14th April - Broken cloud, 14C, light S

Lilbourne Meadows; evening

Nothing new.  Eight Yellow Wagtails were notable around the field pools.

Single Little Egret still.

13th April - high cloud, 14C, mostly light SW

Lilbourne Meadows, morning.

Two Yellow Wagtails, three Swallows, two Little Egret, two male Reed Buntings, a Kestrel and two Little Grebes.

Bittesby Country Park; afternoon.

10 Speckled Wood and one male Orange -tip.

Blackcap and Chiffchaff singing, two Stock Doves and a hunting Kestrel.  Several Skylarks on the meadows and cock Pheasants calling/display.  

12 April - Sunny, high cloud increasing, 22C, light SE

 Burton Hastings; afternoon.

A male Ring Ouzel was reported this morning in a Sheep field near the canal.  I made it after lunch, only Gary Hobbs was present.  After watching the male for a sort while, and a male Blackbird collecting food for youngsters, I noticed another bird close by, which I soon realised was a female Ring Ouzel.  This had not been seen earlier by anyone.

Shawell Lagoons

Still 10 Lapwings present on the sand bar, plus a Cormorant, a Teal pair and Little Egret.  It is only my second record of Little Egret at this site.

11th April - Sunny, 22C, light Easterly

Honey Hill; Cold Ashby

A check here for Ring Ouzel, but no joy.  Pretty quiet, but a few Linnets were present.

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

A Redshank, plus the usual ducks.  Green Woodpecker heard.

10th April - Sunny, light NE, 16C. No frost last night.

Lilbourne Meadows; morning.

Very similar to recent visits, a single Shelduck and Yellow Wagtail were present.

Walton; evening

c15 Fieldfares in field trees discovered whilst doing my annual Rookery count.

9th April - ground frost again, an hour of cold fog, dissipating to sunny day, light-mod NE, 15C

Willey;

A pair of Red-legged Partridges this afternoon east of old railway near bridle gate in to Hurls Furlong.

Lilbourne Meadows; afternoon.

Surprisingly quiet.  Three Lapwings in territory, a Redshank, a Little Grebe, usual Ducks.

Sandy Lane, Cotesbach; afternoon.

A pair of Shelducks on the quarry pit, also three Canada Geese and two Coot.  Three Linnets along the lane.   Several Red Kites, 5+ and two Buzzards.

A Mute Swans on the Sandy lane field pool.

An Orange Tip Butterfly seen

8th April - Ground frost, then, sunny, light easterly, 15C

Willey;

A Tawny Owl called very early morning from the church area.

Lilbourne Meadows, evening.

Very similar to last visit, except four Yellow Wagtails were busy feeding.  A Little Egret, Snipe and Redshank again.

Male Reed Bunting.