Tuesday 31st May 2016

1000 - 1100 sunny but NW wind, 15c : Lapwing 3, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail 3, Mute Swan pair + 5y, Heron, GC Grebe 4, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull 13, Lesser Black-backed Gull 31, Herring Gull 3, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting m, Linnet 2, Greenfinch, a few Swifts, Sand Martins & Swallows, Buzzard, etc. Cormorant present during the afternoon.

Lapwing today.

Monday 30th May 2016 (Bank Holiday)

1000 - 1030 overcast 13c : Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail 2 & 2 juvs, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Common Tern, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Heron 2, GC Grebe 2, Sparrowhawk, all 4 common hirundines & swifts.

A good showing of May blossom and Buttercups this year!

Sunday 29th May 2016

1430 - 1500 warm & sunny, 19c : Greylag 2, Heron, Mute Swan pair + 5y, GC Grebe 4, Oystercatcher, Bh Gull 4, LBb/Herring Gull 19, Moorhen, Grey Wagtail, Whitethroat, Blackcap m, Willow Warbler, Swift 6, House Martin 8, Swallow 5, Greenfinch 3, etc. Also seen - Brimstone f, Small White, Large White, Large Red Damselfly. Common Blue m at Aldridge.

Common Blue male & Greylags today.

Saturday 28th May 2016

0930 - 1015 cloudy, 12c : Grey Wagtail 2, Pied Wagtail 3, all 4 hirundines & Swifts 100+, Whitethroat, Blackcap, GC Greb 2, Mute Swan pair + 5 etc.

Coot in a tree, this morning.

Friday 27th May 2016

1000 - 1120 fairly sunny, 14c : Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Heron, Mute Swan 2 + 5y, GC Grebe 4, Moorhen 2, Coot 10, Pied Wagtail 2, Swift 3, Swallow 2, Whitethroat 2, Chiffchaff 3, Willow Warbler 2, Blackcap, Greenfinch, Goldfinch 5, Linnet 4, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, LBb Gull 21, Herring Gull 2, Stock Dove 2, Jay, Buzzard 2.

Also seen - Burnet Companion and Mother Shipton day flying moths (photo's), Large White, Green-veined White 2, Orange Tip f, Green Flower Beetles.

Thursday 26th May 2016

0940 - 1020 cloudy, 10c : Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Heron 2, Mute Swan pair + 5 cygnets, GC Grebe 4, LBb Gull 17, Herring Gull 2, all 3 hirundines, Swift 60+, etc

Apple blossom.

Wednesday 25th May 2016

0930 - 1015 overcast, cold, 9c : House Martin 30+, Swallow 20+, Sand Martin 20+, Swift 30+, Little Ringed Plover, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail 5, GC Grebe 4, Heron, Greylag, Mute Swan pair, LBb Gull 8, Bh Gull 3, Jackdaw 7, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Blackbird 5, Wren, Kestrel m, etc.

House Martins this morning.

Tuesday 24th May 2016

Linley Wood 1430 - 1520 sunny, 17c : fairly quiet, a few Swifts & Swallows, GS Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Jackdaw 2, LBb Gull 4 over, Chaffinch etc. Also Holly Blue 2, Metallic Longhorn moths 8, Gv White, Large White.

Dingy Skipper with torn forewing on 17th May.

Monday 23rd May 2016

0910-1050 fairly sunny, breezy, 14c (full list) : Hobby, Buzzard, Swift/Swallow/Sand Martin/House Martin 50+, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat 2, Chiffchaff 2, Willow Warbler 3, LR Plover, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, GS Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Blackbird 3, Song Thrush, Dunnock, Robin 2, Wren 3, House Sparrow 5, Starling 8, Linnet 2, Goldfinch 2, Chaffinch, Jackdaw 3, Carrion Crow 5, Magpie 4, Bh Gull 8, LBb Gull 5, Herring Gull 2, GC Grebe 4, Coot 11, Moorhen 2, Mute Swan 4 + 5 cygnets, Heron, Tufted 10, Mallard 20+, Canada Geese 30 + 25 goslings. Also seen - Green-veined White 2, Speckled Wood, Red Damselfly 2.

Tattered-looking Hobby today.

Sunday 22nd May 2016

1820 - 1900 sunny, 16c : Swift 12+, Swallow 10, House Martin 2, Lapwing, Mute Swan 4 + 5 cygnets, GC Grebe 4, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, LBb Gull 18, Herring Gull 3.

Jay near Linley Wood 13th May.

Saturday 21st May 2016

0915 - 1000 cloudy, 13c : Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Swift 60+, Swallow 6, House Martin 3, Sand Martin 4, Linnet 3, Pied Wagtail 2, Heron, GC Grebe 6, Mute Swan pair + cygnets + 3rd adult on Swag, Buzzard.

Com. Sand & LR Plover on 11th May.

Thursday 19th May 2016

0915 - 1000 light cloud : LR Plover, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, GC Grebe 4, Mute Swan pair + cygnets, Whitethroat pair, Blackcap f, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Swift 10+, Swallow 5, Pied Wagtail, Linnet 2, etc.

Tuesday 17th May 2016

0950 - 1130 sunny, 16c : Oystercatcher, Lapwing, GC Grebe 4, Heron, Mute Swans, Pied Wagtail 2, Skylark over & in song, Sedge Warbler 2, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Swift 5, Swallow 4, House Martin 3, Reed Bunting, Song Thrush, Buzzard 2. Also seen - Dingy Skipper, Speckled Wood 2, Orange Tip 3m & f, Gv White, Small White 2, Longhorn moth 4, Large Red Damselfly (photo's).

