7th May - Sunny spells, light W, 13C

Cotesbach Landfill; at about 1530h I had a look here, in the sandpit area the 2CY Kumlien's Gull was resting.  Bright sun and heat shimmer made photography difficult, so a very distant record shot will have to do today.

Stanford reservoir;  four Yellow Wagtails were bathing in the field pool, four Common Terns over the water and resting on the raft at times.  A Black Tern was spotted resting on a fisherman's duck decoy marker, then feeding over the water.  Two Hobbies were seen hawking for insects low over the water.

6th May - chilly night, cloudy initially, then sunny intervals, light WNW, 13C,

Cotesbach Landfill; a very early look here hoping for waders, but nothing doing.  Just a single Egyptian Goose, Shelduck and Red Kite of note.

Lilbourne Meadows; I visited here late afternoon to see a Temminck's Stint that had been reported.  It was still present and showing well, sometimes feeding.  I didn't have my phone adapter for digiscoping, so went back in the evening.  I managed five photos before if flew off, 1815h, not to be relocated.

Other migrant waders included Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover.

DRIFT development site - A5; I then checked the pools here in case the Stint had moved here, it was not found.  However, a Whimbrel dropped in and started feeding.

5th May - sunny intervals, scattered showers, some wintery, light W, 8C

 Willey; at last, a Lesser Whitethroat 'rattled' in the hedge this morning near the Hurls Furlong spinney.

Cotesbach Landfill; no migrant waders today, but two Lapwing were present.

Stanford reservoir; this evening weather was slightly better than recently, which meant more Warblers were singing, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroats, Blackcap, Gar#den Warbler, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.  Also, a Grasshopper Warbler 'reeled' a little.

Four Yellow Wagtails were on the dam.  Again a large number of Swallows, House Martins and a lesser number of Sand Martins and a few Swift.

Late evening three Hobbies were hawking low over the water.

4th May - sunny spells, shoirt scattered showers, fresh WNW, 11C

Cotesbach Landfill; in the sandpit are this morning a nice surprise of a Turnstone and 6 Dunlin.  We don't get many Turnstone turn-up round here so good to see this one.  It was great watching it turn over the stones and rocks here.

Checking later it was still present at 1600h with the Dunlin.  Other birds this time included the Gadwall pair and three Yellow Wagtails.  Several Swallows and House Martins were hawking here out of the wind.

Stanford reservoir;  a quick look this evening, at least a1000 hirundines, including c500 Swallows, also plenty of House Martins and less Sand Martins, 10+ Swifts were around too.

A single Arctic Tern flew in and left almost immediately.   A Grey Heron was on the dam.

The Cowslip patch is coming on nicely in the wildflower area we created, well at least the cock Pheasant likes it there.

3rd May - cloudy am, rain and S wind freshening from midday, blustery (20mph) late, 8C

The unseasonal weather continues, with a low moving across from the west bring unsettled weather and still very cool. 

Cotesbach Landfill/Shawell lagoons; 

A look this morning, only about 100 Gulls present, due to no tipping activity today and over the weekend.  No Teal, or Shoveler seen today, the three Egyptian Geese still.  A Common Sandpiper at the lagoons feeding and a male Kestrel hunting.  A pair of Green Woodpeckers were around the landfill sandpit area.

Orton-on-the-Hill; was going to explore this area today and had hoped for a nice Spring day.  As it was I had a brief look before the weather deteriorated.  I did seen a Whinchat sitting atop a hedgerow.

2nd May - sunny intervals, light W, 12C

Cotesbach Landfill/Shawell Lagoons; Not many Gulls here today as a Bank Holiday and no tipping activity.  Three Egyptian Geese, two Shoveler and a Shelduck.  Otherwise nothing different than yesterday.  A Whitethroat was singing at both sites respectively.  A single Snipe was noted flying along the edge of a lagoon pool in to cover.

Eyebrook Reservoir; visited here this afternoon.  A nice selection of birds seen, about 60 species in all.  The highlights included a drake Garganey and Wood Sandpiper, along with a Dunlin, Redshank, two Oystercatchers, three Wigeon, two Goldeneye, c20 Common Terns, a large Hirundine flock feeding, 8+ Yellow Wagtails, two Snipe, a Green Sandpiper flew off, two pair each of Linnet and Goldfinch, three Little Egrets and two Grey Heron.  Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat singing.

1st May - Chilly night. Mostly cloudy am, sunny intervals pm, light N, 12C

Cotesbach Landfill; this morning very similar to recent visits.  New were a Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat singing in boundary hedge.  A Mistle Thrush singing too near the Redland building, a female Reed Bunting flew in to the hedge - unusual here. 

Three Egyptian Geese and five Teal, no Shoveler seen.  A pair of Shelduck and Grey Heron too.  Another Mallard with four ducklings out on the water.

Stanford reservoir; on the dam a Common Sandpiper, Grey and Yellow Wagtail.  A mixed flock of hirundines, several hundred (at last) were feeding over Blowers Lodge Bay and low over the water.  Four Goldeneye still (two pairs).

A Cuckoo was calling near the reed bed in the adjacent wood. Nearby a Hobby hunted low over the water for insects.   A Lesser Whitethroat and several Whitethroats were along the Leices bank bushes.

It may have been a chilly April, but many things also thrive.  Blossom has been looking splendid this year.  This Crab Apple is in full colour at Stanford reservoir, the hum of the Bees and other insects was very loud on it.