Start Of The Season

 I finally had a reasonably warm and sunny Sunday morning to play with and decided to visit Priors Hall, mid April is often when the first Large Red Damselflies appear and Priors is a good place to look for them. After a punctual and stress free trip on the X4 to Weldon I then took a relatively short walk to the former quarry. Two pairs of Little Ringed Plovers were present and having a territorial dispute while a pair of Great Crested Grebes snoozed through all the din that they made. The Sand Martin colony appears to be thriving and many birds were moving back and forth across the water.

LRPs, Great Crested Grebe and Willow Warbler

Having finished at the lake I then made my way towards the ponds, at the large reed fringed one I heard my first Reed Warbler singing, a welcome change from the numerous Willow Warblers and the first of at least three heard today. Another year first was Speckled Wood, there were good numbers flitting around the paths. Following soon after came my first Large Red Damselfly, clearly they've been out for quite a while as I eventually saw good numbers of them during my walk. Several Siskins are still present and there was at least one Redpoll too. Other birds noted on my travels were Snipe, Raven and a pair of Marsh Tits. As the day warmed up more butterflies appeared and I saw Orange-tips, a Peacock and several unidentified whites before I left.

Speckled Wood, Orange-tip and Large Red Damselfly

On my way to the bus stop I took a stroll down Stamford Road in Weldon and managed to find my first Comma of the year. Several Holly Blues were also noted here and more Orange-tips too before I caught my bus home. Later, whilst doing some gardening, I saw two more Holly Blues but thy like the Weldon ones did not settle and I couldn't get a picture.

Comma

Wheatatix

 Mr Alan Shorrock and I once again made the short cross border hop to Eyebrook this morning hoping to make the most of some mainly warm and sunny conditions. News on the local WhatsApp told us that a Wheatear had been seen in Sam's Dyke and we chose to begin our explorations there.

Whitethroat and Pink-footed Geese

There was no sign of the Wheatear for us but ample compensation came in the shape of my first Common Sandpiper of the year feeding along the shoreline. From the Island Bunker I picked out the three long staying Pink-footed Geese while Al picked out the first of five Scaup that we saw today. What was presumably the same Lesser Whitethroat was still singing north of the island but news of a second Wheatear came through from a more than reliable source and we headed there hoping to connect with this attractive chat.

Wheatear

Luck favoured us and we had great views of a female bird before a security van flushed her and she was lost to view.  A Common Tern and then an Osprey provided the rest of the birding interest before we popped into the 'spoons in Corby. In the springlike conditions we noted good numbers of both Orange-tips and Green-veined Whites, I'm guessing that insects will feature more and more for the next six months!

Orange-tip

A Different Approach

 I had a far from pleasant journey on a nearly punctual and very packed X4 to Wellingborough this morning. Once this moving Purgatory had let me escape in the town centre I took a walk down to the Nene. Rather than head along to Chester House Lake and Ditchford as I normally do I decided to walk in the opposite direction instead.

Lapwing and Redshank

The stretch of river closest to the town seemed alive with Sedge Warblers singing from the surrounding vegetation. Joining them were several Cetti's Warblers and there was also a couple of Common Terns flying up and down. Once I got out into more open countryside Willow Warblers became the dominant voices as I made my way towards Summer Leys. I arrived there much quicker than I expected and will definitely use this route in the future. The Leys turned out to be quiet and the only thing of real interest was my first Small White of the year.

Gadwalls and Small White

Leaving the Leys behind I then continued along the Nene Way towards Earls Barton, the long staying Glossy Ibis was again seen at Hardwater Lake for the briefest of moments before it was flushed by an angler. More Sedge Warblers were heard around Mill Lake where I also noted a Green-veined White which was the first of two seen today. A  quartet of Sand Martins were feeding around the lock while a male Orange-tip was seen near Mill House. As I got closer to the end of Mill Lane I saw my second Small Tortoiseshell of the year. My trek ended at The Old Swan where I rewarded myself with several pints before boarding my bus home.

Glossy Ibis, Sedge Warbler, G-v White and Small Tortoiseshell

All Quiet On The Oundle Front

 It was a typical April day with some sunshine, some rain and a warm southerly breeze, I decided to take the bus over to Oundle hoping to catch up with some migrants. My watching began at Barnwell which was unsurprisingly much quieter than it is on my more usual Sunday visits. Mandarins  were present once again with two pairs and a singleton drake while the hybrid Mallard was also still around. A large flock of House Martins were feeding over the North Lake and I heard my first Cetti's Warbler in the park for several months. On the heron nest one rather ugly looking chick could be seen as it preened, only their mother could love them! Having seen as much as I thought I could I decided to head towards the river.

Mandarins, hybid and Grey Heronlet

About ten Sand Martins were feeding over the marina while several Swallows fed low over the horse paddocks across the road from Oundle Mill. The Cetti's was still near Barnwell Lock and I was able to watch this one moving through waterside vegetation. Unusually I also got brief though good views of the other bird near the floods, seeing two Cetti's in a day does not happen that often for me! All of the Teal have now left and there was little of interest to report apart from a pair of Mistle Thrushes until the/a pair of Oystercatchers arrived to bathe and feed. For the first time this year I managed to photograph some butterflies, two Peacocks and a Green-veined White sitting out the cloudy weather. I left the floods behind and decided to walk along the Nene towards the North Bridge in Oundle.

