A Change of Scenery

Spring has hardly sprung so far, there's been the occasional skip or perhaps a stuttering run but for the most part it has all been a little on the dull and grey side. My brother and I chose to leave the leaden skies of Northants behind us and instead went to Rutland Water where the skies were also somewhat err leaden too but at least there were plenty of hides to shelter us from what was a cool breeze.

Avocet (with LBB Gull) and Redshank.

Having forked out for the permit we headed out towards lagoons two, three and four picking up a reasonable selection of warblers on the way. A Cuckoo also called several times but I think that the unseasonably cool weather kept him fairly quiet. A decent enough selection of waders were on view at Lagoon four with an Avocet perhaps the highlight. Others included a Common Sandpiper, ten plus Dunlins and half a dozen Ringed Plovers as well as some Redshanks. Egyptian Geese have quite a strong population here and we saw the first of at least ten here while a pair of Wigeon were the only ones seen today. Four species of gulls present included two immature Great Black Backs.

Oystercatcher and distant Osprey.

A good movement of Arctic Terns seemed to be in progress today and we saw at least forty over the main reservoir as well as many Commons. Ospreys featured today as well and we saw at least six of this reserve's pin up species. Amongst the other wildfowl seen on the lagoons was a fairly late drake Goldeneye and several Teal. Hirundines, Sand Martins and Swallows were feeding very low over the water and were joined by at least one Swift. Another welcome migrant was a Nightingale singing from scrub near to Shoveller Hide.

Goldeneye, Teal and Shoveller.

Once we had gotten lunch out of the way we did the other lagoons and pools though in all fairness there was not a great deal new to report. Several Shovellers made their way on to the list and a male Sparrowhawk showed briefly but  interesting stuff was in short supply. Popping into the visitor centre before we left resulted in decent views of a drake Garganey feeding in the shallows, it's always nice to see this attractive bird.

Lapwing and record shot of Garganey.

In such cool conditions insect life was minimal though mammals were represented by two each of Brown Rat and Hare.

Brown Rat and Brown Hares.