7th Oct - ground frost last night, mostly sunny, light SW, 14C

Willey; a Green Woodpecker called this morning in the top spinney and 3 Skylark flew over NE.

I planned to be at a vintage show today and half expecting it to be a good birding day too, this proved to be the case with first Redwing and Fieldfare and a good selection of other migrants making it to the midlands and east coast - still you can’t do everything.  Tomorrow is another day.

6th Oct - cloudy and rain until late afternoon, alittle brigther pre-dusk, N-NE light to mod, 9C

Some rain at last but again, not enough the ground is parched.

Cotesbach Landfill; I managed an hour after lunch between the rain and cool northerly.  The usual Gulls around the landfill and sand pit. 2 Red Kite, a couple of Goldcrest in the spinney but not much else.

I did spot mid-distance towards South Kilworth a flock of c60 Golden Plover flying round looking to settle on the fields in that area.

5th Oct - sunny spells, 18C, light SW

A busy day but managed a look at Stanford Reservoir n the afternoon.  However, it was fairly quiet but still worth checking the roving Tit flocks.  The Tit flock also included Chiffchaff and Treecreepers.  The number of Wigeon have now increased to 36. A single Little Egret was sitting in the bush at the settling pool.

4th Oct - cloudy, light drizzle am, clearing to sunny, 20C, light SSW

Brandon Marsh; I popped in here as I was passing the area mid-afternoon for a quick look. I was greeted by 2 Hobby busy hawking over the reserve, they gave some very good views and were very active. On the east marsh area were 105 Lapwings, c40 Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal and Mallard.  A noisy Nuthatch was nearby.

3rd Oct - sunny intervals, 17C, light W

Stanford reservoir; a walk from the dam round the bay to the feed station area and game cover in adjacent field.  A male Stonechat was again feeding from the game cover crop, with other birds darting in and out including Chiffchaff and Reed Bunting, a couple of Greenfinch flew in to the nearby bushes.

The ringers were here today and had caught a late Sedge and Reed Warbler plus 19 Blackcaps, although migrant numbers caught have generally been lower than normal.

Two Swallows and 6 House Martins were over the reservoir.  A Green Sandpiper was feeding at the dam, 4 Red Kites flew overhead.  A Willow Tit was heard briefly in the thicket before disappearing. Nothing new on the water today.

Cotesbach Landfill; 5 Red Kites were feeding around the area. Many Gulls widely dispersed on the local farmland that was being worked, and at the landfill area itself, but smaller numbers in the sandpit area, there was this good looking adult Yellow-legged Gull.

2nd Oct - mostly cloudy, mod/breezy W-NW, mild 18C

Stanford reservoir; a look here this morning, generally just the usual birds, a Cetti's Warbler gave a burst of song, and a roving Tit/Goldcrest flock was making its way through the bushes.

When I arrived the maintenance team were mowing by the settling pool, so nothing to see. However, when I returned they had gone to be replaced by 14 Little Egret and a Great (white) Egret.  This was seen late yesterday at the reservoir by Chris Hubbard and some record photos had, so good it is still around.

1st Oct - sunny then clouding over, light NW, 13C

Croft Hill; no obvious migration occurring, can't be long before winter Thrushes come.

A couple of Jays, a Kestrel, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Buzzard and Meadow Pipit. The Tit flock contained Blue, Coal and Long-tailed.
A medium sized butterfly went passed but I didn't get a good view of it. A little later a Painted Lady was found sunning itself.