Sandpiper Sunday

Not a classic by any means as grey and sometimes rainy conditions took hold which though good for walking proved not to be so good for nature spotting. I began by taking a bus journey over to Upper Benefield from where I walked back via Deenethorpe, Deene and Weldon.

Deenethorpe.

My opening part of the walk between Benefield and Deene Lake was absolutely dire, I'm a glass half full sort of chap but this particular glass was not only empty but smashed on the floor and reduced to fragments! Deene Lake inflow was a little better (it couldn't have been worse) and although the water levels were a little higher than on my last there was still some mud on view. Taking advantage of the conditions were six Green Sandpipers which were joined by a site tick Common Sandpiper. The latter showed well if rather distantly, plenty of Teal were dabbling in the shallow water as numbers begin to build. A family party of Grey Wagtails spent most of the time chasing each other around.

Green and Common Sandpiper and Grey Wagtail.

A low flying helicopter flushed many of the wildfowl on the main lake which revealed a large number of Gadwall. Two Black Swans, regulars at this site, seemed less inclined to fly and carried on with their business. The churchyard provided views of both Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral while the first kites and buzzards of the day showed here too.

Deene House.

Another uneventful stretch followed between Deene and Priors Hall as the threat of rain looked more imminent. Priors Hall added more insects to the list with singles of both Green-veined White and Gatekeeper. Other species were a little more common with Meadow Brown and Speckled Woods present in small numbers while Small Heath and Common Blue were seen rather more frequently. The first dragonflies of the day in the form of several Common Darters put in an appearance though the very light drizzle that had begun to fall seemed likely to put a very literal dampener on insect watching proceedings.

Common and Ruddy Darters.

Before the rain got heavy I managed to find a Ruddy Darter, Common Blue and Brown Argus but then had to seek shelter for half an hour as the rain began to pelt it down. Emerging a little later and more than a little soggier than before I made my way to the quarry lake. A flock of Black-headed Gulls contained several Common Gulls among them which were my first of the autumn. A Common Sandpiper and a single Lapwing were the only waders seen on site while a couple of Little Egrets were my first here for a while. Both Dabchick and Tufted Duck look as if they've had a successful breeding season.

Brown Argus and Banded Demoiselle.

Having enjoyed a couple of pints in the George I found myself with a little time to spare before my bus and took the chance to walk around the Woodland Park pond. Only a Southern Hawker showed at the pond itself though there were a dozen or so Banded Demoiselles along the stream. Despite this it seemed clear that the watching was going to be as dull as the weather so I called it quits and headed off to catch my bus.