Willey; 21 Swallows on the wires this morning.
Cotesbach landfill; a Raven was around and 3 Red Kite late afternoon. Otherwise the usual Gulls, Mallard, Tufted Duck, single Wigeon and Little Grebe, Canada Geese, single Grey Lag Goose.
Friday, 7 September 2018
6th Sept - sunny spells am, cloudy showers pm, 16C, light westerly
Willey; 6 Swallows this afternoon, Flying in the rain and some sheltering in a shed. A couple of Cormorants flew west very low over the village late afternoon.
Stanford Reservoir; about 20Swallows and a Sand Martin were overhead. Plenty of Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers in the bushes, also Whitethroat and Blackcap, a Cetti’s, Warbler was vocal. A roving flock of Long-tailed Tits, with Great and Blue Tits, Treecreepers too. A Hobby was ported in a tree top, then flew off. Shoveler numbers now up to 14, but only 1 Wigeon seen. A couple of Little Grebe and Grey Heron were present.
Stanford Reservoir; about 20Swallows and a Sand Martin were overhead. Plenty of Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers in the bushes, also Whitethroat and Blackcap, a Cetti’s, Warbler was vocal. A roving flock of Long-tailed Tits, with Great and Blue Tits, Treecreepers too. A Hobby was ported in a tree top, then flew off. Shoveler numbers now up to 14, but only 1 Wigeon seen. A couple of Little Grebe and Grey Heron were present.
Wednesday, 5 September 2018
5th Sept - cloudy pm, sunny spells pm, light NE, 20C
Willey; this morning a Mistle Thrush was visiting the Church Yew tree area, perhaps marking out it's ownership for the winter as they love the berries. A Grey Heron flew over and dropped down towards one of the filed ponds.
This evening, a clear sky and warm was ideal to count Swallows hawking over the village before they go to roost, I managed to count 22.
Cotesbach Landfill; a look here late afternoon hoping to read some Gull colour rings. When I got there Gull, several hundred Gulls in the sandpit area ideal place, the a Buzzard flew low over them and caused mayhem, with most leaving for the landfill area. If a Red Kite flies over them they take no notice, but they don't like the Buzzards much at all. I could see 5 Red Kites and probably as many Buzzards in the area. Apart from the Little Grebe nothing else out of the ordinary.
This evening, a clear sky and warm was ideal to count Swallows hawking over the village before they go to roost, I managed to count 22.
Cotesbach Landfill; a look here late afternoon hoping to read some Gull colour rings. When I got there Gull, several hundred Gulls in the sandpit area ideal place, the a Buzzard flew low over them and caused mayhem, with most leaving for the landfill area. If a Red Kite flies over them they take no notice, but they don't like the Buzzards much at all. I could see 5 Red Kites and probably as many Buzzards in the area. Apart from the Little Grebe nothing else out of the ordinary.
4th Sept - low cloud base, some haze, light NE, 16C
Willey; Not sure what's happening with the Swallows this year, we've not had the numbers building up on the telegraph wires like usual, now is the peak time. I do wonder whether the very hot summer has had a detrimental effect on their insect food available and they are having to go further, maybe some having left permanently Today, the most I saw today was 6.
Croft Hill; a look here this Afternoon, not ideal weather for migrants, but you have to give it a go. A couple of Ravens, and Peregrines were around and Kestrel hunting again. House Martins were hawking over Huncote and Croft, 24 in total. 4 Blackcaps were eating Elder berries in the bushes.
Croft Hill; a look here this Afternoon, not ideal weather for migrants, but you have to give it a go. A couple of Ravens, and Peregrines were around and Kestrel hunting again. House Martins were hawking over Huncote and Croft, 24 in total. 4 Blackcaps were eating Elder berries in the bushes.
Monday, 3 September 2018
3rd Sept - sunny and warm, 22C, freshening NE with short showers late pm
Willey; just after lunch a Hobby was circling slowly overhead and catching insect prey.
Cotesbach landfill; late afternoon and the sandpit and landfill area were full of Gulls, but something spooked them and there was a mass exodus. On the water were Tufted Duck and Mallard and a Wigeon, my first record for here. a Green Sandpiper was feeding at one pool. Only a single Red Kite was seen.
Cotesbach landfill; late afternoon and the sandpit and landfill area were full of Gulls, but something spooked them and there was a mass exodus. On the water were Tufted Duck and Mallard and a Wigeon, my first record for here. a Green Sandpiper was feeding at one pool. Only a single Red Kite was seen.
Sunday, 2 September 2018
2 Sept - sunny, very light southerly, 24C
Willey; this morning 35 Swallows on the wires. A Green Woodpecker and Nuthatch in the Long Spinney near Muswell Leys, with a Raven calling from the field behind.
Cotesbach Landfill; fairly quite here this morning, only 1 Red Kite seen, a Sparrow Hawk, Kestrel and 3 Buzzard too.
Stanford reservoir; a walk around here this afternoon was interesting. On the water ducks were increasing, with 5 Wigeon, 9 Shoveler,4 Pochard, 6 Teal, plus Tufties, Mallard and Gadwall. Grey Lag Geese, c150, and a few Canada' Geese were on the dam. Also, on the dam a Common Sandpiper. Little Grebe was heard in the reeds near the hide.
The scarcest bird was a Whinchat feeding from the adjacent hedgerow, a record shot in the bright light and heat haze. A Whitethroat and Blackcap were in the hedge too, and often chased it.
On the Leices inlet side 2 Spotted Flycatchers were atop the thorn bushes, a Willow Tit along with a good number of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.
A good number of Dragonflies and some Butterflies - Speckled Wood, Green-veined White, Common Blue and Small Copper.
Cotesbach Landfill; fairly quite here this morning, only 1 Red Kite seen, a Sparrow Hawk, Kestrel and 3 Buzzard too.
Stanford reservoir; a walk around here this afternoon was interesting. On the water ducks were increasing, with 5 Wigeon, 9 Shoveler,4 Pochard, 6 Teal, plus Tufties, Mallard and Gadwall. Grey Lag Geese, c150, and a few Canada' Geese were on the dam. Also, on the dam a Common Sandpiper. Little Grebe was heard in the reeds near the hide.
The scarcest bird was a Whinchat feeding from the adjacent hedgerow, a record shot in the bright light and heat haze. A Whitethroat and Blackcap were in the hedge too, and often chased it.
On the Leices inlet side 2 Spotted Flycatchers were atop the thorn bushes, a Willow Tit along with a good number of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.
A good number of Dragonflies and some Butterflies - Speckled Wood, Green-veined White, Common Blue and Small Copper.
Saturday, 1 September 2018
1st Sept - sunny, very warm, 25C, very light SW
Willey; 31 Swallows on telegraph wires this morning.
A quick listen for Bats this evening produced Common Pipestelle and Noctule.
A quick listen for Bats this evening produced Common Pipestelle and Noctule.
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