Tricky Icky

 Pint clutching patriots were nervously beginning to gather in the beer gardens and pubs of Corby when my brother and I set off for Rutland Water this afternoon. Our after work travels were provoked by news of an Icterine Warbler that was singing near Shoveller Hide on the Egleton reserve. Given my brother's previously unblemished warbler record of late I was feeling somewhat optimistic when we arrived. Events were to prove that the footie watching hordes would have a more successful time of things than we did!

Rubbishy record shot time - Black Tern.

Having paid for our permits we marched off to the spot that the warbler was favouring noting a Peregrine on the way. A small group of would be admirers had assembled and the news was OK if not brilliant. Apparently the bird was singing though views were brief and mainly unsatisfactory or at least that had been the case thus far. After a while the bird did indeed sing though only briefly and this was to set the pattern for the evening to come. Searching intently for the Icky did produce views of other warblers of which the best were Garden and Lesser Whitethroat. We broke our vigil for a look from Shoveller Hide where a Black Tern showed distantly as it fed on the far side of the lagoon. Returning to the warbler site did not bring a change of fortune and we eventually had to except defeat.

Ringlet and Painted Lady.

Of the other birds noted several Curlews were the best and there were a few Avocets on Lagoon Four as well as a Cuckoo near the visitor centre. Increasingly long spells of sunshine seemed to suit the butterflies and I was happy to see my first Ringlet of the year. A Painted Lady posed well while other species included Comma, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Meadow Brown. Only two species of damsel were seen and these were Azure and Blue-tailed.