30th Sept - sunny spells am, cloud increasing light rain later, light SW, 15C

Willey; 4 Swallows on the wires this morning, 1 adult and 3 very recently fledged juveniles - will we see them in October?

Cotesbach sandy lane pools; I had a look here in the morning, very little found, although Pied Wagtail numbers have begun to increase, c15, as they did last autumn.

Stanford reservoir;  a mid-afternoon visit, with cloud increasing and rain not too far off it was a quick walk to the hide for shelter.  Three Ruff were in the flooded vegetation with Lapwings, Teal and other duck.  There was over 200 Teal today, still a good number of Shoveler too.  The high number of Greylag and Canada geese at the moment sometimes get very excited and cause the other duck to become alarmed and often fly off to a new area of water.  The female Red-crested Pochard is still here, and still only a single drake Pochard, the others seen having left which makes me wonder if this one is injured and can't flew.

The Greenshank was also feeding along the waters edge, 4 Snipe flew over and the green Sandpiper was again on the inflow weir.

A roving mixed Tit flock was in the bushes, including Chiffchaff and Goldcrest.

29th Sept - RCP - rain am, clearing to sunny spells pm, 19C, light SW

Willey; this morning 2 Swallows were over the fields to the east.

Theddingworth; mid-morning there were 8 Mistle Thrush feeding on Rowan berries on a tree at my brothers.

Stanford reservoir; a late afternoon visit, a female Red-crested Pochard was feeding off the point, first record of the year, maybe others to follow.  Also, 3 Juv-near adult Shelduck and the other usual ducks. A single Ruff was spotted in the flooded vegetation.

28th Sept - rain through the night, sunny spells, light Westerly, 18C

Willey; no Swallows seen by mid-day, still good number of Chiffchaffs in the hedges/trees.  Mid-afternoon 4 Swallows were resting a short while on the telegraph wires.  This morning there were 4 Greenfinch sitting atop the neighbours fir tree, they have feeders in the garden.

Stanford reservoir; a quick look later afternoon produced 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Ruff, A Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper on the inflow weir and a single Snipe flew over calling.  A Few Chiffchaffs in the bushes and a roving Tit flock.

27th Sept - sunny am, I treading cold pm light evening, 20C

Willey; a busy day, at least 4 Swallows this morning, 4 Mistle Thrushes and a good number of Chiffchaffs around.

26th Sept - very misty damp start, sun breaking through slowly, mild 18C, light easterly

Willey;  last evening I found a Great Crested Newt under the wheelie bin I was moving, managed a phone photo in the gloom.

This morning at least 10 Swallows over the village, also 5 Buzzard together and Skylark was heard flying over. In a sunny spell ~20 Starlings were up hawking insects.  Again a number of Chiffchaff were around and could be seen or heard.

Several butterflies were on the wing, Speckled wood, Red Admiral and Small White.

25th Sept - rain first thing slowly easing to a murky but mild day, light SE, 15C

Willey; once the rain eased this morning there was quite a lot of activity around the village.  A mixed flock in the church yard contained Blue, Great, Long-tailed and Coal Tits, Goldcrest and 5+ Chiffchaff.  A Nuthatch appeared and 8 Greenfinches flew over.
Over the fields just off the lane bend there was at least 50 Swallows and 10 House Martins feeding, super watching them and a Cormorant flew over eastward.

Stanford reservoir; a look this afternoon produced 5 Black-tailed Godwits, a single Ruff (reeve), at least 47 Wigeon and c200 Teal.  Otherwise things much as usual.

24th Sept - Blackwits and Swallows - sunny am, high cloud building pm, warm SE light wind, 21C

Willey; this morning there were about 20 Swallows on the wires before they scattered, about 1730h there were 30 feeding high over the village with again at least 1 House Martin.  Also, this morning there were at least 2 Chiffchaffs singing and a small number of Meadow Pipits flew over the Perkins field area.

This afternoon, about.   There were 7 Buzzards over the stubble fields in the Cloudsley Bush area (2 miles to the west of the village) and 2 Red Kites, all hunting over the fields.  Then, 2 Hobby flew eastward along the Long Spinney edge - amazing to watch all together.

Stanford reservoir; mid-afternoon I set off to here for a stroll.  The 7 Black-tailed Godwit were again present on the island, as was the single Greenshank and a Snipe among the Lapwing.  New in were 2 female Pochard with a male, otherwise duck numbers were as recently seen.  I did count/estimate the number of Greylag and Canada Geese at 400 and 250 respectively.