3rd Feb - light rain, cloudy, dull, light NW

A Ruddy Duck was found on a water this morning, these are very scarce now following the campaign to remove them from the UK, they never stay around long.  I managed to see it and get some record photos in the rain.

Thornton;  There has been a Cattle Egret in this area for a few days, it was reported today so after lunch I decided to go and see it, although the weather did not improve.

2nd Feb - sunny am, cloudy pm, NW cool breeze, 6C

Willey; a couple of noisy Grey Wagtails were around the fields to the east, while a few Fieldfare flew over.  Two Buzzard were flying slowly passed the village late morning.

Stanford Reservoir; I had a look here after lunch, generally very quite, just the usual waterfowl.  A single Goldcrest was feeding in the hedgerow and a Kestrel flew over hunting over the rough area.  Plenty of Blue and Great Tits at the feed station, a couple of Chaffinch and about 30 Tree Sparrows.
A Great-spotted Woodpecker called in the adjacent woodland.

 

1st Feb - mostly sunny, cool fresh-breezy NW, 15mph, 6C

A brief look at the Gulls today at Shawell produced a interesting Gull that showed some characteristics of a Glaucous Gull, but was not pure, presumably a hybrid at some time in its genetics.

31st Jan - sunny spells, cool NW, 7C

Busy day, no obs.

I did disturb Buzzard that was on the ground pulling out a juicy worm - a principle food for them, esp in the winter which many find surprising.

Here in the UK we have a Super Blue Moon this evening.  In Asia they also have a lunar eclipse making it a Super Blood Blue Moon - if you saw it out there I hope you enjoyed the natural spectacle.  Our was gloriously bright.

30th Jan - sun and showers, 7 C, light W

Shawell sandpit; there were thousands of Gulls resting here and feeding on the adjacent landfill.  Among the resting birds was the Juv Glaucous Gull, the one that’s been seen here earlier in the month.

29th Jan - band of rain moved through am

Started dry but a band of rain from the NW, lasted a couple of hours, then cooler and fresher, 7C

Willey; on the stubble field to the west there was about 50 Chaffinch and 10 Yellowhammers.

28th Jan - sunny and breezy, mild 13C

Willey; the RSPB bird bird count today so I counted what came to the feed station in the paddock for an hour this morning.  In all 17 species were counted, with several other species in the area or flying over.  House Sparrow was the most numerous with a max count of 15, Tree Sparrows 6, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Collard Dove, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Long-tailed Tit all 2 each, 4 Yellowhammers, 7 each of Blue and Great Tit.
The best flt-over was a Peregrine Falcon that headed slowly southward.

Stanford reservoir; I had a look here this afternoon, the very breezy wind was definitely keeping creatures tuck away, even the duck seemed harder to find.  A Little grebe was on the inlet pool, 4 Teal were nice to see among Wigeon, Tufted and Pochard, 5 Goldeneye were together, with the males displaying.  Passerines were few, but included Long-tailed Tits and a single male Bullfinch.