28th March - early liught rain, giving ay to sunny spells, mod NW becoming fresh, 13C

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Plenty of Chiffchaffs around singing now.

Highlights were - seven Goldeneye, c 30 Fieldfares, a Great White Egret, two Oystercatchers, and 15 Sand Martins through SW.

Some Blackthorn is now in full flower.

27th March - cloudy am, sunny pm, light-mod SW, 17C

Lilbourne Meadows; morning

Only c30 Wigeon around the flood pools today, plus a few Teal and Gadwall.  A Little Grebe pair.

Two Kestrels were hassling a Buzzard.  A Green Woodpecker 'yaffled' and a Chiffchaff was singing in the corner spinney and a male Reed Bunting at the paddock entrance gate,.

9 Fieldfares were in the hedgerow trees.   Four Roe Deer on the 'bank'.

Shawell Sandpit/Landfill; afternoon.

Plenty of Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls, a few Common Gulls, and an adult Caspian Gull.

10+ Red Kites, a few Ravens.  Three pairs Canada Geese.

Ducks were 8 Teal, 4 Gadwall, c20 Tufted and a Mallard pair.  Two Little Grebe.

A Chiffchaff, Blackbird and Song Thrush were singing.

26th March - cloudy am, lovely sun pm, light W/SW, 14C

 Willey:

A Buzzard was  performing a great display flight over the field behind d the church at 1430h, which another circled close by.  One or both called at times.  Doing it's own 'big dipper' impression'!

c20 Redwings feeding on the Perkins pasture between the road and spinney, 1400h.

25th March - cloudy, short rain spell morning, light, mostly NW, 14C

Busy, no obs, except a Song Thrush that flew up in to a tree at 1900h, out side the lambing shed, and gave 10 minutes of loud full song, which was lovely.

24th March - cloudy, giving way to a lovely sunny day, light NW, 14C

Busy day again. 

Willey; Red Kite over again this morning.  Greenfinch giving super display flights this morning.

Soar Brook lake; early afternoon -a quick look, but very quiet.

The Oystercatcher pair seems settled in now.   Green Woodpecker heard.  Mallard pair, four Coots.

23rd March - Cloudy, dull and mist at times, very brief bright spells pm, light-mod NE, 12C, but feeling cool

Willey; A red Kite over again mid-morning and nine Canada Geese flew over low, maybe going down on field pond.

Shawell lagoons; afternoon.

On the south pool two great-crested Grebes (not a pair), two Teal and 32 Lapwings.

Stanford reservoir; afternoon.

Two female Goosanders, 10 Goldeneyes, and two Teal.  Oystercatcher pair.  A Great White Egret.

A Pink-footed Goose with the Greylags/Canada Geese on the field behind the spillway.

Several Chiffchaffs, two each Linnet and Bullfinch.  Two Red-legged Partridges.

A Red Kite and Buzzard around.

22nd March - cloudy, light SE/E, 16C

Lilbourne Meadows; morning

Similar to last visit, 16 Shoveler, four Little Egrets and two Little Grebes along with the other recent usual birds.

A single Redwing was feeding on the pasture a hedge and a Chiffchaff singing from the lane corner thicket.

Bittesby Country Park; early afternoon.

My first Chiffchaff for the site this year was singing in trees near the tunnel. Plenty of Skylark activity over the meadows, plus a Kestrel perched up, and two Buzzards around and frequently calling.

A Grey heron, two mallards and a Canada Goose flew over. A Green Woodpecker was heard 'yaffling', also a Song Thrush was singing. Several cock Pheasants were seen and were displaying.

Several Toads were calling for a mate from a SuDs pool near Westland Way.

A nice display of Lesser Celandines proving colour and also pollen and nectar for insects was spotted.

All reactions:

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