Ear We Go.

Monday is normally Barnwell day but not this time around. Alan Shorrock and I decided to cast the net a little wider and so we headed popped along to Deeping Lakes in Lincolnshire. My break from routine turned out to be a very good idea as we enjoyed not only some good wildlife also but some beautiful sunshine too.

Deeping Lakes and late Common Darter.

Deeping Lakes is one of the few publicised sites for Long-eared Owl and that I suspect is because the owls roost on an island on one of the lakes and are well away from encroaching birders or photographers. We managed to see one bird and several duff record shots were taken. Of the other birds on site a female Goosander was perhaps the best though there was a reasonable quantity of Goldeneye too. With the sun being warm in those spots sheltered from the wind I checked any likely spots for late Common Darters and I was delighted to find a male. I always underestimate the toughness of these little dragons, I don't expect an advent darter this year but who knows?

Awesome Owl, dreadful pictures.

Our next stop was at March Farmers in the Nene Washes where a reasonable number of Whooper Swans were seen. The floods held plenty of Wigeon and also a decent number of Pintails. Alan picked out a distant Marsh Harrier but in truth the area seemed rather quiet so we moved on to nearby Eldernell.

Nene Washes views.

One of the targets here were Short-eared Owls and we were lucky enough to encounter three roosting in a hedge. While none showed that clearly I attempted more dodgy owl record shots. The shorties were not the only owly action either as a Barn Owl showed on at least two occasions. Some distinctive calls lead Alan to pick out a small group of about eight Cranes, a little later we were able to raise this total to over thirty. Vying with the cranes for our attention was a ringtail Hen Harrier which was hunting the margins of the floods, several marsh Harriers were also active. A Stonechat and a few more Whooper Swans rounded off the day with the gathering dusk bringing proceedings to an end.

Short-eared Owls.