12th Aug - sunny spells, light -mod SW, 18C

Bittesby Mere Lane Lake;  A look here this morning, immediately I could hear Bullfinches calling and had good views of a juvenile eating elder berries.  Also, calling was a juvenile Sparrowhawk and occasionally chasing an adult around the trees and lake for food.  On the lake were at least 4 Little grebes, 2 were feeding youngsters still.  A Whitethroat was 'scolding' in the bushes, I think there was a family present, a Blackcap also called loudly.

Interestingly the Mute Swan pair now have two cygnets, so they did make a second breeding attempt and succeed, last year they had 11 cygnets.  Coots and Moorhens had young too.  Two green Woodpeckers called from the hedgerow trees.

Common Blue, Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood Butterflies were seen.

A day time flying moth put in an appearance a Cricket shot passed, I managed to get some record photos, I think it may be a Short-winged Cone-head (or possibly a Long-winged Cone-head, but the wings do appear short).  Both are widespread across southern England.

11th Aug - sunny spells, cloudy pm, 18C, light-breezy SW

Willey; a couple of Coal Tits were noisy in the church Yew tree this morning.  Otherwise a fairly quite day.

Stanford reservoir; a short visit this afternoon was made.  The number of Teal had increasesd to 12 and more Gadwall were seen, 13, still only a few Shoveler still (4) and no Wigeon have arrived for the winter yet.  A Greenshank stood knee deep of the point and a single Black-tailed Godwit was along the south shore, while 4 Common Sandpipers were spotted around the reservoir, possibly more but the vegetation is a good hiding place for them.

Six Swifts were overhead with House and Sand Martins. A Red Kite flew over the adjacent field to the SW.

10 Aug - sunny periods, 22C, light SW

Willey;  A Bullfinch was seen in the BH wood this morning.  This evening the Swallows were around the village this evening and sitting o the wires preening.  We have two pairs still feeding young in the nest, it will be a while before they fledge.

Ulverscroft Priory; During the afternoon I made visit to this area as the Bee-eaters which had been nesting at East Leake (which I saw earlier) have moved to this area, their nested failed.  It was a question of waiting and hoping they showed in the area they have been for the last 3 days or so.  While waiting 2 Raven were calling and circling high to the NE, also a Hobby was spotted feeding in the similar area.  Three Spotted Flycatchers were feeding along the woodland edge.

Eventually some folks along the track saw 3 Bee-eaters fly passed quickly, I heard them calling but could not see them from my view-point.  Nor did I seen them again before I left.  However, others who came later did see 7 Bee-eaters, Chris Hubbard was able to photograph some of them roosting,   I'l have to wait to hear if they are seen again before making a return trip.

Photo Chris Hubbard

9th Aug - rain all morning then slowly clearing to a brighter evening, 16C

The wet day was not favourable for sightings, however fungi are now popping up and field mushrooms are appearing, very tasty too.

Stanford reservoir; another evening visit that was interesting and the sun eventually shone for a while.
The water is higher after the rain and now has flooded the vegetation that has grown up during the summer of the exposed shore.

4 Green Sandpipers were on the island (2 can be seen above), one calling and all often flying around the area, seemingly unsettled, a couple of Common Sandpiper too.

Then a Wood Sandpiper appeared on the island shore, it walked along the edge and then disappeared in to the flooded vegetation.  As I walked back to the inlet area 4 Black-tailed Godwits flew in and appeared to settle out of view. A couple of Little Egrets were near the inflow and a Grey Heron in the main bay.

The was a roving flock of Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers working through the trees, also a party of at least 12 Long-tailed Tits.

8th Aug - rain steady, almost dry evening time, 16C light NE

Willey; 25 Swallows sitting on the telegraph wires in the rain first thing, preening.

Stanford reservoir; news of some overland movement encouraged me to venture here in the rain.  The water had risen noticeable covering much of the muddy shore.  Still, a Green Sandpiper was feeding in the vegetation at the waters edge, 5 Dunlin were on the almost submerged island.  Over the water was a considerable numbers of hirundines, several hundred in total and at least 3 Swift - unlikely to see many more of these now.  We currently have lots of Greylag Geese present, they are always making lots of noise and disturbing the other birds, they are feeding on the cereal fields that are being harvested.

7th Aug - mostly cloudy, warm and muggy at times, 20C, light SW

Willey; A busy day but made a trip to Stanford reservoir during the evening.  As expected the Pied Wagtail family was nowhere to be seen today and have probably re-located to a good feeding area.  A Robin was feeding fledged young in the churchyard this morning and first thing a pair of Linnet were on the front lawn.

Stanford reservoir;  waders included 16 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Green Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper and ~100 Lapwing.   Six Shoveler and 7 Shelduck were flying about. I counted 60 Mute Swans, these seem to like the low water level.  Otherwise things were much as usual.

6th Aug - sunny spells, light SW, 20C

Willey; during the morning in the Long Spinney to the east a Nuthatch, Goldcrests and others Tits were busy feeding. A couple of Linnet were in their usual area by the field track and hedge and Stock Dove flew from the barn to the BH wood.
This evening ~1900h, the Pied Wagtails fledged from their nest under the roof tile and were quickly flying around the garden and yard and being feed by their parents,

Shawell 'old' sandpit; After lunch I had a walk here looking for butterflies, hopeful late Marbled White.  I didn't see any of those but spotted the following - Peacock 14+, Red Admiral 2, Meadow Brown 5+, Ringlet 1, Common Blue 1, Green-veined White 2+, Large White 2+ and Speckled Wood 1.

A couple of Ruddy Darter were whizzing about, plus a few other Dragonflies.

I spotted a fungus growing in the pasture, close to the tall hedge, interesting large size and funnel shape.  Have identified it as a Fleecy Milkcap lactorius vellereus, considered widespread but occasional.

While looking at these a Buzzard flew and settled on the nearby Hawthorn hedge.

I then walked through the conifer belt and found another group of fungi, I have identified it as Agaricus impudicus, no common name - regarded as widespread but occasional in the UK.

Stanford reservoir; after Shawell I popped here, the wind had become quite 'fresh' and the cloud had increased, but muggy.  Nothing new today, a Common and Green Sandpiper, Greenshank and 5 Dunlin.  One Common tern - I wonder if there is a late nest somewhere - we'll see.  The single drake summering Pochard is still all alone, others should be coming soon, along with Wigeon.  Two Teal, 7 Shoveler and 6 Gadwall were found.  A mixed flock of Tits, Warblers and Treecreeper were working the by-pass Willows. With the Sand Martin a few Swallows were present today.