Probably Should Have Gone To The Pub Instead!

 Another cold day which for the most part was rather grey once an early spell of sunshine had disappeared. My walk today started with a bus trip to Upper Benefield from where I walked back to Weldon via Deene and Deenethorpe. It would be nice to report that my exertions went rewarded but I'm afraid to say that they were not!

Yellowhammer and Fieldfare

The minor road between Benefield and Deenethorpe was fairly lively with Yellowhammers in particular being common. A single Golden Plover called as it passed overhead and was my best bird of the day. Flocks of Starlings were moving through and were perhaps on the lookout for frost free ground. Nearby at Deene Lake some repair work on the dam is taking place which has meant that the footpath has been closed. A look from the A43 gave me the chance to note four Shelducks and three Black Swans but little else other than a large flock of Lapwings. At the inflow there was plenty of mud due to the low water level but no birds to report. Walking on to Deenethorpe and then the airfield did not add to my list much and I kept myself entertained by looking at the aeroplanes coming and going. It was with some relief that I boarded my return bus in Weldon, all in all one of those duff days that we all have to endure once in a while.

Red Kite and Deenethorpe visitor.

Frosty Morning

 A bright but cold morning saw Alan Shorrock and I taking a stroll around a frost whitened Stanwick Lakes. Half a dozen Cattle Egrets and a couple of Glossy Ibis were reported yesterday and it was these that we most wanted to see. Having parked in the A45 lay-by we began at the nearby pit where light conditions were excellent.

Glossy Ibis with Cattle Egrets, I struggled to get both ibises in one shot.

We didn't find much to begin with, Water Rails were vocal and we heard Siskins while winter thrushes were feasting on the many haws. At the Main Lake another birder alerted us to the presence of the two Glossy Ibises that were with the six Cattle Egrets giving things quite a Mediterranean look even if it didn't feel like it! The birds were fairly distant and we only managed a few record shots before some nearby shooting activity scared the birds off. They flew in the direction of the North Lake and Shozzer and I set off in leisurely pursuit. 

Cattle Egrets

Distant views of both the egrets and the ibises were had but the birds had moved on by the time we got round to the other side of the lake. I picked up a bit of a bonus when I found a Water Rail while scanning for the Glossies. One pleasant surprise in this area was a male Common Darter which had survived the overnight frost to bask in the sunshine. Having completed a circuit of the North Lake we returned to the Main Lake where the half dozen Cattle Egrets were feeding though there was no sign of the ibises. Once the egrets had moved on we set off for the car hearing several Chiffchaffs on the way. Our day concluded with a pint in the Dukes at Woodford, always a nice way of bringing things to a close.

Common Darter

A Short One

 Today's bright start soon gave way to drizzle which meant my excursion this morning was only a brief one. Having seen the forecast I decided to stay close to home and settled for a stroll near the STW. My walk began with a Grey Wagtail in the village, recent rainfall means that the stream is running high and fast forcing the wagtails to feed elsewhere. Near the STW there was a small group of Teal at their traditional spot on the ponds. Both Siskins and Redpolls were present in the general area while Redwings and a single Fieldfare where working their way through this Autumn's bumper crop of haws. Increasing amounts of drizzle were now falling and I opted to leave the birds to their own devices and headed for home.

Redpoll

Crossbills, Scoters, A Grebe And A Diver

 Alan Shorrock found at least ten Crossbills at Wakerley Wood while I was up in Scotland and I returned there with him this morning hoping to catch up with them. It was a wet start to the day though the rain had all buy eased by the time we reached the woods. Given the weather it was perhaps not surprising that there were few other people wandering about as we began our search.

Common Scoters

The wood was lively with tits and other small birds but it took a while to find the Crossbills. A single bird was heard and then seen as it flew over one of the paths. Minutes later a minimum of a further four were noted in flight and although they appeared to land nearby we couldn't find them again. Several minutes were spent searching for them without success and we decided to head back to the car. One Raven was seen as we walked but not much else of note was added to our day list.

Goosander and Slavonian Grebe

Our other stop today was the dam at Rutland Water where a range of good species had been seen yesterday. It didn't take long to find two female type Common Scoters and although distant they showed well enough through the scope. During our walk we were able to get a little closer to them and I got a couple of ropey record shots. Alan found one of the Great Northern Divers that have been reported from here though it was some way off. We watched it for a few minutes before it did the usual diver trick of disappearing. At the northern end of the dam I found the Slavonian Grebe which has been here for at least a week and we got some decent views. Our return stroll along the dam provided further views of the scoters and also of Goosander while the diver showed at bit better at the southern end of the dam. I somehow managed to delete all of my pictures from the SD card on the way home but Alan managed to save the day by recovering them using some sort of computer trickery. Whether his efforts were worthwhile or not you can judge for yourself!

