mod/fresh NW, 7C
Stanford Reservoir; a morning visit produced a nice variety. All the usual ducks, plus the Red-crested Pochard pair still. A Little Egret was on the point. Plenty of Redwing and Fieldfare around the hedges and fallow field. Finches included Goldfinch ~30, Linnet ~ 20, Lesser Redpoll ~6 plus Chaffinch and a couple of Yellowhammers.
Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Grey and Pied Wagtails were around and a couple of Kingfisher flew along the waters hedge.
Although there were a few Long-tailed Tits, there was no big mixed roving flock, but several Goldcrest, Blue and Great Tits were in the general area.
Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Grey and Pied Wagtails were around and a couple of Kingfisher flew along the waters hedge.
Although there were a few Long-tailed Tits, there was no big mixed roving flock, but several Goldcrest, Blue and Great Tits were in the general area.
Saturday, 11 November 2017
11th Nov - mostly high cloud, light NW, 10C
Lutterworth country park, a look here early was rather quiet today, most notable were 6 Greenfinch feeding in the tree tops.
Willey; a late morning check at my feed station showed all the regulars were present, GS Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Greenfinch and ~35 House Sparrows. Redwings were busy feeding on the Yew berries and flying around, maybe some new arrivals, at least 50 and a few Fieldfare.
Shawell Lagoons; just as I arrived a load of Gulls were leaving and only a few stayed, with the others disappearing. So it proved rather disappointing, whereas in the distant many hundreds could be seen over the fields and heading towards the landfill. Some days they can stay, other days they move off early, just the way it goes.
Some northerly weather forecast, hopefully this will encourage some white-winged Gulls to come down from the far north, usually Glaucous and Iceland Gulls begin to appear here from after mid-December with most in the new year.
Willey; a late morning check at my feed station showed all the regulars were present, GS Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Greenfinch and ~35 House Sparrows. Redwings were busy feeding on the Yew berries and flying around, maybe some new arrivals, at least 50 and a few Fieldfare.
Shawell Lagoons; just as I arrived a load of Gulls were leaving and only a few stayed, with the others disappearing. So it proved rather disappointing, whereas in the distant many hundreds could be seen over the fields and heading towards the landfill. Some days they can stay, other days they move off early, just the way it goes.
Some northerly weather forecast, hopefully this will encourage some white-winged Gulls to come down from the far north, usually Glaucous and Iceland Gulls begin to appear here from after mid-December with most in the new year.
Friday, 10 November 2017
10th Nov - broken cloud, NW mod, sometime breezy am, 10C
Willey; a Kestrel was sitting on the telegraph wires along the village lane this morning.
Eyebrook Reservoir; after lunch I was just about to head off to Stanford Reservoir when news came of a Ferruginous Duck here, so I decided to go a see. It had been off the ‘island’ but wasn’t showing when I got there. The island is really a small peninsular, but you can not view the end of it easily, which of course is exactly where it was. After a while it did show, a drake still a little in eclipse plumage, among a small group of Pochards and eventually preening on the edge of the shore, but a little too distant for a photo.
Also, present were a nice selection of wildfowl, a little later 10 Barnacle Geese flew in, probably from the Rutland Water flock. Quite a few Pintail were present, with Teal, Gadwall and several Shelduck.
At the inlet ~500 Golden Plover, a few Dulin, 2 Ruff, many Lapwing and a Redshank were feeding. A single Goosander flew over. A Barn Owl hunted along the lane verge. A couple of Red Kite were over the nearby fields.
Eyebrook Reservoir; after lunch I was just about to head off to Stanford Reservoir when news came of a Ferruginous Duck here, so I decided to go a see. It had been off the ‘island’ but wasn’t showing when I got there. The island is really a small peninsular, but you can not view the end of it easily, which of course is exactly where it was. After a while it did show, a drake still a little in eclipse plumage, among a small group of Pochards and eventually preening on the edge of the shore, but a little too distant for a photo.
Also, present were a nice selection of wildfowl, a little later 10 Barnacle Geese flew in, probably from the Rutland Water flock. Quite a few Pintail were present, with Teal, Gadwall and several Shelduck.
At the inlet ~500 Golden Plover, a few Dulin, 2 Ruff, many Lapwing and a Redshank were feeding. A single Goosander flew over. A Barn Owl hunted along the lane verge. A couple of Red Kite were over the nearby fields.
Thursday, 9 November 2017
9th Nov - High broken cloud, light W - NW, 12C
Frolesworth manor lake; I was greeted here by a Raven calling in the nearby Tree. On the lake there was a few Tufted Duck, a Great-Crested Grebe and ~ 50 Black-headed Gulls. On the adjacent stubble field at least 15 Skylarks, with some singing a little. On the game cover ~50 Linnets and 10 Chaffinch we’re feeding.
Stanford Reservoir; at least 300 Fieldfare and 50 Redwing were feeding on haws and adjacent field. 6 Lesser Redpoll were on the flower heads feeding and a few Linnet were on the sown field.
On the water the Red-Crested Pochard pair were present, along with 33 Common Pochard. Teal numbers remain high, at least 300. Little Grebe was heard in the reeds.
A Great-spotted Woodpecker was in the willows, where later the roving Long-tailed Tit flock roved feeding, which included a Willow Tit. A Water Rail was seen in a brief short flight landing near the by-pass channel, then called loudly for a while. A female Grey Wagtail was feeding at the outflow.
A Barn Owl was spotted sitting on a log the far side, listening for prey, managed some distant record shots, then a Snipe flew passed.
Stanford Reservoir; at least 300 Fieldfare and 50 Redwing were feeding on haws and adjacent field. 6 Lesser Redpoll were on the flower heads feeding and a few Linnet were on the sown field.
On the water the Red-Crested Pochard pair were present, along with 33 Common Pochard. Teal numbers remain high, at least 300. Little Grebe was heard in the reeds.
Photo Chris Hubbard
A Great-spotted Woodpecker was in the willows, where later the roving Long-tailed Tit flock roved feeding, which included a Willow Tit. A Water Rail was seen in a brief short flight landing near the by-pass channel, then called loudly for a while. A female Grey Wagtail was feeding at the outflow.
A Barn Owl was spotted sitting on a log the far side, listening for prey, managed some distant record shots, then a Snipe flew passed.
8th Nov - mostly sunny, 9C, light SW
A busy day.
Willey: Briefly looked at feed station nice to see a couple of Tree Sparrows and Great- spotted Woodpeckers with all the usuals.
Willey: Briefly looked at feed station nice to see a couple of Tree Sparrows and Great- spotted Woodpeckers with all the usuals.
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