Bearded Beauty Doesn't Disappoint

 Bearded Tits are rather rare visitors to Northamptonshire and when they do appear they can be fairly elusive. Often on those occasions that they do pay us a call it's to either Stanwick Lakes or Stortons Pits and it was one at the former site that has been pulling in the admirers over the last week or so. A showy male has been pleasing photographers and birders alike for several days though those of us that have had to work have had to endure a nail biting and finger crossing time of it as we waited for the weekend to finally arrive. A negative report from yesterday did not deter Alan Shorrock and I from making the journey over there this morning even if the weather conditions were less than favourable.

Goldeneyes

Occasional light showers and sunny spells greeted us on arrival but so too did a stiff breeze and this was a potential fly in the ointment. Bearded Tits do not enjoy windy conditions and this coupled with my 100% dip record on county reedlings up until now created some cause for concern. Initial attempts were disappointing, we heard the bird call a couple of times but that was it as far as it went. Alan suggested taking a walk around the site and returning later and that was what we did.

Goosanders and Curlew

On the A45 pit a pair of Goosanders were probably the highlight though two Oystercatchers were my first county ones of the year. A Great White Egret was the first of two that we saw and we heard quite a few Cetti's Warblers and Water Rails around the lakes as we walked. Best bird that we found was a Curlew on the Roadside Pit, although distant we got good views through the scopes. By this point it felt as if the wind had subsided somewhat and so we headed back to the green causeway in the hope of seeing the Bearded Tit.

Bearded Tit

Luck was with us because after a short wait the bird was located feeding low down in the reedbed. I had great views of my first county Beardie through the bins but the still quite blustery conditions made photography difficult. Eventually I managed to get a couple of satisfactory shots of this beautiful bird and after half an hour of gawping Alan and I headed off to Woodford for a couple of celebratory pints in the Duke's Arms.

One more shot for the road!