Monday 16th May 2016

1010 - 1050 generally cloudy, 14c : Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch m, Chaffinch 2m, House Sparrow 5, all 3 hirundines + Swifts, LBb Gull 4, Bh Gull 3, Oystercatcher, Heron, Mute Swan pair + 5.

Linley Wood, Monday 16th May

1330 - 1450 sunny, 16c : GS Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Blackcap 2m, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch 3, Goldfinch 2, Bullfinch pair, Bh Gull 5 over, Mallard 4 over, Jackdaw 3, Swift 5, House Martin 2, Blackbird 3, Buzzard. Also seen ; Brimstone 2m, Orange Tip 3m, Large White 4, Small White 8+, Holly Blue 6, Metallic Longhorn moths 15+.

Some left-over shots from mid-April, including Little Gull, Swallow and possible White Wagtail (record shot in rough weather!).

Saturday 14th May 2016

1400 - 1530 sunny, 15c : Common Tern, Lapwing 3, LR Plover, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap 2, Willow Warbler 2, Chiffchaff, Swallow 2, Swift 4, Bullfinch, Heron, Mute Swan pair + 5 cygnets. Also seen - Poplar Hawkmoth, Orange Tip 2m, Gv White, Small White 3, Speckled Wood 2, Red Fox. (PJR, LB, GWR)

Poplar Hawk on trunk today.

Thursday 12th May 2016

0945 - 1110 sunny, 16c : Garden Warbler at marsh, Whitethroat 2, Blackcap m&f, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Swift 20+, House Martin 4, Common Sandpiper 3, LR Plover 2, Oystercatcher, GC Grebe 4, Herring Gull 3, Jay, Kestrel m, GS Woodpecker, Mute Swan pair with 5 cygnets hatched. Also seen - Orange Tip 3m & 2f, Gv White 2, Small White 3, Large White, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Metallic Longhorn moths 11.

Female Orange Tip & Dog Violets.

Cygnets this morning.

Wednesday 11th May 2016

0830 - 1010 rain 12c : Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover 3, Redshank dropped in briefly, Common Sandpiper 4, Lapwing, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap m, Chiffchaff, good numbers of hirundines & Swifts, Greylag 2, GC Grebe 4, Heron, Mute Swan pair, LBb Gull 8, Pied Wagtail, Sparrowhawk, Linnet pair with nestbuilding material. (KMC/GWR)

Redshank today.

Tuesday 10th May 2016

0930 - 1010 drizzle, 14c : Good numbers of hirundines/Swifts incl 20+ House Martin, Common Sandpiper 2, Little Ringed Plover, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler 2, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch m, Pied Wagtail, Heron 2, Mute Swan pair, GC Grebe 2. A quick look in the rain at 1530 added Gadwall pair, Common Tern, Lapwing, House Sparrow pair (!) & even more hirundines.

Common Tern mating pair on Sat.7th May.

Saturday 7th May 2016

1130 - 1250 hazy sun, 17c : Swift 5, Swallow 2, Blackcap 2m, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff 2, Sedge Warbler 2, Oystercatcher 2, Heron, Gadwall, Mute Swan f sitting on 8 eggs, GC Grebe 2, Reed Bunting m, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Linnet 5, Buzzard, large gulls 44.

Also seen - Orange Tip 2m, Small White 2, Large White, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Metallic Longhorn moth.

Branton Hill 1400 - Lesser Whitethroat in song, Blackcap 3m, Chiffchaff, Goldfinch 2, etc.

1715 - 1830 (between storms) : Kev Clements found a Black Redstart in the southern horse fields. Also present - Common Terns pair mating, Common Sandpiper 2, Little Ringed Plover 2, Pied Wagtail 2, plenty of Swifts, Swallows and Martins. (KMC / GWR).

Black Redstart this evening, as the light dropped just before another torrential downpour & lightning storm (GWR).

Friday 6th May 2016

Early morning : Yellow Wagtail m, Common Sandpiper, GC Grebe 4 (KMC). 1130 - 1230 hazy sun 17c : Whitethroat, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler 3, Chiffchaff 2, Swallow 2, Reed Bunting m, Linnet 3, Bullfinch, Pied Wagtail, Jay, Kestrel, Heron, Mute Swan pair. Also Large White, Green-veined White 2, Orange Tip, Speckled Wood, Peacock, Flame Carpet.

Flame Carpet moth this morning.

Thursday 5th May 2016

Linley Wood 1415 - 1530 sunny, to 19c : Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay 2, Buzzard, Chaffinch 2, Goldfinch, Stock Dove, Chiffchaff 2, Blackcap, Bh Gull 6 over, Swallow, Swift 2, House Martin 2. Also Brimstone 4m & f, Orange Tip 2m, Green-veined White 3, Large White 2, Small White 5, Holly Blue.

Brimstone butterfly at Linley Wood.

Tuesday 3rd May 2016

0900 - 1030 8c : Common Tern 2, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Wheatear, House Martin 5, a few Swallows & Sand Martins, LR Plover 2, Oystercatcher 2, GC Grebe 4, Greylag, Sparrowhawk m, possible Hobby flew through. (KMC / GWR)

Wheatears 29th April & today.

Monday 2nd May 2016 (Bank Holiday)

0900 - 0950 cloudy, sunny breaks, 9c : Swift 10, House Martin 6, Swallow 8, Sand Martin 5, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Bullfinch, Linnet, Pied Wasgtail, Oystercatcher 3, Jay, Mute Swan pair, GC Grebe 4.

Sedge Warbler, Swift & Whitethroat today.