Song and Mistle Thrush and Oystercatcher

I checked the riverside fields for migrants as I walked, there were two Sedge Warblers and another Cetti's but overall it was a little disappointing. As I neared the Ashton Lock I found a Stonechat though it didn't stay in view for long and had gone before I could get a picture. My final sighting of note was a pair of Mandarins near the bridge before I popped into the NVB Tap and Kitchen for some refreshment. Oundle's Peregrines had the last word, although I didn't pay them a call I could hear at least one calling as I waited for my bus home.

Peacock and Green-veined White

Ouz The Daddy!

 I'm in the happy position of having the rest of the week off and I intend to spend at least some of it watching wildlife if the weather permits! My free time began in promising fashion when I heard the rattle of a singing Lesser Whitethroat as I hung out the washing in my garden in Corby Old Village, it's not my first but I have not had many previous records around here. A little later on and in rather pleasant and sunny conditions familiar wildlife watching buddy Shozzer and I headed along to Summer Leys.

Oystercatcher and Redshank

Alan picked out the long staying Glossy Ibis at Hardwater Lake though it flew before I could get any pics, apparently it returned later in the day. While looking from Rotary Hide news emerged that the Ring Ouzel which has been in the neighbourhood of Mary's Lane for a few days had been seen again. Initial attempts to see it resulted in failure and we moved on after spending some time looking for it. On our way to Paul Britten Hide Alan picked out a Greenshank on Gull Island while several Common Terns were also noted. I decided to walk round to the Screen Hide for better views of the 'shank, Al decided to take his car.

Little Ringed Plover and Common Tern

On my way to the screen I added both Orange-tip and Green-veined White to my meagre butterfly year list as well as catching up with more Brimstones. From the screen the Greenshank though distant showed well before it took off just before Alan reappeared. While looking for it I saw both a Dunlin and a Ruff but there was not much else of note. We walked back down Mary's Lane with a view to looking for the ouzel again and noted my first Holly Blue of the year as we did so. The ouzel remained elusive but a Wheatear found by Bob Bullock did oblige us with some distant and heat hazy views.

Greenshank and Ruff record shots

Our final stop of the day was supposed to be Paul Britten Hide from where a single Common Snipe was the highlight, it was news from another birder that made us extend our stay. Apparently at least one Grey Partridge was in the field behind the hide, it took a bit of finding but we did eventually catch up with one, though views where rubbish it was great to see this now scarce bird in the county. More news came in from a passing birder that the ouzel was showing distantly from the rubbish blighted gate on Mary's Lane. A quick march took us to the gate from where I finally saw the Ring Ouzel. In the heat haze even a record shot was beyond me though the bird helped to some extent by flying a bit closer. I moved to Hardwater Lane and got some more views even if they were still a bit distant, my record shots were pretty feeble. We decided to leave the bird to its own devices and headed into Wellingborough - the siren song of the Coach and Horses proved impossible to resist!

Ring Ouzel - sorry!

Still Plugging Away

 Fairly typical April weather this morning with sunshine, showers and a blustery wind to contend with. Not for the first time I took the now very familiar Sunday route from Barnwell along the Nene towards the floods before ending up in the town centre. While it was far from being the most productive of sorties it was still nice to get out into the countryside and blow the cobwebs away. 

Drake Mandarin and Kestrel

Barnwell produced the usual Mandarin ducks with a couple of drakes on view, the females could potentially be sitting on eggs. At least two singing Willow Warblers were also heard adding their voices to that of the now well established Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. I didn't loiter for too long here before moving on towards the Nene where a singing Sedge Warbler may well have been the highlight.

Male and female Swallows

The floods were very quiet with even the regular Oystercatchers appearing to have done a runner. Just nine Teal and a few Mallards made up the wildfowl while a single Lapwing represented the waders. My one success was managing to catch a glimpse of the Cetti's Warbler which has been holding court here for at least a month, another was heard near the lock. Back in the town a pair of Swallows were seen where East Road meets South Road and the pair of Peregrines were back at their favoured spot. My morning came to an end when an unusually prompt X4 arrived to take me home.

Peregrine pair.

Old Meets The New.

 A damp and drizzly start eventually gave way to sunnier and rather blustery conditions today though it always felt rather cool. Alan Shorrock and I took the short hop over the county border to Eyebrook where a decent selection of birds were on offer. April often produces an interesting mix of lingering winter visitors and newly arriving summer migrants and today gave us a taste of both.

Martins and Whooper Swan

We began at Sam's Dyke where a singing warbler had elements of both Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff in its song though its calls more closely resembled the latter. My first Whitethroat of the year, one of at least four on site, was an early highlight while my first House Martins of the year were among the many hirundines feeding low over the reservoir's surface. North of the island a Greenshank was heard and then briefly glimpsed before it flew north while a Lesser Whitethroat was seen and heard singing. The inflow added an Osprey to my year list while a pair of Stonechats showed rather well from the viewing bunker. The long staying Whooper Swan was still present while both a drake and duck Scaup were seen from Hollyoaks.

Stonechat and Spitfire

A brief stop at the bridge did not add much to our list and as neither of us wanted to face the south westerly wind we headed back towards Corby along the Leics bank. We called in at the viewing bunker which looks over the southern side of the island where at least three Yellow Wagtails were the highlight. Two Little Ringed Plovers were also present and we also saw a pair of Oystercatchers. An evening reunion with work mates meant that my time on site was rather limited and we headed back to Corby by way of the 'spoons.

Scaups