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Here is the latest visible migration figures from Watermead CP South which I did yesterday. The highlights included a fly-by Red Kite over Birstall and a brief adult Caspian Gull on the island around midday: http://www.trektellen.nl/trektelling.asp?telpost=810 Here is a few record shots of the Caspian Gull Returning in the afternoon I then found three ringed Black-headed Gulls  near the car park which included JAN4 and J2KT and the Lithuanian bird which was at Watermead CP earlier in the year!        

Here is the scores on the doors from yesterday's vis-migging session at the Mammoth viewpoint, Watermead CP South: http://www.trektellen.nl/trektelling.asp?telpost=810 Highlights included a fly-over calling Rock Pipit and a "probable" Woodlark with a group of six Skylarks around 10.00am. Finishing the vis-migging session at 11.00am, I spotted a new colour ringed Black-headed Gull in the car park. Photo below! This bird is from Norway and was ringed in Oslo and had flown just over 676 (1,086 km) miles to get to Watermead CP! After this I counted the Ducks and Geese at Watermead CP North for the monthly WeBS count.The only real highlight in the count was that the Juvenile Hobby was still around the nature reserve and reedbed! With the day drawing to a close I then drove over to Rutland Water to get views of the Azorean Yellow-legged Gull which had been reported for the last couple of days. Getting to Dunlin hide on Lagoon 4, and meeting up with Colin Towe...

Following a report from Spurn bird observatory yesterday evening of 20,000+ Meadow Pipits migrating south!! I was up at the Mammoth viewpoint, Watermead CP South from 7.00am. Well over the two hours I was at the viewpoint I had a good movement of Meadow Pipits(182 birds),Swallows and Martins. However the highlight of the early morning was of 2 Common Swifts slowly drifting south around 8.00am! The full count can be seen at: http://www.trektellen.nl/trektelling.asp?telpost=810&land=5&site=0&datum=20110914&taal=2

With the weather looking good for some Vis-migging on the Wednesday, as usual I positioned myself on the Mammoth viewpoint from 7.30am. It was bloody cold and after two hours of watching I called it a day for probably my last vis-mig session of the autumn. No major highlights down the valley and a bit of a quiet end to the season! The full results can be seen at the trektellen site here:  http://www.trektellen.nl/trektelling.asp?telpost=810&land=5&site=0&datum=20101110&taal=2

Over the last few days I have continued to do some vis-migging from the mammoth viewpoint at Watermead CP. The highlights have included a Soar valley tick in the form of a Rock Pipit noted flying over the viewpoint on the 27th, with good numbers of Starlings (1411 birds) and two late Swallows seen  on the same day. Today highlights from the mammoth with John Hague in tow included an impressive movement of Wood Pigeons (727 birds) down the valley in the first hour and more Starlings (795 birds) over the two hour watch. Full details of the watches are here: http://www.trektellen.nl/trektelling.asp?telpost=810&site=0&land=5&taal=2&datum=20101027 and  http://www.trektellen.nl/trektelling.asp?telpost=810&site=0&land=5&taal=2&datum=20101030

On Wednesday and Thursday this week I was once again on the Mammoth viewpoint for a bit of vis-migging. The outstanding highlight of these two days was the passage of Fieldfares down the Soar Valley. On the Wednesday 2291 Fieldfares passed down the valley between 9.00am and 11.45am, and then the next day another 1760 birds passed through between 8.30am and 11.30am. Other highlights on the two days included a skein of 120 Pink-footed Geese flying over Leicester on the Wednesday and a notable movement of Finch species through the valley on the Thursday which included at least three Bramblings! The full account of what was seen over the two days is logged at the trektellen website here: http://www.trektellen.nl/trektelling.asp?telpost=810&site=0&land=5&taal=2&datum=20101020 and here:  http://www.trektellen.nl/trektelling.asp?telpost=810&site=0&land=5&taal=2&datum=20101021

Well over the last few days I chicken out of going to see the Many Flycatcher at Blakeney Point (Actually it would have been quite difficult to see due to my shifts at work!) and instead did a bit more vis-migging at the Mammoth! So on the Sunday(26/9/10), myself and John Hague over a few hours stood by the Mammoth and saw a good selection of migrating birds. These included small groups of Golden Plovers heading North, the first Redwing of the Autumn counted as it flew South and then via a phone call from Steve Lister around 9.30am telling us of Pink-Feet moving over the county. Scanning the skies I suddenly then picked up a large Skein of 160+ Pink-Footed Geese flying east over the Soar Valley, GET IN!! Getting John on to the flock, we tracked the birds as there flew over the Soar valley and slowly lost them as the migrated east towards Rutland airspace and then maybe Norfolk? After this it went a bit quiet with only a few Meadows Pipits and Swallows noted south, so we ...

Digiphoned Black Tern on the Waterski pit! Although I have been very busy at work lately,when I have had time I've been down the Soar Valley Vis-migging and I did the first wildfowl count of the Autumn/Winter. 15th September 2010:  After finishing work I found maybe another Juvenile Marsh Harrier in the Soar Valley   as it   flew over the reedbed at Watermead CP North at around 4.45pm and then slowly flew north towards Cossington. 16th September 2010: The first wildfowl count of the Autumn/Winter 2010 season at Watermead North (which includes the Pec Pit and Wanlip Meadows LRWT). The highlights of the count  included a Juvenile Black Tern on the water-ski pit, a couple of Hobbies around Wanlip Meadows and a record count of 27 Chiffchaffs moving through the country park. Here is the rest of what I saw on the count: Great Crested Grebe:43,Cormorant: 19,Grey Heron:10,Mute Swan:74,Canada Goose:59,Wigeon:21,Gadwall:26,Teal:42,Mallard:134,Shoveler:21,Pochard:1...

Yesterday morning I did a bit of  Vis-migging (Visible Migration) from the Mammoth at Watermead CP South. The scores on the doors included the first Meadow Pipits of the autumn moving south. However the highlight of the morning was two"probable" Honey Buzzards which flew south-west over the valley. The first was a dark-phase type at around 9.45am and then another juvenile pale phase type at around 10.15am. Although most people will think its bollocks to the sightings, but between the sightings I watched the regular Common Buzzards which breed in the area and the two birds looked totally different in shape and jizz to the other Buzzards! Also I have always wondered why Honey Buzzards are not recorded more in the county, as there seem to breed in nearby counties and regularly recorded on passage? Maybe these birds are just not on Leicestershire's birders radar? If you want to see the full list of species seen yesterday check out the link for the Trektellen site.