4th Nov - cloudy, light rain until mid-pm, light SSE, 10C

Stanford reservoir;  spent a lot of time here looking for the Hen Harrier today, it was seen briefly by Chris at mid-day bit evaded me again.  I'm sure the weather didn't help.
There was a notable increase in Fieldfare around today and a steady southward movement.  Plenty of Meadow Pipits around too.  A Kestrel was seen hunting over the fallow field.  On the water the usual Ducks, Grebes etc. The drake Red-crested Pochard was in front of the hide.

3rd Nov - sunny am, cloud increasing later, moderate-breezy southerly, 13C but feeling much cooler.

Willey; a check of the feed station this morning produced 2 Tree Sparrows, which was good to see. All the other species as the other day, and a Yellowhammer nearby.  Quite a few Fieldfare around today at last.

Cotesbach Landfill; a look here after lunch, Carl had already found several Caspian Gulls here.  A good number of Gulls were present, also 12 Red Kite and a Raven.

Stanford reservoir; again the Harrier was reported but very mobile. I left the landfill area to try again, but no luck in the area I searched, hopefully it hangs around longer.

2nd Nov - sunny am, cloudy pm, 10C,light SW

Stanford reservoir;
There was a report of a ringtail Hen Harrier on the adjacent fields (in the recent years we've often had one in November)  so during the afternoon I went to see if I could find it. Arriving at the railway track - lane area the first bird was a Peregrine overhead,  at least 12 Little Egret were along the river and the Great White Egret was quite distant atop a bush, I digiscoped a record shot.  More Fieldfare present today and a large flock of Starlings on the fields. A Kestrel hunted the rough field area.

No sign of the Harrier here or on the adjacent fields, further searching continued, then along the Leicestershire side of the reservoir, still no sign.

On the reservoir the drake Red-crested Pochard was spotted, plus the usual duck.  On the shore in front of the hide a Snipe was feeding.

1st Nov - dull, misty, chilly first thing, some light drizzle, slowly becoming brighter during the afternoon, light SE, 9C

Willey; very little happening today, just a Green Woodpecker calling early on and single Redwing now and again.
Catching up with chores and making a feed station frame to be erected at Stanford reservoir in the near future.

Sibbertoft; Graham spotted a Newt this evening on his patio area, looked like possible Great-Crested or more likely a Smooth Newt.

31st Oct - frost last night, sunny most of day, cloud increasing late afternoon. Light SE, 12C

Frolesworth Manor lake; a look this morning  produced a ‘redhead’ Goosander on the lake, with a few Common Gulls among the Black-headed Gulls.  At the game crop 5 Yellowhammers were with Chaffinches. A couple of Jays were calling in the corner conifer spinney.

Misterton; there are quite a few Beeches here and hopefully some Brambling will turn up, as yet I’ve never found any here, but maybe one day.  However, there was a Kingfisher fishing at the lake and 2 Little Grebe.

Thrapston; a visit to the Town Lake to see the 6 Velvet Scoter that have been present already a couple of days, they were still present and giving good views, all 1st winter birds.

30th Oct - sunny spells, light to mod NW, 8C

Willey; first thing c25 Fieldfare and a few Redwing flew over SW.

Stanford Reservoir; a look after lunch just in the dam area.  A couple of Red Kite flew over.  Most notable was the number of Goldeneye had increased to 16, so quite a few new arrivals.

29th Oct - a good ground frost last night -4C, sunny periods, moderate northerly, 7C

Willey, first thing about 30 Redwing were flying over and dispersing into hedgerows.

Stanford Reservoir; a look here after lunch, 4 Goldeneye were present, some different birds than yesterday, so likely more actually present.  At the inlet end several Little Egret and a Great White Egret, plus 3 Grey Heron. A Green Sandpiper too.

I spent some while checking the Beech trees near the entrance, unfortunately no Brambling, but Tit numbers were high searching through the leaf litter and included 2 Coal Tits.

Cotesbach Landfill; a short look here at the Gulls, number high now, no early white-wingers. I did spot a colour ringed Herring Gull, Carl says it has been a regular here since 2016 and was ringed in Yorkshire.