A Floody Good Show

Nowadays Monday means Oundle and I didn't feel like breaking the habit today. My first decent sighting was of a Raven from the bus just after it left Weldon, it's another tick for my growing bus list.

River views.

At Oundle a Cuckoo was heard calling from Barnwell CP, another was present further down the river. I didn't feel like doing the full walk this morning and so headed straight for the A605 floods by way of the marina. Two Common Terns were flying around the marina and the Egyptian Goose family were still in residence. Numbers of Swallows have increased and were feeding over the water.

Summer migrants.

Lots of Sedge Warblers are fresh in and singing, there were at least two in the scrubby field next to the Nene Way which also seems to double as the Oundle Doggy-doo Museum (and let me tell you they're assembling a formidable collection!) Far less unpleasant was a possible Roe Deer running across the flooded field flushing a Snipe as it ran. It was perhaps also responsible for a Great White Egret appearing with a disgruntled sounding croak. Two have been reported from around here recently and I was happy to watch this one feeding in the company of a Little Egret and a Grey Heron. A pair of Garganeys have also been settled here for at least a week and I managed to catch up with them too. Although distant the views were nice through the scope and they shared the water with four other dabbler species and a Shelduck.  Mammals seemed to like this area too, a Muntjac was munching on the new Hawthorn leaves while a Fox caused some consternation amongst the birds as it skirted the field. Aside from that Snipe the only other waders were a few Lapwings which took off several times to harass passing crows and kites.

Rather distant shots of today's star turns.

Barnwell was very busy this morning with several school parties walking around. The Cuckoo was still calling and quite a few House Martins were feeding overhead but there was not much else to watch. No butterflies were seen today and no dragons either (no surprise perhaps given the date) and I gave up at about eleven for an appointment with several beers.

Carrion Crow, Rook and the usual Monday Mandarins.