4th April - unsettled, showers - light mostly, light westerly, 10C

Willey;  ~5 Redwing were in the Spinney tree tops to the west first thing, they flew off 'north-ish'. The Pied Wagtail has a mate and they were feverishly building a nest under the old roof tiles this morning.

Late afternoon I checked the feed station, still visiting 2-3 Yellowhammers, 4 Chaffinch, House and Tree Sparrows, 6 Great and 4 Blue Tits. In the hedge behind I caught glimpse of a female Blackcap sitting and preening before moving in to the hedge further.

Cotesbach Sandy lane; had a look here at the pools field, weather a bit unsettled at the time, Chiffchaff singing, Red-legged Partridge pair, 4 Linnet, 7 Pied Wagtails plus other common resident species.

Stanford reservoir; an evening look here, fairly quite.  Only 4 Wigeon present, possibly the others have left for their breeding grounds, Goldeneye 20 - these will soon go too.  On the fallow field next to the inlet 4 Lapwing were present with some display.

A Treecreeper was busy feeding near the Apple tree gate, then a Blackcap burst in to song - my first for the year here. A Great-spotted Woodpecker was drumming and a Song Thrush singing.

3rd April - cloudy, a few sunny spells, 13C, light-freshening S/SSW

A much more pleasant day than we've had for awhile. Quite a few Bees about today.

Willey; the Red-legged Partridge pair were around again, in the paddock this time.

Stanford reservoir; a look here in the evening.  I arrived at he dam to see Chris looking at something, he quickly told me he had a Greenshank sitting at the waters edge, so enough there it was.  A very early Spring passage bird, usually they arrive nearer the 20th April.

A couple of Sand Martin flew over head, a single drake Shoveler, ~40 Wigeon and 17 Goldeneye were present.

I spot some fruiting fungi, 1-2 cm cap, looked like Rufous Milkcap, but not sure.

2nd April - rain all night and through morning, then cloudy, few late bright spells, 11C, southerly light

A thoroughly wet day, fields saturated and all brooks/rivers full - overflowing, at least not cold rain.

Nothing notable today.

1st April - cloudy, light NE, 6C

Stanford Reservoir; an afternoon visit here resulted in my first Swallow for the year, 4 were present, no Sand Martins though.   About 70 Wigeon and 17+ Goldeneye, no Pochard again, 12+ Great-crested Grebes pairing off.  A Mute Swan is sitting on a nest.  A Little Egret was at the river near the inlet and a Grey Heron flew over.

Around the reservoir I found a group of 6 Bullfinch, more Reed Buntings have returned and singing, a Treecreeper, single Chiffchaff. A Oystercatcher flew around calling, on the dam a Pied and female Grey Wagtail.

31st March - rain most of night. Cloudy, am, showers pm, 8C, cool NW

The fields are flooded, brooks and local rivers overflowing in to the fields - everywhere is water-logged.

Willey; the male Sparrowhawk was on the bird feeder at breakfast time. Later a Jay was in the Ash opposite the allotments before flying off over the fields.
Shawell lagoons; a look here before lunch, nothing new and fairly quiet. A Grey Heron,  4 Great-crested Grebes and a Cormorant were he best.

Cotesbach landfill area; after lunch a look here, after about an hour the rain was miserable and time to give up.  There were plenty of Gulls present in the quarry area,  Carl spotted a smart looking Caspian Gull, I then spotted a juv Iceland Gull.  I managed some poor distant record shots through the rain, and the fact it was always facing away in to the wind.  Earlier Carl had seen 2 2nd winter and 2 juv Iceland Gulls at the landfill, one likely being this bird.

30th March - touch of frost. cloudy morning, lshowers then rain later, breezy NE, 8C

Willey; a couple of Greylag Geese flew low over the village, westward, maybe on a local pond or lake.

Mere lane lake area; had a look here before lunch, not been for awhile.  A Chiffchaff was singing, also a Male Reed Bunting.  On the later a Little Grebe was ‘trilling’ and a pair of Mute Swans was building a nest.  skylarks were singing on the adjacent fields, a pair of Yellowhammers and a noisy Jay in the hedgerow trees.  A ‘finch’ flock was seen distantly, however when I got close they were not to be found, so remain unidentified, next time!

Pitsford Reservoir; after lunch I decided to visit the reserve area here, however as I neared the weather deteriorated becoming very breezy and heavy showers, so not ideal for spotting migrants - should any be around.  As it was I spent most time in a hide sheltering, there little on show on the water.  At the feed station area a good number of Tree Sparrows, Yellowhammers, Chaffinch and a Reed Bunting.  The Rooks were busy at their nests and a Coot was building in front of the hide on the choppy water.  Otherwise just the expected waterfowl and resident birds were on show.

29th March - ground frost, sunny initially, clouding over, then showers, wind SSE steady, easing, cool 8C

Willey; A couple of Red-legged Partridge were on the lawn early morning, not seen this speciei in the garden for ages, once one actually made a nest and laid eggs.  Just before mid-day a male Kestrel flew on to a telegraph pole along the Moors lane just outside the village.

Stanford reservoir; a look here after lunch, hoping for some Martins or a Swallow. In fact it was fairly quite, the weather not at all Spring like and disappointing.  There were 3 Shelduck, a pair together with the drake displaying to the female and another drake close by looking for his chance to get to the duck.  The only other new bird was a drake Shoveler.  Plenty of Goldeneye still out on the water.  No Pochard flock seen (as yesterday) apart from a drake at the bottom of the spillway where it has been for awhile now.  A couple of Red-legged Partridge flew off from the waterside rough area.