29th Dec - high cloud,brighter pm, light SW, 13C

Cotesbach Landfill; Carl called mid-morning to say there was a very large number of Gulls present, this was potentially good news as last night an adult Glaucous Gull was reported in the Draycote water roost, so maybe around here today. It really is quite a challenge searching through so many Gulls and over a considerable area, with some areas out of view, meaning you may miss out.  Eventually Carl did spot the adult Glaucous on the pool in front of us (it must have sneaked on to the pool unseen), it was washing and we watched it for a few minutes before it flew up and landed on the far side spoil heap, after another short while it flew off to the landfill area.  I only managed some (poor) record shots when it was facing us on the far side.

The adult Glaucous was not seen again during the following watching, but highly likely it was out of view feeding on the landfill.  [it was reported in the Draycote water roost tonight]

Gulls start streaming back to Draycote early afternoon until near sunset, so if weather conditions are good its worth staying to see what flies over. And today proved the point as Carl again picked out a 2W Glaucous Gull as we were about to pack up to leave.

Two Glaucous Gulls were a good haul, plus Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls among the throne.

Two Red Kite were present, with Shoveler, Teal, Mallard and a Little Grebe on the pools.

28th Dec - cloudy, light SW, 12C

Willey; only time today to check the feed station.  Visiting were plenty of Blue and Great Tits, a single Coal Tit and 2 Nuthatch.  Two Tree Sparrow, several House Sparrows, a Yellowhammer and 2 Chaffinch.  A male Great-spotted Woodpecker came to feed and a Green Woodpecker called nearby. A few Redwing and Fieldfare flew over between the fields.

27th Dec - cloudy, misty, dull, light SW, 8C

Willey; a Green Woodpecker was calling this morning to the west of the village, 2 flocks (c40) of Redwing flew over north to the fields and a couple of Mistle Thrush were on the Holly tree berries.

Cotesbach Landfill; a look here this morning, plenty of Gulls again, most distant though. an adult Great black backed was colour ringed, 3J1B.  A single Red Kite, 11 Shoveler and a Little Grebe on the pools.

Stanford reservoir; it seemed very quite here with few passerines around and little on the water at the inlet end.  Walking along the by-pass path I noticed an Owl flew passed quite high, it looked very pale and initially I thought a Barn Owl. Chris had just joined me and he had another view thinking it was a Short eared Owl.  Chris went down the path to get another look, the Owl doubled back and I could see it was a Short eared Owl.  We have had a couple on the fallow fields the other side of the reservoir, this afternoon shooting was occurring there so I assume it had been disturbed and was taking shelter in the trees, it was last seen flying back to the fallow field.

The usual winter ducks, including 26 Goldeneye and also 4 Red-crested Pochard - 3 male and 1 female.

26th Dec - cloudy, dull, mild 10C, very light SW

Cropston Reservoir; a look in this area for Common Redpoll that had been reported, I didn't find any.
I did see a Little Egret, 6 Grey Heron and a few Lapwing at the inlet. At the causeway end birds included a single female Mandarin Duck, a few Gadwall, Cormorants, Great-crested Grebes.

25th Dec - cloudy, dullish/mist, very light breeze, 7C

Willey; a look at the feed station this morning. It was good to find 7 Tree Sparrows, the most since feeding this autumn.  Plenty of Blue and Great Tits, a single Coal Tit and Nuthatch. Long-tailed Tit and Greenfinch were heard. 16+ Collard Doves in the tree next to neighbours farm cattle buildings, feeding on spilt grain.  c20 Redwing and 3 Fieldfares flew over to the fields to the north.

24th Dec - frost last nigh, mist/fog clearing, sunny, very light southerly, 6C

Merry Christmas to all readers🎄🎄🎅

-  thanks for taking the time to read my blog over the year

Misterton; a look this morning here. A Kingfisher was at the lake, plenty of common Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Treecreeper, 3 Nuthatch and Goldcrests.  

Bittesby; after lunch I walked over the farmland at Bittesby which can hold good number of finches during the winter due to the game/bird food crop area. Grain, mainly Oats had been spread around quite a few areas including on the main track.
The grain was attracting a flock of Linnet to the track, about 150 were coming down, plus a few Yellowhammer. At another area 20+ Goldfinches were feeding, a few Reed Buntings were at another spot and a good number of Chaffinch were all over the area..  On the winter cereal near the brook a mixed flock of Starling, Redwing and Fieldfare, plus c10 Skylarks. At one time all the birds flew up alarmed and scattered, I could not see anything to cause this but I could imagine there was a good chance it was a Merlin, these are seen here sometimes, not a Sparrowhawk - maybe next time I'll spot one.  A couple of Buzzard were around and a Green Woodpecker flew over.

Willey; walking back from Bittesby along the lane to the village a Golden Plover was heard as it flew over westward, a pair of Bullfinch were in the hedgerow near the sewage works and about 30 Redwings were feeding on the adjacent pasture.

23rd Dec - cloudy, murky, light rtain - drizzle all day, light westerly, 7C

Rutland Water - dam; despite the grotty weather I visited this area hoping to see the Snow Bunting which have been around several days now and Shag too. The 2 Snow Bunting were on the top of the dam and only occasionally flew in to the rocks avoid a occasional walker/runner.  Good views were had but the weather made photos poor.  Occasionally one bird would feed the other.

Very little was on the adjacent water, a few common duck, a female Goosander, Little and Great crested Grebes, also 3 Shag.