No Ifs, Some Butt's

 The lovely sunny spell continued today and the conditions were enough to tempt me out for a walk after work. I selected Weldon as my destination of choice and I was fortunate enough to enjoy a reasonable spell of butterfly watching.

Small Tortoiseshells and Comma

Several male Brimstones were sadly as camera shy as yesterday's example, one did land briefly but was off again before I could remove my lens cap. Luckily my first Small Tortoiseshells of the year included a couple of fairly obliging ones out of a total of at least three. Peacocks were again the commonest species with seven or eight on the wing while a trio of Commas were also noted. Among the other insects buzzing around were several Dark-edged Bee-flies which were my first of the year.

Toad and Dark-edged Bee-fly

Other wildlife included a Toad while the pick of the birds was a singing Blackcap at the A43 pond which was presumably Sunday's bird and I also saw several Siskins near the steelworks.

Double Dipping

 For the first time this year I ventured out to the Nene Valley where the weather was sadly better than the birding! An attempt to see the long staying Glossy Ibis failed at both Thrapston and Aldwincle while an effort to see the Ring-necked Duck at Stanwick met with an equal lack of success.

Oystercatcher and Wigeon.

Although the ibis had put in an appearance at its favoured horse field near the A605 lay-by it had done a bunk just before we arrived. Few other birds were seen except for a pair of Oystercatchers and a Blackcap though a first Brimstone of the year was a nice find. Unfortunately he seemed too intent on finding a mate to stop so I couldn't get a photograph. From here it was on to Stanwick where I couldn't find the male Ring-necked Duck or much else really. Several Cetti's Warblers were my first of the year and so too was a Redshank. After this a quick return to the horse field turned out to be as unsuccessful as the first and it remained an ibis free zone.

Peacock and Comma.

Feeling that Aldwincle might be worth checking just in case resulted in another dip on the ibis, it had apparently visited here too but had done its now familiar disappearing trick before our arrival. Not a great deal else on view apart from a trio of Great White Egrets. Leaving the Nene Valley behind I returned to Corby where I had a wander around the scrubby area near the town's STW. Birds may have been a bit of a let down earlier but at least a few butterflies were playing ball. A minimum of eight Peacocks and three Commas were enjoying the afternoon sun taking my year list up to three species. Unlike the speeding Brimstone from this morning a few of these settled and I was happy to get a few pics. Not many birds around other than a Siskin while the Old Village hosted a Grey Wagtail.

Wind In The Willows (And Everywhere Else For That Matter!)

 Another Deene visit following the now familiar route via a few of Corby's industrial areas, Priors Hall and Weldon. In truth I could have saved my feet a lot of work if I'd gone no further than Priors Hall as most of the highlights were in or near Corby. A strong wind made for challenging conditions though thankfully it remained more or less dry.

Fallow Deer and Brown Hares

First highlight was a herd of Fallow Deer near to RS Components while the first birds of note were the now regular Ringed Plovers at their favoured spot. Small numbers of meadow Pipit were noted though most birds were keeping a low profile in the gusty conditions. There were two Brown Hares on the CBA's playing field, I was to see another at Weldon Park Wood. Checking the quarry at Priors Hall once again produced a decent bird in the shape of my first Little Ringed Plover which showed well though distantly.

Little Ringed Plover record shot and Meadow Pipit

Deene was dull with just a Grey Wagtail and at least eight Shelducks to report while nearby Deenethorpe airfield held a pair of Lapwings though little else. Returning via Weldon I stopped briefly at the A43 pond which produced a singing Blackcap and the usual selection of water birds. Final noteworthy bird of the day was another Grey Wagtail near to the town's STW.

Ravens Rule

 A brief though beautiful sunny start to the morning sadly gave way to thick cloud and drizzle far more quickly than I would have liked. Fancying a bit of a change from my usual routine I walked over to Harringworth Lodge Lake taking in both Brookfield Plantation and Gretton on the way.

