10th April - Frost last night. sunny spells, light-mod ENE, 8C

Cotesbach landfill/Sandpit;  late morning.  a juv/1st winter Iceland Gull and juv Glaucous Gull were present for a while this morning.  The very bright sun, heat haze and distance prevented a good photograph of the Icelenad.

A Common Sandpiper was new in too as were four Yellow Wagtails..

A Pair of Egyptian Geese today. Also a Little Grebe.

Stanford reservoir;  a Common Sandpiper was on the dam, keeping low out of the wind, as were a couple of Meadow Pipits.

Six Gadwall and three Goldeneye were putting up with the choppy conditions.

Song was again suppressed, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and a Willow Warbler was heard.  One Chiffchaff had nesting material in its bill.

A Grey Heron, Little Egret and Great Egret were around the Blowers Lodge Bay.   

9th April - cloudy, some light drizzle, light WNW, 9C

 Not such a cold feeling day as recently, but still not Spring.

Cotesbach Landfill;  a look late afternoon today.  

Several Red Kites and a single Buzzard.  Fewer Teal and Shoveler today, the four Egyptian Geese were back, as two separate pairs this time.  A few Raven were over the far side to me  and often heard. 

8th April - sunny spells, 12C, mod WSW, feeling cool

Stanford reservoir;  a look here after lunch, but the weather was not helping things being out or singing.  Generally quiet with little happening.

Nine Goldeneye were in the centre of the reservoir.  A Grey Wagtail was on the dam.  Several Chiffchaffs were singing at times. A single Swallow was seen near the dam.

7th April - frost again last night. sunny spells, light-mod NW, 6C

 Another very cool day all round.

Willey;  a single Swallow was around the stables area today.

6th April - Sunny am, broken cloud pm with breeze sleet showers, mod NW breeze, 6C, but feeling (cold) like 2C

Cotesbach landfill; a look here after lunch, but the wind was most keen and cold so a sheltered spot was a premium.  Wildfowl included Shelduck, Teal, Tufted, Shoveler, Mallard and Canada Goose.  A single Little Grebe was spotted.

Most Gulls were distant on the tip area, though it does seem the number of Black-headed Gulls has dropped.  Still plenty of the larger Gulls though.

A couple of Swallows and Sand Martins were low over the pools, trying to find food.  Yesterdays male Wheatear was still present and feeding in the lee of the wind.

5th April - wind stengthening during the night, swinging N. cloudy, brief short sleet showers, then clearing to sun, mod N, 7C feeling cold

Willey; John M said he has seen a Swallow around his place, near where they nest.  On Time.

Stanford reservoir; a look here mid-afternoon, mainly the dam area. Due to the cold windy conditions not too much was showing.  Five Goldeneye were riding out the waves.

Apart from Pied and Grey Wagtails a very splendent male Yellow Wagtail was showing well on the dam.  Also four Goldfinch and two Meadow Pipits

4th April - last nigh frost -2C, Sunny, light-mod W breeze, 15C

Site A; Two Little Ringed Plovers today.

Stanford reservoir; a walk around here in the afternoon.

Plenty of Chiffchaffs and Blackcap singing.  A Treecreeper along the by-pass path and two Goldfinch behind the dam.  Reed Bunting numbers have gone up, now in territories.

On the dam a Green Sandpiper was feeding, About 10 Wigeon, a Goosander pair and five Goldeneye on the water.  

Three Kestrels were mobbing a Buzzard along the Leics bank, and a single Fieldfare was present.

A good number of Small Tortoiseshell, Brimstone and Peacock butterflies were about..