27th Jan - rain of course

A band of rain spread through during the morning until early afternoon, 8C, light-breezy southerly.

Shawell; Carl found an Iceland Gull here just before lunch I popped and had a quick look but it had flown, hopefully it will return another day.

A Spotted Sandpiper had been reported not too far away so, with the weather feeling grim I decided to go and have a look for it.  The Spotted Sandpiper is an American wader, that really should be the other side of the Atlantic.  We have a few sighting every year mostly in the autumn,  often a juvenile, as this one is.  I managed to get good views of it  - feeding on worms.

26th Jan - High cloud, a dry day

a few sunny spells mid day otherwise high cloud, light NW, 8C

Willey; mid morning a mixed flock of Fieldfare, Redwing and Starling flew over home east and settled in the tree tops before moving off south, c175, c50 and c40 respectively.
Two pairs of Bullfinch were feeding on Blackthorn buds in the church lane, while 4 Greenfinch sat in the bush top.  Long-tailed Tits and a Great-spotted Woodpecker visited the feed station.
A nice group of Snowdrops in flower under the lane hedge.

Bittesby fields; I had a walk over here to see if the finch flock was still present, it was. c80 Linnets, c40 Chaffinches we’re feeding on the bird food crop. With the Chaffinch was a single Brambling. On the next field 15 Yellowhammers we’re feeding.  A pair of Green Woodpeckers were busy feeding in the area on the track.

25th Jan - sunny morning cloud forming, then scattered showers pm, light-breezy SW, 7C

Some showers during the night ensuring the ground is still very wet everywhere.

Willey; a couple of Bullfinch flew over ~0900h.

Cotesbach quarry; I passed here this afternoon and had a quick look, there were many hundreds of Gulls present, resting after feeding at the landfill, only a part of the total number in the area.
A Red Kite flew over head.

Stanford reservoir, a quick look here, fairly quiet today.  a single Coal Tit, a Lesser Redpoll and a number of Tree Sparrows at the feed station area.

The Lapwing flock was still present on the adjacent fields ~500, need to count this photo yet, just part of the flock.  I've counted - there is 319 in this photo, so I think at least double this present.

24th Jan - gusty southerly with heavy shower, rain till 1400h, wind easing and clearing at sunset, 7C

Everywhere thoroughly wet again, saving grace at least it’s not cold

Snowdrops, lawn daisies and gorse in flower this morning.

Willey; a considerable flock of Chaffinch and Yellowhammer on stubble field to the west, 50+.

Theddingworth;  usual Blue and Great Tits on feeders, a female Great-spotted Woodpecker joined in and a Chaffinch that had quite a lot of white on its wings - unusual.  A few Fieldfare and Redwings were flying around in the rain.

23rd Jan - Cloudy, breezy, mild

Cloudy with a WSW wind, breezy at time, mild 13C, little light drizzle late pm

Willey; about 30 Redwing were feeding to the west on Sheep pastures, mid-day a Sparrowhawk did the 'bird table' round through the village.

On the way round detoured to Pitsford reservoir to see the Slavonian Grebe which has been present a few days, most scarce this winter so far. Distant record photos were made in poor light conditions.

22nd - mostly sunny, 8C, light SW

All change - a finger of mild weather came up from the SW over night giving us a pleasant day.  On a nice day like today, noticeable that day light is lasting a little longer.

Stanford Reservoir; a quick look here produced a pair of Shelduck, I wonder if it was the pair that bred here last year.  A sign of seasons moving on as we don’t see them until they begin dispersing to possible breeding areas.  Pochard numbers are good at the moment, c200, but only 1 Goldeneye spotted.  A flock c500 lapwing flew over and settled on the adjacent fields, just in this phone photo there is 85 Lapwing.

A Raven was very vocal from the tree tops in the adjacent spinney.  A few Long-tailed tits and a Goldcrest were busy feeding.  A couple of Goldfinch were feeding on seed heads.

21st Jan - light snow until midday then rain

Light snow started about 0800h and continued until 1230h, then rain until dark, 2C, light breeze SE, fresher later.  Wintry all day.

Willey;  I could see birds on the feeder through the snow during the morning, including 8 Magpies squabbling.

After lunch I did have a look at the feeders again. There were 6. Tree Sparrows, at least 4 each Chaffinch and Yellowhammers, a Nuthatch, Collard Dove, a Starling, a Greenfinch, Dunnock, Blackbirds, plus Blue and Great ‘Tis and a good number of House Sparrows.

A few Fieldfare and Redwing flew over and 2 Bullfinch made their way along the church lane before flying off.