Peregrine and Raven

I began my birding in the village again with a singing Chiffchaff that was the first of five noted today. My next highlight was a sighting of Peregrine at its regular spot though it was somewhat lower down than normal. From here it was on to Brookfield where several small groups of Siskins were present. Both Gadwall and Teal were flushed from the ponds and a Nuthatch was calling noisily. Leaving the plantation I noted a Raven between the wood and the Gretton road. A large number of Common Gulls were passing through with many pausing briefly to feed in sheep fields. I checked each of these fields for any Wheatears but drew a blank though there were plenty of Meadow Pipits going north. Also on the move seemed to be Chaffinches while small flocks of both Redwing and Fieldfare were noted.

Yellowhammer and Linnet

Near Gretton a Snipe called twice as it passed overhead and another Raven croaked nearby. I was to enjoy two further sightings of Ravens during my walk, the reappearance of this species in the county is one of my birding highlights. One of them seemed to be having great fun annoying a pair of kites near the lake and then having evidently grown bored with this activity went on to annoy some Magpies. After a few minutes of sport it took off with a purpose and headed off towards Gretton. The lake was a bit on the dull side as it has been for most of the winter and I didn't hang around for long. My return walk did not produce much beyond a Brown Hare near Gretton and a Grey Wagtail in the Old Village.

Similar Sunday

 Today was in many respects similar to last week with the weather following a familiar pattern of being brighter in the morning before becoming cloudier in the afternoon. Continuing with the deja vu theme I took exactly the same route as last Sunday to Deene and back. Once again there were no big surprises though I saw enough to justify the aches and pains caused by my walk.

Ringed plover and distant Sand Martin

Birding began almost straight away with a Grey Wagtail on the roof of the Cardigan Arms, this lockdown defying pub visitor was probably a local bird rather than a migrant. From here I took a tour of some of the local industrial sites hoping somewhat optimistically to find a Black Redstart or something similar. No luck on that front though I again caught up with the pair of Ringed Plovers which appear to be settling in nicely. Moving on I had a look at the quarry lake at  Priors Hall where at least one Sand Martin had returned, a very duff record shot was obtained. Other birds here included a small group of Lapwings.

Solitary bee and Shelducks

Very little was seen between here and Deene though things picked up a little at the lake. At least ten Shelducks were present and these included a copulating pair, hopefully they will nest here this year. No other wildfowl of note though a vocal Oystercatcher flew round the lake several times before settling for the briefest of moments near the inflow. Also seen here was a Green Sandpiper again and there was also a singing Chiffchaff. Nearby Deenethorpe airfield was quiet though another Chiffchaff was singing in the adjacent Weldon Park Wood.

Red Kite and Chiffchaff

My final stop of the day was at the A43 pond at Weldon where a third Chiffchaff of the day was present. The usual cast of birds were seen on the lake itself though Tufted Duck numbers had risen to ten and the pair of Canada Geese had returned, I wonder how long it is before the swan couple put them to flight again? 

Not Quite There Yet

 A spell of sunshine this afternoon was enough to persuade me to take an after work stroll in search of butterflies. With time rather limited I took the short walk along to the area near the STW which can be productive on occasion.

Buff-tailed Bumble (Perhaps!)

Sadly there were no butterflies to be found and that may have been due to a lack of food sources, the willow blossoms are only a day or two away from opening however which should hopefully help. Not all insects shunned the sun though and several bumble bees were buzzing around at least one of which might have been a Buff-tailed. Very few birds of note with a singing Chiffchaff representing the new season and a couple of Redwings representing the old. Early this morning I'd heard a few migrating Redwings passing over before dawn so they are clearly on the move at the moment. It's always slightly sad to see them go but having said that I'm looking forward to spring's arrival.

Dodging Showers

 An almost April like blend of sunshine and showers today made for sometimes challenging viewing conditions so it was perhaps as well that there wasn't much to see! My birding stroll took me to the poochy paradise of East Carlton Park before I headed along the Welland Valley. Although I wouldn't call it one of my most exciting forays out there were at least a few highlights to help justify my exertions.

