Willey; a busy day but I did check out my feed station that is still attracting several Yellowhammers, Chaffinch, House and tree Sparrows, along with Blue, great and 2 each of Coal and Long-tailed Tits. a small mixed flock of Redwing and |Fieldfare landed in the trees nearby. A Goldcrest was singing in the nearby Church lane.
Good news, Paul C has seen the Barn Owl - so it survived the cold weather.
Wednesday, 14 March 2018
Tuesday, 13 March 2018
13th March - broken cloud, sunny intervals, 10C, light Westerly
Shawell Lagoons; managed a short check here and quarry, still no LRP or Sand Martins, reports are coming-in widely dispersed across the country, but still very early so soon I expect they will appear around here. Many hundreds of Gulls but no white-wingers seen.
Willey; 1850h, a Tawny Owl flew passed towards the Church cemetery,
Willey; 1850h, a Tawny Owl flew passed towards the Church cemetery,
Monday, 12 March 2018
12th March - Oh what a wet day, light NW, 8C
Willey; a Goldcrest again was singing this morning in the Church Yew, several Song Thrushes and a Blackbird had a go singing too. Mid-morning a Mistle Thrush was heard briefly to the east of the village. A Green Woodpecker was heard several times during the day. The Pied Wagtail was on the roof again, singing first thing, but no mate seen yet. A couple of Canada Geese flew over probabaly breeding on a local lake or pond.
Sunday, 11 March 2018
11th March - mostly cloudy, 11C, SE wind light, brisk pm
Stanford reservoir. On the way I had a quick look at Shawell sandpit for Little-ringed Plover, absent but a adult Yellow-legged Gull was present. Along the lane after Shawell a Red Kite was hunting over the fields.
At the reservoir the recent heavy rain had stirred the water up and was looking quite mucky, however the ducks seemed to find there was plenty of food and were feeding busily. About 300 Wigeon, c60 Pochard, good numbers of Tufted and Gadwall, 4+ Goldeneye. Three Goosander, one a male, were also present. At least 20 Cormorant were on the water or in trees.
A pair of Grey Wagtail were feeding on floating weeds near the dam, on the dam an Oystercatcher was feeding - the fist returning bird of Spring.
10+ Tree Sparrows at the feed station with Chaffinch, Blue, Great and a Coal Tit. On the ground at least 2 rats - food for the Barn Owls. A Jay and Stock Dove flew passed. On the adjacent fallow field at least 20 Lesser Redpoll were feeding and several Skylark were singing. A pair of Bullfinch were in the hedgerow, also 4 Long-tailed Tits were involved in some for of territory dispute.
Willey; at 1630h a single Curlew flew passed the village NE, called once. Hope this means the (near) local birds will return and successfully breed.
At the reservoir the recent heavy rain had stirred the water up and was looking quite mucky, however the ducks seemed to find there was plenty of food and were feeding busily. About 300 Wigeon, c60 Pochard, good numbers of Tufted and Gadwall, 4+ Goldeneye. Three Goosander, one a male, were also present. At least 20 Cormorant were on the water or in trees.
A pair of Grey Wagtail were feeding on floating weeds near the dam, on the dam an Oystercatcher was feeding - the fist returning bird of Spring.
10+ Tree Sparrows at the feed station with Chaffinch, Blue, Great and a Coal Tit. On the ground at least 2 rats - food for the Barn Owls. A Jay and Stock Dove flew passed. On the adjacent fallow field at least 20 Lesser Redpoll were feeding and several Skylark were singing. A pair of Bullfinch were in the hedgerow, also 4 Long-tailed Tits were involved in some for of territory dispute.
Willey; at 1630h a single Curlew flew passed the village NE, called once. Hope this means the (near) local birds will return and successfully breed.
Saturday, 10 March 2018
10th March - quiet a bit of rain last night. mostly cloudy, light southerly, showers pm, mild 13C
Cotesbach; a quick look at the Sandy lane pools this morning. 8 Teal were on the pools, along with a pair of Canada Geese, another pair flew in causing some commotion. Chaffinch and Greenfinch were singing, otherwise fairly quiet.
Willey; my feed station is now much less attended that the cold weather has gone. 5 Tree Sparrows, single Yellowhammer and Chaffinch, a male Great-spotted Woodpecker but a good number of Blue and Great Tits.
A Goldcrest was singing in the Church yew.
Long Lawford; a Bewicks Swan has been present with a flock of Mute Swans (46), so after lunch I went to see if it was still present, it was.
While there a flock of 19 Golden Plover flew over NE. c150 Fieldfare were around and several Skylark were heard singing.
Shawell lagoons; a look here next, hardly any Gulls were present. 20 Tufted Duck, a Mallard pair, 6 Mute Swans and 3 great-crested Grebes were present. A drake Shelduck was on the central bank, I wonder where the female is, maybe sitting on eggs.
Willey; my feed station is now much less attended that the cold weather has gone. 5 Tree Sparrows, single Yellowhammer and Chaffinch, a male Great-spotted Woodpecker but a good number of Blue and Great Tits.
A Goldcrest was singing in the Church yew.
Long Lawford; a Bewicks Swan has been present with a flock of Mute Swans (46), so after lunch I went to see if it was still present, it was.
Shawell lagoons; a look here next, hardly any Gulls were present. 20 Tufted Duck, a Mallard pair, 6 Mute Swans and 3 great-crested Grebes were present. A drake Shelduck was on the central bank, I wonder where the female is, maybe sitting on eggs.
9th March - cloudy am, showers later pm, light SW, 8C
No obs.
I've not heard any Mistle Thrushes singing locally around the village yet this year.
I've not heard any Mistle Thrushes singing locally around the village yet this year.
Thursday, 8 March 2018
8th march - showers/light rain am, a few sunny spells pm, 7C breezy west.
Willey; 4 Stock Doves were in the barns to the east of the village, their usual location. Otherwise things seemed fairly quiet out and about. c25 Redwing flew out of the paddock hedge and headed off mostly northward.
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