31 Aug - mostly sunny, 21C, Little wind

Willey; a Jay flew across. Field from the wood this morning.  Interestingly few few Swallows were on the telegraph wire, I think they were off feeding.

Cotesbach Landfill; a late afternoon look here, 4 Red Kite were seen, 2 Green Sandpipers were feeding at the sandpit pool, then 3 Yellow Wagtails dropped in for a wash.  I was able to read two colour ringed Gulls, will have to wait for details, although one was likely ringed in Gloucestershire.

30th Aug - sunny spells, light NE, 19C

Willey; Swallows are beginning to gather increasingly on the telegraph wires in the morning, preening and preparing themselves, 26 together today.  About 15 Goldfinches were around the village and a single Meadow Pipit flew over southward.

Croft Hill; only a single female Blackcap in the scrub, a Linnet family and Goldfinches in the quarry edge bushes, male Kestrel again and 10 House Martins overhead.

Cotesbach landfill; the sandpit area has been fairly quite the last few days, no sandpipers, as this evening.  Opposite the Gibbet lane gate a Mistle Thrush was feeding in the stubble field.

Stanford reservoir; this evening a Common Sandpiper, single Grey Wagtail on the dam and a Little Grebe nearby.   The first autumn/winter Wigeon have returned, spot on time, with 3 feeding among the Tufted Duck,/Gadwall and Teal out on the water.  Their numbers should rise now as each day passes.


Although nothing scarce today and no big movements, never-the-less migration is occurring before our very eyes.

29th Aug - cloudy, bright pm, 19C, mod WNW

Willey; after lunch a Red Kite over recently cultivated field off Moors lane.

Croft hill; had a look here after lunch, 4 Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff, a couple of Ravens and Kestrel.   Still House Martins and a few Swallows feeding over the countryside and the hill, 1 Swift too.


On the 21 August I read a colour ring on a Gull at Cotesbach Landfill, I though it was an adult Herring Gull, but the information back today says it was ringed as a female Caspian Gull,  nesting in Poland on the 2nd May this year.  When I saw it I could not discern any of the typical Caspian Gull features, I hope I see it again to have another look.

28th Aug - cloudy, brighter pm, light SW, 19C

Cotesbach Landfill;  little around this evening, about 50 House Martins were feeding above and with them 1 Swift.

Stanford Reservoir; quiet here too, a Common Sandpiper and Grey Wagtsil on the dam, a Little Grebe off shore there.  A Little Egret in the trees near the hide.

27th Aug - cloudy am, brighter pm, 18C, light - mod southerly

Willey; a Red Kite first thing over the fields to the east.

Croft Hill; this morning the gorse and scrub contained a good number of Blackcap, I counted 10 together, most were males.  A single Whitethroat and Chiffchaff but no other Warblers or Flycatchers found.  A few House Martins were busy feeding and 4 Swifts with them.  A male and female Kestrel sat atop the tall hedgerow.

Cotesbach Landfill; little of note here except a Common Sandpiper.

Rutland Water; a look around the North arm this afternoon, a Red-necked Grebe has been seen here a few days now.  However, apart from others claiming to see it distantly I did not connect with it.  I did spot the Great Northern Diver though.  A Greenshank,  3 Curlew and a Lapwing were the only waders on view.  Plenty of House and Sand Martins overhead. At least 3 Common Terns still over the water.  Plenty of usual duck species and Great and Little Grebes. A feral Barnacle Goose was with the GreyLags, Canada and Egyptian Geese.

Afew Yellow Wagtails were still feeding in the fields, and on the floating vegetation. Little Egret were numerous and several Grey Heron.

26th Aug - rain from 0930h, steady, breezy, 14mph at times, southerly, 15C

Willey; first thing this morning a Spotted Flycatcher was along the hedgetowards the top spinney, where seen last week.  Around the cattle feed Ring were 3 Pied Wagtails, a good sign, and very nearby a 1st winter Wheatear.

Cotesbach Landfill; a look here just as the rain was beginning, unfortunately no waders or new birds had dropped in.  A few House Sparrows, with Tits, werein the hedgerow eating Blackberries.  A Whitethroat was keeping in cover.  Over the sandpit area at least 70 House Martins. 4 Red Kite over the landfill area.

25th Aug - sunny spells and occasional short showers, 15C, light-mod NW

Croft Hill; a visit this morning proved interesting.  6 Spotted Flycatchers were feeding in the lee of the wind near the Oaks, along with Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Chaffinch, plus Tits and Nuthatch.  While watching these I noticed a bird perched atop a Hawthorn bush, a Tree Pipit, I lost it briefly, then saw it being chased by a Chaffinch, it flew to the ground and return to the bushes several times.  The Kestrel was present again and a small number of House Martins.

Cotesbach Landfill; this afternoon in the sandpit area a range of birds of prey were seen here, Kestrel, Peregrine, Hobby, Buzzard and Red Kite (10) - not half bad I would say.

A Greenshank and Green Sandpiper were also present, an adult Ringed Plover flew in for a very short stop-over. (Carl had seen the Greenshank and a juv Ringed Plover in the morning here). 

Four Teal and a single Little Grebe were new records for this site..  At least 100 House Martins, 20 Sand Martins and a single Swift were feeding over head. Several small groups of Starling flew over to the landfill area. A flock of about 30 Linnets were feeding on the far side.