Buzzard

Very little other than dogs were seen at East Carlton, there was a small flock of Redwings and some Siskins in alders near the ponds. A Mistle Thrush was singing near the hall and its powerful voice was audible even above the bellowing of pooch owners calling their wayward hounds. Leaving the mutt multitudes behind I stopped to enjoy excellent views of a Buzzard catching worms. Given that I was already at the bottom of the valley I decided to visit the river near Cottingham rather than just scoping it from the Rockingham road.

Record shots of Mandarins and Oystercatchers

Happily for me the wave of showers that had helped make my wander around the park far from fun stopped by the time I reached the river. I finally managed to catch up with the pair of Oystercatchers that have been frequenting the area, I got decent though distant views. Also on view was a pair of Mandarin Ducks and a large flock of mainly Common Gulls. Small numbers of Wigeon were still grazing on the banks of the pond and half a dozen Teal were also present. When taking a look at the river I flushed a Green Sandpiper which had the good sense to stay on the Northants side, this part of the county is so close to Leics that you can almost smell the stilton!

Grey Wagtail and Peregrine

Very little was seen from then on until I reached Brookfield Plantation where more Siskins and a Grey Wagtail were noted. About twenty teal were also flushed from one of the ponds and they flew around whistling for several minutes before coming down on one of the other ponds.  My day was finished in what was almost the normal way with the sighting of a Peregrine at its favourite loafing spot.

Happy Plovers Day

 A solid if unspectacular walk today that took in Deene, Deenethorpe and Weldon as well as a little bit of Corby and a tiny bit of Priors Hall. With the back road to Deene now closed for eight weeks I had to walk along the A43 to get there and while it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be it was still far from ideal. Weatherwise the day more or less followed the forecast with a sunny start giving way to cloudier conditions, happily I avoided any rain.

Ringed Plover and Greenfinch

My day began with a look at a few local sites which failed to deliver any Little Ringed Plovers but did produce good views of two Ringeds. At least one Grey Wagtail was also noted while a large flock of Black-headed Gulls were checked just in case they had some interesting company but they didn't hide anything more exotic amongst them. Priors Hall quarry was given the once over as I passed but I only saw a small flock of Lapwings and a trio of Pochards.

Shelducks and Green Sandpiper record shot

Things were uneventful until I reached Deene Lake where wildfowl numbers remain fairly low, there are still Shelducks present but I didn't count them today. Other species noted included an Egyptian Goose, the pair of Black Swans and a Green Sandpiper at the inflow. The Black Swans clearly fancied a change of scenery because I later saw them at Deenethorpe, they must have swam along the brook. I had some excellent views of both as they indulged in a bit of bankside grazing. At the nearby airfield I was serenaded by Skylarks and also saw a pair of Lapwings though the highlight was a large flock of Golden Plovers. Around two hundred or so birds were milling around looking as if they were searching for a spot to land. While I didn't actually see where they came down I did get some half decent views as they flew around. Little else was seen during the rest of my wander apart from a small flock of Siskins near the steelworks.

Egyptian Goose, Black Swans and Golden Plovers

Not Very Exciting

 A day in which there was a little sun, a little rain and also little to report! My walk today took me to the Welland Valley via Cottingham and it's perhaps just as well that I enjoyed the exercise because there was not much nature on view.

Brown Hares

Being a week day the traffic in town was very busy despite the latest lockdown and I tried to get out as quickly as possible. A short stop at the boating lake failed to produce a sighting of the drake Pochard, he may well have moved on. Apart from that brief diversion it was head down and walk for the most part and I managed to reach the countryside in about half an hour. My first sighting of interest was of three decidedly sane looking March hares taking a bit of a breather in a field near the driving range. From there it was rather a dull affair until I reached the Welland Valley.

