Feeling Chilly

 I have three days off  though yesterday's travels took me no further than the pub, I didn't fancy squelching about in the rain. Today was a different matter with plenty of sunshine and clear blue skies though a brisk north westerly wind meant that it was the coldest day for many months. I wanted to see if any wildfowl might be on the move, Pink-footed Geese and Whooper Swans were my main targets.  My plan was to visit the north facing ridge that overlooks the Welland Valley a little to the west of Gretton and look from there.

Peregrine and Pheasant

Whilst hanging out the washing a Redwing, my first of the autumn, flew over my garden in Corby Old Village. On my way to Brookfield I stopped at the Peregrine site and managed to see one bird sheltering from the breeze. Things were quiet in the plantation, a small number of Siskins and a Grey Wagtail were the best birds while several Fallow Deer were also noted.  The large field between the wood and the Gretton road held an inquisitive herd of bullocks which followed my every move and I wasted no time in getting away from them.

Fallow Deer and Great Spotted Woodpecker

From the ridge I failed to see any migrating geese or swans but did get small numbers of Skylarks, Siskins, Chaffinches and Mipits heading south while Red Kites were hanging in the wind. My walk along the valley towards Rockingham was unproductive while my journey through the village reminded me of just how steep that blessed hill is! A pint in the spoons helped revive me and fortified me for the long stroll home.

Cetti's Double

 A lovely morning with plenty of autumnal sunshine saw me scrounge a lift over to Deene from my stepson. From there I took the familiar route home via Deenethorpe, Deenethorpe Airfield and Weldon. While it's true that I didn't see a great deal of interest I still enjoyed my ramble though I'm struggling to believe that it's October already!

Red Admiral and Black Swan cygnet.

A Cetti's Warbler was singing at the brook as I made my way towards the lake itself, this species appears to be establishing itself in the area. In the churchyard birds included Nuthatch while the most interesting insect was a Red Admiral nectaring on Ivy flowers. On the lake I saw the seemingly single Black Swan parent with its two cygnets and also another pair of adults. Brief views were had of a Kingfisher as it perched along one of the streams near the outflow but it didn't hang around and shot off for pastures new before I could get a picture. Another Cetti's was at the inflow where several Siskins were also heard. Most interesting insect here was a female Migrant Hawker that hung up in front of me, her tattered wings suggested that she had already led a full life.

Migrant Hawker and Stonechat

At Deenethorpe village another Red Admiral was noted but I couldn't find any odes along the Willowbrook. The nearby airfield hosted a female Stonechat and plenty of Meadow Pipits but they were the pick of the birds. Insects included at least three Speckled Woods, a Small Heath and a Small Copper while there were several Common Darters too. My stroll along the A427 towards Weldon did not produce much of note and it wasn't long before I caught my bus home.

Speckled Wood and Common Darter.

Harriers

 I've been somewhat under the weather recently and had to take a couple of days off work to recover from a severe cold. This morning I felt better and so opted to have another look at the Nene Valley. I left my home with the breaking dawn, a thin band of pale pink lit the eastern horizon as I made my way to a rendezvous with my less than trusty friend the X4. My walk towards the town centre was quiet except for the sound of serenading Robins and the occasional hum of a passing car. Bucking the recent trend my bus was on time and I was soon making slow progress through the Northamptonshire countryside.

Egyptian Geese and Stonechat

A mere hour and twenty five minutes later I found myself at Earls Barton and wasted no time in making my way towards the Nene. A distant Fox was seen from Mill Lane while the first of many Cetti's Warblers was heard at the sluice near the mill itself. Hardwater Lake hosted a Great White Egret but it was the unusual sight of a totally white Egyptian Goose that stole the show. It fed with five of its more conventionally coloured cousins on the grassy shore next to the lake.

Marsh Harriers

The reserve was fairly quiet, wildfowl numbers seemed low while waders were all but absent. From Pioneer Hide two cream crowned Marsh Harriers were noted and these included a yellow-tagged individual with the letters JD. This bird was apparently ringed as a nestling this year along with her two sisters  and brother at Thorpe Haddiscoe in Norfolk. A male Stonechat was seen from Paul Britten hide while a Snipe was seen from the screen.  Having finished at the Leys I then set off towards Wellingborough though my walk did not produce too much of mote, a Raven being the best bird. My stroll ended at the Coach and Horses where a couple of pints went down very well indeed.

Grey Heron

It Was All Yellow

 After a first autumnal look at Blatherwycke Lake yesterday I decided to ditch Priors Hall and have a first peek for a while at Wellingborough Embankment this morning. The X4 was unusually punctual and after a stroll from the town centre I soon found myself walking alongside the Nene. Occasional sunny spells were interspersed with longer cloudy periods though I did mercifully avoid the rain.

