Dipping

This morning Alan Shorrock and I set out hoping to see the immature Red-backed Shrike that has been showing from Snipe Hide at Rutland Water for much of the past week. The weather was pretty good, sunny skies with a cool northerly wind underpinning things which meant I had to wear a jacket for the first time in what seems like yonks. We took a detour on the way to incorporate a stop at Eyebrook and while things didn't quite turn out as we had hoped it was still an interesting enough day.

Buzzard and Red Kite

Our first couple of stops at Eyebrook were near the island, stop number one was pretty dull but at the second we saw a Great White Egret, a pair of Stonechats, at least five Ringed Plovers and three Dunlin. Next up was a halt near the fence on the Leicestershire side from where we could get a good look at the sharp end. Several Black-tailed Godwits and two Ruff were noted and we watched a Buzzard feeding on the carcass of a goose. The Buzzard despite interference from both Carrion Crows and Red Kites remained steadfast and continued its feast, I assume it had to waddle off the corpse when it eventually ate its fill! A familiar though unexpected call alerted us to a small flock of nine Pink-footed Geese which circled several times before heading off in a north easterly direction. Two more Great White Egrets graced the general area though they were overshadowed by an immature Peregrine that made a brief pass before it moved on.

Tringa record shots

From the visitor centre at Rutland Water I saw two Greenshanks but also learned that there had been no reports of the shrike. Despite the negative news Shozzer and I set off towards Snipe Hide from where the bird had been showing. On the way we noted Common Darters, a few Speckled Woods and Brown and Migrant Hawkers but the most interesting insect was a male Willow Emerald. Snipe Hide sadly proved to be distinctly shrike free but it was not without its attractions as raptors helped to fill the void left by its presumed departure. Highlights were a Marsh Harrier and an Osprey while Alan and another observer saw a Hobby too when I popped out to look at darters. Giving up on the shrike we started walking back to the centre after first noting a Green Sandpiper from the 360 Hide. A stop at Mallard Hide added two distant Spotted Redshanks and a further two Green Sands to our list before we departed.

Willow Emerald.