Chiffchaff

Looking down to the lake below Cottingham sadly failed to produce a sighting of the Oystercatchers that have been seen here. Birds that were present included Teal and Wigeon and also a flock of mainly Black-headed Gulls. It was a largely uneventful walk from here onwards with the only exception being a Chiffchaff at the small STW near Rockingham. Brookfield and its surrounds delivered several sightings/hearings of Raven and some great views of kites. In the wood itself there was a flock of Siskins and also only my second Marsh Tits of the year. A drake Gadwall flushed from one of the ponds was a site rarity, at least one Teal was also seen. Bringing the walk to a reasonable conclusion was a Peregrine at its normal spot nearby.

Saving The Best For Last

 Today I fancied a change of scenery and so scrounged a lift over to Blatherwycke Lake from where I walked home taking in Deene and Priors Hall on the way. Although the weather eventually cleared to become almost spring like the birds for the most part owed more to winter. 

Great White Egret and Wigeon

At Blatherwycke I couldn't find any Mandarin Ducks and it's likely that they've dispersed to nearby breeding sites. Wildfowl numbers in general were low with the exception of Wigeons but even they seemed quite restless and they may well be on their way soon. One Pochard was probably the best of the ducks in what has been rather a poor winter locally for them. I was beginning to think that I might have been better staying a little closer to home when a Great White Egret dropped in and gave prolonged if quite distant views. Not much else here apart from a Kingfisher seen several times from the bridge.

Great Crested Grebes and Red Kites

My walk from here to Deene was rather uneventful though I saw a decent sized flock of Yellowhammers near Bulwick and had great views of the local kites. Deene too was pretty dull with just fourteen Shelducks being on show, twelve on the lake and two with a spot of shore leave. Things stayed fairly quiet until I arrived at Priors Hall where the situation improved.

Siskin and Dunnock.

A good sized flock of Siskins and Redpolls were present in one patch of alders and I flushed a Woodcock up from nearby. Whilst checking the large pond I heard a Water Rail squealing from  the depths of the reedbed where a Reed Bunting was also present. Moving on I took the unpleasant walk along the A43 from where I was able to check the quarry lake. Scoping the gulls did not produce any surprises among the many Black-headeds. There was a good sized flock of Lapwings still but no sign of any other waders. While scanning the lake shore I was able to find at least three Pochards though these were soon outdone by the next discovery. Checking the small group of Greylag Geese more out of habit than in expectation delivered a White-fronted Goose swimming with them. It left the water and began to graze before settling down for a brief rest. Judging by the bill colour and the reduced amount of black on its belly I would suggest that it was a young European bird but I'm always happy to be corrected! Given the distances involved I only managed a few record shots of this surprise visitor which also turned out to be the final highlight of my walk.

White-fronted Goose record shots

Two's Company....

 A surprise but welcome half day off work gave me the chance to check some of the local sites for any newly arrived Little Ringed Plovers. Despite having quite a thorough check of likely areas I dipped on the Littles though I did once again find a pair of Ringeds whilst on my travels. With the sky continuing the grey theme that has dominated this week it was perhaps a little optimistic to look for signs of spring but  they do say that if you don't try you don't get!

Ringed Plovers and Mallards.

Having completed my plovery investigations I headed along to the A43 pond at Weldon to check on the birds there. An absence of Canada Geese suggests that the nest building swans did eventually run them out of town, the cob was amusing himself today by bothering a few mallards instead. There seemed to be rather a lot of hostility in the air with many of the local birds squabbling with their rivals as they look to establish territories or pair bonds. The young Dabchick that was causing such offence to the adult pair has still not taken the hint and continues to annoy them by staying put, it either doesn't know or perhaps just doesn't care that three's a crowd! Other species included Tufted Ducks and Gadwalls as well both Coots and Moorhens. Nothing else to report and back to work tomorrow so I'll have to wait until Sunday for more nature spotting opportunities.

Tufted Ducks, Dabchick and Coot.