18th May- initially sunny, clouding over, liught northerly, 15C

A busy day, I noticed the Red-legged Partridge again on the garden wall and late afternoon the male Sparrowhawk visited chasing the house sparrows - unsuccessfully.

17th May - sunny, light-mod NE, 16C

Stanford Reservoir; thus eveung 5 Common Terns, on the rafts but no breeding activity yet.  The Wigeon and Pochard were still present, looking very settled.  A few Swift, House and Sand Martins, and Swallows were over the dam area feeding.  A Hobby was catching insects close to the bank giving Good close views, later Another observer had 4 feeding together.

16th May - sunny, mod-very breezy NE, 13C

No obs today.

JM saw 2 Muntjac on the verge of the Moors lane yesterday.

15th May- sunny 23C, light northerly

Willey; the Robins fledged yesterday from their nest and the Pied Wagtail are feeding young under the roof tile.  This morning a Mistle Thrush was singing from field trees at the south end of the village.

Cotesbach Landfill; a look here as I was passing this afternoon produced 2 Red Kite and 6 Buzzards. About 22 Sand Martins were around the quarry area.  Othwise no Icekand Gull during this time, plenty of LBBGs, HG and some GBBGs.  A Shelduck, 2 Mute Swans, 3 Mallard and Canada Geese were on the pools.

Stanford Reservoir; at last the Cuckoo is calling at the Reservoir, about a month late, but calling well.  Other visitors reported two, a female too, and one calling yesterday.  A Hobby appeared late evening.

A late report and photo of a juvenile Whooper Swan on Sunday for a short while at lunch time was a surprise visitor.

14th May -sunny, 21C, light wind NW

Willey; first thing the Mistle Thrush was singing down fields to the west in its usual area. 5 GreyLag Geese were grazing on the pasture same area.  In the evening another Mistle Thrush was singing near to the church from a Poplar Tree then atop a Yew.

Nene Washes;  coming back from an auction at Sutton-in-the-Isle I was able to stop off at Eldernell and look over the Washes, currently plenty of water still due to the wet Spring.   4 Marsh Harrier and 2 Hobby were over one area of marsh.  Several Little Egret and a Grey Heron. Plenty of duck around, especially Shelduck.  Loud trumpeting drew my attention to 2 Common Crane that flew in and fed and preened.  There was plenty going on out on the Washes, you could easily spend a few hours watching and exploring further areas.
Two Roe Deer and Hare were also seen out on the Washes.

13th May - sunny spells, light NW, 18C

Stanford Reservoir; I got word this morning from George, who was fishing, that a Black Tern had been seen to fly in, so as soon as I could I nipped over to have a look.  The first bird low over the water was a Hobby, then some Common Terns (13) flew out of the bay followed by a Black Tern.  I was then able to watch the Terns feeding for awhile.

In the afternoon I returned to explore the whole area around the Reservoir.  Most of the Terns had left, leaving just 3 Common Terns.  Garden Warblers were singing well, Blackcaps are singing less now,  More Sedge and Reed Warblers are around than last week.  AThe hoped for Grasshopper Warbler was not found though. Goldfinch and Linnets are present breeding.  A Little Egret flew over and along the river a couple of times. On the water the drake Wigeon and Pochard and a few Gadwall.
A female Kestrel was at the dam end over the fields and a Male Kestrel was at the inlet end.  On the field two pair of Lapwing gave chase as the Kestrel flew over, no doubt they have young now. A few Sand Martin wizzed over the boundary trees/hedge feeding.

12th May - suinny spells, cloud forming, light rain late afternoon, 15C, light westerly

Misterton; I had a look here first thing, hoping for a Spotted Flycatcher, I did not find one, but the usual woodland birds were active - including Goldcrests, Nuthatch, Mistle and Song Thrush, Blue, Great and Coal Tit.

Cotesbach Landfill; I popped to here as Carl had some info to share with me, he was searching through the Gulls with nothing special around, then he spotted an Iceland Gull, a 2CY, which was likely a different one than the one seen several times last month.  I think this is not just the latest date seen at this site but the latest record for the county too.

Rutland Water; Another visit here during the afternoon, hoping for migrants.  Waders included a Grey Plover, 4 Dunlin and 6 Ringed Plover, 2 Avocet, Oystercatcher,  Redshank and Lapwings with young.  Plenty of Common Tern, again no Black Tern.  A Wigeon pair, 6 Pochard, Gadwall were the more scarce duck.  A single Little Egret.  2 Nightingales were singing in the same area as last visit.  Plenty of Swifts, Sand and House martins overhead. In all 56 species were seen here today.