24th July Friday - sunny, 27C, light NW

Willey; a Raven flew over calling 1000h.

Shawell Sandpit/landfill; evening.

12 Little grebes and the Great Crested Grebe still.

First post-breeding season Teal (female), a Common Sandpiper. Only 3 Lapwings seen and one juv Egyptian Goose.  Three Cormorants on an islet.

A few Sand Martins feeding.  

23rd July Thursday - sunny, 26C, light NW

Ash Tree Farm, Bitteswell; afternoon.

Still a good number of Butterflies, especially Common Blue, Small Copper and gatekeepers, several Speckled Wood, Whites, Meadow Brown and a single Red Admiral.

Juv Little Grebe  and Moorhen family on the lake.  Six Goldfinch feeding on the wildflower meadow.

Stanford-on Avon; evening

The Spotted Flycatcher family was showing well this evening with two juvs sometimes being fed, sometimes catching their own food.

Stanford Reservoir; evening

Female Ruddy Shelduck still present, Four Little Grebes, c220 Black-headed Gulls, single Common Gull, a Jay, a Raven over.  Gadwall family and single Pochard.

22nd July Wednesday - Sunny spells, light NE, 25C

Willey;  a Kestrel first thing over Earls Furlong field.

Shawell sandpit/landfill area; evening

A Common Sandpiper, still the single Great Crested Grebe and six Little Grebes.  

Only three Egyptian Geese spotted.  Two Red-legged Partridge on the south side (one looked quite small when flying - juv?)

Plus the other regulars.

21st July Tuesday - sunny spells, light N, 25C

No obs today 

20th July Monday - sunny spells, light NW, 25C

Lilbourne Meadows; evening.

Now the flood pools are dry, there's little likelihood of waders for sometime, but the Oystercatchers and a a Curlew are still present.  

A Kestrel hunting  A couple of Swifts and 15 Swallows dropped in over the island pool, also a Grey Heron.

A female Redstart was spotted on the fence line near the island pool.

 

19th July, Sunday - sunny intervals, light-mod N, staring cooler becoming sunnier 22C

Shawell Sandpit/landfill; morning.

23 Little grebes (ads and juvs), including a pair attending a nest..  A Little Egret, single great Crested Grebe, seven Cormorants and two Common Sandpipers.

A Kestrel over and a peregrine on the works yard light.  Several yellow-legged Gulls with the Lesser Black-backed, Herring and Black-headed.

Usual Red Kites and Ravens, and a Buzzard attending to a calling juvenile.

Stanford Reservoir; afternoon.

A short visit, the Ruddy Shelduck still, a single Common Sandpiper, plus the other regulars.

18th July Saturday - sunny interval, light breeze mostly N, 22C

Stour Estuary; Suffolk/Essex border

After attending a vintage sale new St Ives, Cams, I thought why not continue on to see if I could find the Hudsonian Godwit that has been here several days.  It had been seen moving between several areas, and as I arrived the tide was coming in fast and flooding the usual marsh, so no joy there.  Next a look along the river shore upstream (plenty of Greenshank, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwits and a Common Sandpiper.

I had bumped in to another birder and we had spotted other birders further along the estuary east of the railway track, so a brisk walk to there next.  Most were saying it had not been seen for over an hour, although there was a report it was out there on the bank with BT Godwits but not visible. We both scanned and almost together spotted a candidate roosting next to Canada Geese.  Better views confirmed that it was the Hudsonian, and although a ittle way off  views were quite good.  A Marsh Harrier came over, and although it look way and almost flew, unlike the Black-tailed Godwits is remained rooted to the spot.

A good selection of other birds were present too, including a 'un-ringed' Snow Goose of unknown origin!