7th Sept - hot, 30C, light SE, sunny

Willey; the Swallow countdown only included those attending nests in the sheds, so four.  I expect others will come through.

Croft Hill; a look this afternoon in the hope of a late day Pied Flycatcher, never mind, but two Spotted Flycatchers and a couple of Blackcaps.  Plus, the local Ravens and five Buzzards circling together.

Soar Brook Lake; early evening, two Green Sandpipers, two each of Little Egret and Grey Heron, plus Cormorants, Little Grebes, Lapwings, 45 Mallard, Stock dove and new here for me a Collard Dove.

Shawell sandpit; usual birds including a single Green Sandpiper.

6th Sept - cloudy early, soon becoming sunny and hot, 28C, very light S

Willey; 0800h a Hobby flew low over home.  1345h 23 Swallows on the telegraph wires.

Shawell sandpit; late afternoon.  a Green Sandpiper feeding, a couple of Raven, four Red Kite, otherwise all the regulars.

A5 Pools/DIRFT (early evening). Single Dunlin and Ringed Plover, two Redshanks and Curlew. Single Shoveler, several Lapwing sheltering in the vegetation. 

5th Sept - becoming sunny and hot, 25C, light E

 Willey; c20 Swallows whizzing around home and the sheds this afternoon, no doubt appreciating the better weather.

Shawell Sandpit; a look this morning here, very similar birds to recent days.  Fifteen Ravens were quite vocal and many flying around each other as they do.

A5 Pools/DIRFT, late afternoon). A nice selection of waders eventually seen, many places for them to stay hidden in the creeks.  Four Ruff, two each of Redshank, Little Stint and Dunlin, three Curlew (one juv), one each Ringed, Little Ringed Plover and Snipe.

4th Sept - cloudy, sunny spells pm, 21C, light ENE

Willey; 16 Swallows on the wires first thing, with a few flying around going in to the sheds where the nests are.

Shawell sandpit; morning.  A Green Sandpiper, four Pochard, Tufted Ducks, Shovelers, 40+ Teal and Mallards.  Five Mute Swans, a couple of Buzzards and Red Kites. 

A5 Pools/DIRFT; afternoon.  Little Stint (juv), a Dunlin and Redshank, adult Yellow-legged Gull, otherwise very quiet.

Stanford reservoir, late afternoon.  two Yellow Wagtails and three Grey Wagtails on the dam. Two Shoveler, one Teal, several Wigeon and Gadwall. A couple of Kestrels and Buzzard calling.  Two Ravens calling and circling high.  A Green Woodpecker was calling.

3rd Sept - cloudy, 18C, light NE

Willey; Nine Swallow on the wires today.

Shawell sandpit, evening.  a drake Pochard, four Red Kites, four Little Grebes. several Shoveler still.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; evening. two Redshanks, a Ringed Plover and Little Grebe, a Kestrel flew over.

2nd Sept - cloudy, 18C, light/mod NE

Willey; the only Swallows I saw during the day were the ones popping in and out of the sheds, however, this evening (1930h) a pre-roost gathering c25 were over home feeding.

Shawell sandpit; this evening a single Ruff and four Green Sandpipers were feeding around the same same.

A5 Pools/DIRFT; much quieter this evening, no doubt due to development disturbance, even so there was a large flock of Canada Geese, two each of Dunlin, Redshank, Little Ringed Plover and Ringed Plover, a single Curlew flew in.

1st Sept - cloudy, dull at times, light NE, 16C

Well Autumn is upon us, and this dim weather is with us a little longer yet.

Willey; first thing 22 Swallows were feeding low around the Sheep in the Perkins fields area.  We also have two pairs visiting nests, however, I can't see any young peering over the nest rim, so if they are there they must be very small - will see in a few days.

Shawell sandpit; evening.  Similar to yesterday evening, three Green Sandpipers still.  Five Raven flew over my head, low and calling!

A5 Pools/DIRFT; evening.  another nice collection of waders, Redshank 2, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin two, Ringed Plover 2, Curlew and Ruff 1 each.  I had spotted the two Little Stints (one more than last evening and reported this morning), however by the end of my watch I had found THREE little Stints, roosting on an island.

Also, a female Ruddy Shelduck was with the Canada Geese and departed with them.