30th Nov - a good frost last night, at least -4C, sunny spells today, but steady NW feeling cold, 3C

Cotesbach; this morning a look along Sandy Lane and then the landfill area.  A Red Kite was present over the pools field, a Sparrowhawk was being harassed by a Carrion Crow and a juv Buzzard was still calling loudly in the wood nearby.  A Great-spotted Woodpecker was in the Ash tree top, with c100 Starling in the other Ash trees, moving off to the landfill area.  Goldfinch were feeding on thistles and a single male Bullfinch was working the hedgerow. A Grey Wagtail flew over with several Pied Wagtails feeding on the frozen Pools field.
The number of Gulls at the landfill was most impressive, several thousand.  Yesterday, there was news of both Glaucous and Iceland Gulls in the north Midlands, so I thought a good chance of an early one here. After lots of scanning and checking of resting birds on the nearby fields I failed to find one, but with the northerly cool weather the chances are increasing, and it would be so easy to miss one too.  

Stanford reservoir; unfortunately this afternoon shooting on adjacent land was causing some temporary disturbance to the waterfowl so spotting these was difficult today.  A couple of noisy displaced Jays were in the tree tops.  c200 Fieldfare and a few Redwing were on the Northants side before moving off south.  A few Goldfinch were about feeding when along came the long-tailed Tit flock, several Goldcrest were with them and one Chiffchaff.

29th Nov -frosty last night, sunny am, cloudy pm, NW breeze, 5C

Shawell; I had a look around this area as there are plenty of trees and Yews at the church.  Not too much found actually, nice to see a Nuthatch and Treecreeper though.

28th Nov - mostly sunny, light westerly, cool, 5C

Burbage Common; I visited here this morning to hopefully see the Hawfinch which have been around the extension and arboretum area.  Another person said they had seen one a little while ago in an Oak Tree where they had been on previous days, so I positioned myself to watch this area.  While waiting a couple of Jays, Redwing, Fieldfare, Bullfinch, Meadow Pipit were seen, then a Hawfinch call was heard in flight the other side of the trees, alas no sighting.  After further waiting and still no sighting I decided to move a look elsewhere, again no luck today.

Willey; the feed station area was busy today, new additions include 2 cock Pheasant with the regulars.

27th Nov - broken cloud, 8 C, light westerly

Monks Kirby; I checked the stubble field finch flock again this morning, there was c70 Chaffinch, a male Brambling and 4 Yellowhammers.  Also the church area was checked as it has lots of Yews, but no Hawfinch were found.

Willey, late afternoon a flock of c200 Starling flew over low and fast to a roost somewhere to the north.

26th Nov - mostly cloudy, light NW, 6C

Monks Kirby; a  look here this morning first at the trees and stubble field at the entrance to Newnham Paddox.  In the leaf litter under the trees a few Chaffinches were feeding, eventually I found a Brambling among them.  On the stubble field I spotted a flock, ~100, of Chaffinch.  These kept flying to and from the nearby hedge, among them was a Yellowhammer and a male Brambling.  A dog walker came along and disturbed them, so I will have to go back and check the flock again.

In the tree belt just passed the church several Redwing were feeding, also Nuthatch, Coal Tit and Great-spotted Woodpecker, about 12 Stock Dove were on the field adjacent, a Jay and Collard Dove were nearby too.

Stanford Reservoir; fairly quiet here this afternoon, the only notables were a Kingfisher, Cetti’s Warbler and a single Male Goosander.

25th Nov- short snow shower early, cloudy sunny intervals pm, cold light NW, 5C

Misterton; a look around the lake and church area first thing produced the usual birds, a roving Long-tailed Tit flock with other Tits present, a couple of Treecreeper and others heard, a single Nuthatch calling. A Pair of Shoveler on the lake, a few Mallard and Moorhens.  A Buzzard again hunting for food on the pasture.

Willey; a time watching my feed station area and church lane where the Hawfinch has been seen.  All the regulars on the feed station including Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch.  On the lane Blackthorns Song Thrush and Blackbird were eating sloes, while Redwing were concentrating on Holly, Yew and Ivy berries.

Shawell Lagoons; some Gull watching here after lunch, a good number were present. Common, Black-headed, Herring, Lesser and Greater-black Backed eventually Carl spotted  a second winter Caspian Gull.  Further searching produced a near-adult and an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

A probable Peregrine Falcon flew over at speed, only a single little Grebe and Grey Heron were other birds of note.

24th November - frosty morning then sunny, very light SW , 7C

Stanford Reservoir; I was just getting ready to leave to visit after lunch when Chris called and said he had found a Great-northern Diver just off the dam.  So it was off to see it immediately, sure enough, on arrival it was still present and showing well, I managed some digiscoped record photos, the low bright sun adding to the effect.

Our last record here was one that stayed Dec 04 to Feb 05; and before then one briefly 1978, so a very infrequent occurrence here.