Trio of young Herring Gulls and a Yellow-legged Gull with L B-b and Herring Gull

Cetti's Warblers and Chiffchaffs were both in good voice though in truth it was pretty quiet otherwise. A look at Chester House Lake produced views of good numbers of the larger gulls loafing on the islands but I didn't see anything interesting among them. Beyond the viaduct things remained quiet but a Clouded Yellow butterfly was my only insect of note though sadly it didn't settle and I couldn't get a pic. On my return walk I checked the gulls once again and found a first year Yellow-legged Gull amongst them. With nothing else to detain me I made my way back into town and caught my bus home.

Cattle Prattle

 Mr A Shorrock and I decided to once again shun the dubious delights of the county and make the relatively short trip to Rutland Water. We began at the north arm before moving on to the dam and enjoyed the sunny conditions even if the wind was a tad nippy at times.

GWE's and Blackwits

At the Burley Fishponds a growing flock of Great White Egrets had assembled with over thirty fishing in what seemed like fairly shallow water. Waders were scarce but we did find three Black-tailed Godwits and a couple of Green Sandpipers. On the main water a pair of drake Red crested Pochards were noted and at least half a dozen Pintails were also present. Two adult Yellow-legged Gulls showed in the same area and a Curlew was heard.

Pintail and Red-crested Pochards

The dam though busy with people was quiet for birds and we struggled to find much of note. Two more Y-l Gulls were found and Shozzer picked out a flock of eight Goosanders. I enjoyed watching these attractive ducks but eventually we had to concede that they were the only gig in town and so moved on. Next stop was the excellent Cross Keys in King's Cliffe where I enjoyed several pints of good beer.

Y-l Gulls and Goosanders

Blatherwycke Lake was the final point of call and it turned out to be a decent one at that. Two Mandarins were at the eastern end but had little else to support them. At the western end of the lake I picked out an adult Cattle Egret on the SW shore. As I watched this bird Alan found a juvenile feeding amongst cattle a little further away. Over the next hour two more were found and we ended up with a total of three juveniles and an adult. More than content with our haul we decided to pack things up and return home.

Rubbishy record shots of Cattle Egrets

Early Autumn Wander

 I found myself out and about in the county again after several incidences of treachery though I ventured no further than Priors Hall. A traditionally late X4 gave me the chance to listen to several Chiffchaffs singing in the pleasantly warm sunshine while the village House Martins are still feeding young in the nest. Once the bus had dropped me off in Weldon I took the short stroll to Priors where I began at the quarry lake. There was little to report from here and I soon moved on towards the ponds hoping for a little more of interest.

Common Blue, Small Copper and Small Heath

I wasn't the only thing enjoying the autumnal sunshine as a selection of insects were on the wing in those spots that were sheltered from what was a pretty stiff breeze. Common Blue butterflies were living up to their name and were joined in the grassland areas by a diminishing number of Small Heaths and a tatty looking Small Copper. Around the alders Speckled Woods became the dominant species with a couple of Red Admirals and a Small White for company. Commonest ode was the appropriately named  Common Darter, small numbers of Ruddies were also on show. A Brown and several Migrant Hawkers completed the dragon roster while the only damsels on view were Willow Emeralds.

Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and Brown Hawker

Interesting birds were few and far between, a Cetti's Warbler singing at the large reed fringed pond the definite and indeed only highlight. It was only my second site record following on from another September singer several years ago. I don't see many Cetti's away from the Nene Valley though they are regular at Wicksteed park and occasionally encountered at Deene. With the spectre of shopping and the cooking of Sunday dinner looming in my thoughts I had to throw in the towel at about noon and returned to Weldon to catch my bus home.

Willow Emerald, Migrant Hawker and Common and Ruddy Darter portraits

Yellowlegs And Wobbly Legs!

 After four days of work it came as quite a relief to get out and do a spot of birding again. Today I joined up with Shozzer and in typically variable autumn weather we popped along to Rutland Water where a Lesser Yellowlegs had been reported. Those changeable weather conditions and also some sunny spells provided more than a few viewing challenges but our efforts were eventually to be rewarded even if it took a while.

Blackwit and Ruff

Having bought our permits we wasted no time in marching towards Smew Hide from where the star turn had been most recently noted. Distant views were obtained reasonably quickly as it fed with two Ruff, a Greenshank and a Green Sandpiper. Far better views followed on from Lapwing hide where Curlews and Blackwits were also noted. Eventually  the legs let me take a few rubbishy record shots and we also enjoyed decent views of Spotted Redshank. At least one Black Tern was noted before we decided to head back towards the car.

Spotted Redshank

Our day was completed by a visit to the Royal George in Cottingham where a good number of people were visiting the beer festival. We met up with Phil and Ken and enjoyed a few pints before going our separate ways. Birding and beering has to be the way forward1

L

Lesser Yellowlegs (and Greenshank!)