31st March - slight ground frost, sunny periods, light breeze W, 13C

Early on, a Raven flew past the village, occasionally calling, while two Mistle Thrushes were heard singing and. Green Woodpecker kept calling loudly.

22 Fieldfare were feeding on pasture to the east of the village, and a Jackdaw poked its head out of a hole in an Ash tree which no doubt contains its nest.

30th March - slight ground frost last night, chilly start, becoming sunny, 12C

A busy day, but managed to check out the feed station, while doing so a Swallow flew over and around the village, to see one at the village in March is early.

At the feed station there was at least 7 Yellowhammers, 4+ Chaffinches,  several Greenfinch, 2Tree Sparrows, Great, Blue and a single Coal Tit.  A male Great-spotted Woodpecker fed on the nuts, with several Jackdaws making raids and spilling plenty of the food.  Three Buzzards conducted display and courtship flights overhead and a Green Woodpecker called nearby, a male Bullfinch flew in to the top of the church Horsechestnet, called awhile, then flew off.  

In the evening I made a brief visit to the local reservoir to see infamy waders were in, there was not.  However, I did count 29 Goldeneye present still and a Cetti's Warbler sang a few times.

I returned via a favourite Little Owl tree stump and luckily it was perched right on the top, half dozing.

A Robin has been seen around the big hay/straw bales for a few days, these bales are currently being used, so I investigated and found it has a nest with 3 eggs.  Fortunately, we are able to leave the bale with the nest undisturbed now we know, so hopefully there will be a successful outcome.

29th March - sunny spells, light SW wind, showers later, 9C

A flock of c40 Starlings and ~30 Fieldfare were feeding on pasture first thing.

A male Sparrowhawk flew over the Lutterworth bypass mid-morning.

Mid-afternoon a flock of Filedfare headed south over the village.

I released a Peacock  butterfly from a shed window, it may have over wintered in the shed.  I also spotted a Ladybird in the garden during the afternoon.

28th March - mod-strong gusty westerly, rain until late morning, sunny spells pm, max 10C

Storm 'Katie' passed through over night and this morning bring strong winds and lots of rain from the SW, cool too.  Ideal for birds turning up inland that are not usually seen.

A small flock of Redwing were feeding along a hedge in the rain and wind first thing.

Late morning when the weather had eased I decided to pop-out to Shawell lagoons to see if the injured Iceland Gull had survived, it had and looked quite healthy.  On scanning one pool closer I spotted two dark small ducks, these were a male and female Common Scoter, probably here due to the weather, I managed a couple of record photos.

Other birds present included a single lapwing, a Great-crested Grebe, 3 Little Grebes, 2 singing Chiffchaff, 2 Green Woodpecker and a Bullfinch pair.

The bird highlights of an afternoon visit to the local reservoir included my first Swallow and House Martin of the year, and a single Sand Martin.  There were 12 Goldeneye and 3 Goosander on the very choppy water. I counted 40 Mute Swans, most are non breeding immatures and 41 Greylag Geese.  A small number of Redwing were feeding under the hedge for shelter, a Bullfinch pair, a single Goldfinch, 3 Stock Doves and single Grey Heron flew over.  A kestrel was battling the wind to hunt.

27th March - sunny spells with a fresh SW wind, 9C

A small number of Redwing and Fieldfare were around this morning.  Typically, here I see Redwings until mid-April and Fieldfare a little later, the latest being early May.

Mid- afternoon a Red Kite was flying over house gardens at North Kilworth.

Two Mistle Thrush, presumably a pair, flew over Montilo lane next to the cottages.

26th March- cloudy, spots of rain am, wind SW increasing, late strong gusts and heavy showers, 9C

Checked at Shawell lagoons for the injured Iceland Gull, it was on the bank, clearly can not fly any distance.  So, its chances of survival is not good, we shall see.
A Sand Martin flew by a couple of times while there, my first of the Spring, otherwise most the usual birds were present.

25th March - sunny, some patchy cloud mid afternoon onward, breeze/light wind NW/W, max 14C

An early visit to the local lake did not produce as much as I expected.  Plenty of Little Grebe 'trilling' and one collecting nest material, I could see 5 adults in total.  A pair of Bullfinches were present, with the male giving song.  Yellowhammer, Chaffinch and Skylarks were all singing on the neighbouring fields.
As I waited, quiet and still, I noticed a Fox walking along the path towards me, I waited, camera ready, as it came in to full view I was able to get a quick photo before it went under cover.  No doubt it has cubs somewhere and is looking for food.

Next stop was Shawell lagoons, for gulls and a possible an early Little Ringed Plover.  On the middle bank I noticed the juvenile Iceland Gull, the same one as the previous visit.  However, all was not well as one wing was damaged and hanging, touching the ground, see photo, center front bird.  I assume it can still fly, but its prospects are not good in this state. I did not see it fly while I was there.

Unfortunately, no LRP today, but the Shelduck pair were present again. a male bullfinch and green Woodpecker added colour.

The local reservoir during the afternoon was visited next, much quieter than I expected, but with effort some 45 bird species were found.  My first butterflies of the Spring, a Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell were spotted too.

On the water, some 60 Wigeon were still here, a single drake Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, c25 Goldeneye, 4 Goosanders, 20 Pochard and numerous Tufted Duck.  Around the reservoir there was a Treecreeper, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, 22 Fieldfare and 2 Redwing.  Goldcrest, one singing, several pairs of long-tailed Tits, 20+ Tree Sparrows, Linnets and Bullfinches were seen.  4 Meadow Pipits and singing Skylarks on the adjacent fields.

The 'white' Chinese Goose (farmyard) was still present, I wonder where this came from!