20th August - mostly cloudy, light SW, 21C

 Willey; 30+ Swallows around home and on wire 0800h, plus two juv House Martins.

Several Greenfinches around the church lane and at least 40 House Sparrows on the village street after spilt grain.

A Hobby at mid-day chasing the Swallows, but failed.

Croft Hill; I had a look here this afternoon.  Several Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff and Blackcaps, two, may three, Spotted Flycatchers.

19th August - cloudy, light SW, 20C, some light rain showers evening

Daventry reservoir; evening.  Birds included a juv Spotted Redshank (too distant for good photos), four Common Sandpipers, three Green Sandpipers, a few lapwing, lots of Gadwall, Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, a single Swift and two House martins for a while, a Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler in the bushes.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; evening.  I heard there was a Ruddy Shelduck seen here this afternoon, so on my way back I stopped and had a look.  I found it, a female, presumably the one which had been at Draycote seen yesterday, but missing today since early morning the from there.

18th August - mostly cloudy, light W, 20C, a few sunny spells late pm.

Willey; a Raven was flying a calling around the nearby fields on several occasions today, maybe a casualty in the local Sheep fields.

Draycote Water; I visited here during the afternoon, particularly to see the immature Ferruginous Duck which has been present a couple of days or so.  It was found in it's usual area and very close to shore, sometimes sitting on the rocks giving very good views.  Known to be un-ringed.

Other birds included a Ruddy Shelduck, Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, a Yellow-legged Gull, Green Woodpecker, Swallows, House and Sand martins.

17th August - cloudy, light W, 17C

Willey; 0800h eight Curlew flew over N towards Ullesthorpe.

Another Hedgehog road casualty near the village junction on Coal Pit Lane.

Stanford reservoir; evening. Generally quiet.  Female Red-crested Pochard still present, Green Sandpiper heard in flight near dam. two Grey Wagtails in spillway.  Several Common Terns and juvs still present.

16th August - cloudy, light - mod WNW, 18C, sunny spells evening

Generally a quiet feeling day.

Willey; a couple of Meadow Pipits in the long grass, Hurls Furlong, and a Skylark.

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.  Quiet, the pools are drying rapidly at the moment, a female Sparrowhawk perched up for awhile.

Shawell Sandpit; evening.  Eight Shoveler, six Teal, two Gadwall and a female Grey Wagtail.

15th August - mostly clody, light-mod WSW, 20C

Cotesbach Landfill; 22 Ravens this morning enjoying the wind and flying in groups.  Three Red Kites.

Shawell Sandpit; Four Shovelers, six Teals, a Green Woodpecker.  In the spinney a roving party of Tits, Chiffchaffs and Treecreeper.

Stanford reservoir; a walk here this afternoon.  a Common Sandpiper, six Yellow, 2 Grey and several Pied wagtails on the dam, as well as four Common Terns.  Nearby about 20 Swallows, one Sand Martin and three House Martins.    Along the by-pass a mixed roving Tit and Warbler flock.

On the water the female Red-crested Pochard was present still, one a drake Pochard was noted with the Tufted Duck and a single Shoveler on the dam. Six Comment Terns over the water was the maximum I saw.  

14th August - sunny spells, light SW, 20C

Soar Brook Lake; notables were -  two Little Egret and Cormorant, a Grey Wagtail pair, two Lapwings and a Little Grebe. 15 Goldfinches feeding on seed heads.  

Mere Lane Lake; a Little Grebe pair feeding youngsters, a Mute Swan pair with one large cygnet. 

A5 pools/DIRFT; evening.  a single Ringed Plover, Curlew and Common Sandpiper, c 30 Starlings.  

Lilbourne Meadows; six Green Sandpipers and a Snipe.