28th Mar - cloudy, mod-blustery (15-20 mph) SW, 13C

Shawell Lagoons; a look here during the morning. Two Wigeon, a Cormorant and a Little Grebe were notable.  A female Sparrowhawk flew on to a fence post and stayed long enough to be digiscoped.

Stanford reservoir; a walk here in the afternoon, although the wind was not favourable for finding birds.

Notable were a pair of Goosander and a single female riding out the very choppy water.  Ten Goldeneye and four Gadwall.

On the dam a Grey Wagtail pair, a Meadow Pipit and seven Goldfinches flew in to the trees.  

Three Chiffchaffs were heard singing.

The adjacent Rookery is busy, 17 nests counted today.

27th Mar - cloudy, mod SW, 9C, feeling cool in wind

Shawell Lagoons; a walk here after lunch, not much showing, a couple of Cormorant, Great crested Grebes and Wigeon respectively.  

Stanford res; a walk here from the dam to the Northants feeders.  Also, little showing, on the water two female Goosanders and 15 Goldeneye.  In the orchard area a Bullfinch pair, in all three Chiffchaffs were feeding and singing.  Six tree Sparrows were at the feeders. 

On the dam a Grey Wagtail two Pied Wagtails and two Meadow Pipits.  A couple of Stock Doves were flying around.

Site A;  my first Little Ringed plover of the year.

26th Mar - unsettled, blustery at times, SW. cold showers, some very heavy, esp am, more sunny pm, 10C

Cotesbach Landfill/sandpit; new today was a pair of Egyptian Geese, wandering about and feeding.  Single Shelduck (drake), plus usual number of Teal, Shoveler, Tufted and a Mallard pair, six Canada Geese were present too.

Red Kites and Ravens still in at/over the landfill area.

25th Mar - sunny periods, esp pm, 14C, light-mod SSW

Willey; I saw my first Spring butterfly today, a Small Tortoiseshell, went flying by quite high.

Chiffchaffs can be heard in a number of locations now.

Cotesbach landfill; a look late afternoon, nothing new to report, just the regulars.

24th Mar - sunny spells developing, 13C, mostly light west

 Stanford reservoir; a look here, however, it was very quiet with little change from my last visit.

The notable sighting was the Russian Lesser-white Fronted Goose (a juv), which was found last evening by Chris.  It was again with Greylags on the adjacent wheat field.

It was not very obliging for photos this evening, but  some record photos taken.

23rd Mar - sunny spells, 12C, mod SW breeze, feeling cool at times.

Cotesbach landfill;  a look after lunch, just the regular birds today.

However, I counted 20 Ravens, which is my highest total here.  Historically, I would be see less than five, usually a couple, so I wonder what the current attraction is for them, maybe there is more food waste being tipped at the moment?

A Buzzard showed nicely on the boundary bushes, some distance, so I digiscoped some record photos.

22nd Mar - cloudy cool morning, 5C. Sunny pm 10C, light WSW

Theddingworth, a Ring Ouzel was seen first thing this morning before flying off towards the hills.

A good number of Fieldfare and Redwings were moving through and stopping to feed this morning.  A Greenfinch was searching through a hedgerow, maybe nest prospecting?  A Mistle Thrush was also feeding on the pasture.