13th August - sunny spells, mod SW, 22C

WIlley; checking the Buddleias and wild flower areas around the village I didn't find the Camberwell Beauty, but I did see several of each - Red Admiral, Peacock, Large White, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma (1).

12th August - sunny spells, cloud increased pm, brief showers evening, light SW, 20C

Willey; I heard today that a Camberwell Beauty was spotted by a visitor to the village a couple of days ago on a Buddleia bush.  Sighting is reliable as the person is a volunteer counting butterflies for the Wildlife Trust.  Hopefully, it can be seen again - by me!

A Skylark was in the long grass in Hurls Furlong again first thing.

Shawell Sandpit; evening.  Very quiet, a Common Sandpiper was feeding, a single Shoveler, five Teal, three Tufted Ducks. At least 10 Ravens were noted, many flying together in circles.

A5 Pools//DIRFT;  a Common Sandpiper, three Ringed Plovers, a juv Little Ringed Plover, a Curlew, two Little Grebe and five Yellow Wagtails.

11th August - sunny spells, light-mod SSW, 22C

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.  On the dam two Common and one Green Sandpipers, along with Common Terns, and Gadwalls including juvs.  A Tufted Duck family was just off shore.

A good number of Yellow Wagtails, up-to 20, but very active flitting about on the dam and adjacent Sheep field, also Grey and Pied Wagtails.  A Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker were heard.  Goldfinch and Linnet families were present feeding on seed heads on the dam.

Four Shoveler and a single drake Pochard were noted.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.  a new species here for me, a Water Rail, was creeping along the edge under cover, until chased by a Moorhen.   Six Green Sandpipers and five Snipe were out.

10th August - sunny spells, mod WNW, 21C

Willey; mid afternoon 66 Swallows on the wires near home, with some others flying about.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; afternoon.  A Little Ringed Plover, three Ringed Plovers.  A wood Sandpiper was good to see.  Three adult Yellow-legged Gulls, before the whole flock scared off by workers.  A Little Egret.

Another look in the evening produced three Common Sandpipers, and four Yellow Wagtails.

9th August - SUnny spells and short showers, light-mod WSW, 18C

A busy day, about 35 Swallows on the wires near home first thing and most of the first broods in and out of the sheds a lot today (I wonder if [hope] they are learning where to return to?!).

A5 Pools/DIRFT; evening.  four Common Sandpipers, three Ringed Plover, two Little Ringed Plovers, a Dunlin, two Curlew.

A Grey Heron a few Canada and Greylag Geese, ducks were only Mallards.

Plenty of Yellow Wagtails, I counted 30, but so busy flitting about I suspect there were more.

8th August - mostly sunny spells, mod SW, 19C

Shawell Sandpit; morning. Two Common Sandpipers, Shoveler count up to 11, three Teal, 39 Mallard, Greylag Geese 109.  A couple of Ravens over the adjacent landfill and three Red Kites.

Eyebrook Reservoir; afternoon.  Waders were a Greenshank, a Black-tailed Godwit, two Dunlin, three Green Sandpipers, two Little Ringed Plovers, a Common Sandpiper.  Several Little Egret, a Great Egret and Grey Heron.  The usual ducks, nothing new, Common Terns including juveniles. 

A Red Kite came over high, spotted and Kestrel hovering and dived towards it.  A Hobby was hunting over the adjacent field.  A couple of Yellow Wagtails around the inlet shore.  

7th August - Sunny spells, mod SW, 19C, occasional brief shower

Willey; a Spotted Flycatcher spotted on the edge of the BH wood, other birds flitting about so I presume that the family still present.

Shawell Sandpit; morning; not many Gulls present but Carl spotted a juv/1st winter Mediterranean Gull, which quickly flew off and then a juv Caspian Gull showing well.  Shoveler, Little Grebe and a Common Sandpiper were present.

Husbands Bosworth Sandpit; afternoon. Not much present in the only remaining pit area, five Little Grebes though.

Welford/Sulby reservoirs;  a check here as the water is currently low, despite walkers can get close to flush birds..  Three Grey Herons, two Common Sandpipers, three Shoveler, a Gadwall, two juv Yellow Wagtails.

Stanford reservoir; a walk along the Leics side from the inlet to the dam.  Notables were a female Red-crested Pochard, three Shovelers, 10 Gadwalls, a Little Egret, c 15 Common Terns, a Common Sandpiper, Grey, Pied and Yellow Wagtails and Kingfisher.