Great Northern Diver

Fort William And The Highlands

 I've just returned from a short Scottish break with my wife Sandra which began on the 11th and ended today. It was not a wildlife watching trip and I did not get to spend too much time looking at nature. We enjoyed (or perhaps that should be endured!) quite a variety of Scottish weather which ranged from cold but sunny to rain and mist. Most of the wildlife that I did see was around Fort William itself and was associated with Loch Linnhe and its shore.

Shag, Rock Pipit and Kingfisher

My personal highlight was an Otter which I found one morning swimming on its back whilst it enjoyed a breakfast of crab. I didn't get any pictures of it and nor did I manage any shots of the Harbour Seals that also frequented the loch. Hooded Crows are reasonably common around the town and I saw no signs of hybrids in the area. Both Shags and Cormorants were seen fishing in the loch and so too was a single Guillemot. There were not many ducks on view with a female Goosander and four Goldeneyes being the best of a meagre selection. Only one passerine of note was seen and that was Rock Pipit with several seen around the loch shore. Overall not a huge selection to report but an enjoyable break nonetheless even if it did involve a lot of travel.

Lest we forget - the Commando monument near Spean Bridge

No Fireworks But Not A Damp Squib Either!

 A morning of sunny spells and gusty westerlies that provided a welcome break from yesterday's rain. I spent my time doing the rounds of Weldon, Willowbrook Industrial and Priors Hall. Interesting birds proved hard to find but there was a pleasing if small selection of odes to enjoy.

Common Darters

While I waited for my bus a Sparrowhawk caused some consternation amongst the local Starlings while in Weldon a few Siskins were noted. The A43 pond was very quiet, local fireworks often clear this pond of any birdlife. Willowbrook was similarly quiet with no birdlife of note though eight Common Darters provided some interest. I skipped the North Gullet at Priors Hall and went straight to its southerly neighbour. More Siskins and a Chiffchaff were the highlights here and I didn't linger for too long before moving on. At the ponds I added Redpoll to my day list and small numbers of winter thrushes as well. Plenty of Common Darters were active during the sunnier spells and at least five Willow Emeralds were noted too. One male Migrant Hawker was seen though I didn't get a picture as it patrolled a pond's reedy margin. I'm in Scotland next weekend and back at work this week so these could be the last odes of the year. With clouds beginning to build I took my leave and headed back to Weldon and my bus home.

Willow Emeralds.

Slav No Show

 A much better day weatherwise with plenty of sunshine and much less wind than yesterday. Alan Shorrock and I took advantage of this improvement to pay yet another visit to Eyebrook. Sadly for us the brace of Slavonian Grebes appear to have gone, no one seems to have reported them today and we had to rely on for some familiar faces to keep us entertained.

Goldeneye and Cormorant colour ring

From Ketley's Corral we had distant views of the two Cattle Egrets near the fishing lodge and I also noted my first Goldeneyes of the autumn. Two brownhead Goosanders were also noted though these departed southwards heading over the dam. A search of the area failed to produce a sighting of the Red-throated Diver and we headed off down the reservoir. The diver resurfaced from the gateway near Hollyoaks Lane from where it showed rather distantly as it actively fed near the plantation. Alan found a male Stonechat here though it didn't hang around too long before moving on. We checked several other areas without much result  though a colour ringed Cormorant was of interest, preliminary research suggests that it may have been rung at Rutland Water.

Common Darter and Willow Emerald

At the bridge odes came to the fore, a male Common Darter was the first of four or five to be seen today and these included one that used my head for a perch. Of equal interest were the four Willow Emeralds on the Rutland side of the border. Birds noted from the bridge included Siskins and a Great White Egret but in truth there wasn't that much in view. After a brief run down the Rutland side we made our way back along the Leicestershire side. We were treated to slightly closer views of the Red-throated and I managed my best pictures so far, at this rate of improvement I should get some cracking shots by about May 2024! Alan found the immature Pink-footed Goose that had been reported earlier and we watched it for a few minutes before heading for home.

Red-throated Diver and Pink-footed Goose

Persistence Pays Off

 Another text from Phil Rogers this morning alerted me to the fact that two Slavonian Grebes were at the birding hotspot that is Eyebrook Reservoir. A glance at the weather forecast did not give grounds for too much optimism as Storm Ciaran made its way across the country but I blagged a lift with Phil anyway. When we first arrived it was still dry but the promised rain soon arrived and had us heading for the car. We waited and then waited some more hoping for a break in the weather before a brief window of opportunity duly arrived. A scan of the far shore through the scope revealed the two grebes as they swam close to the opposite bank. The scope views were fine but my record shot as you can see was lamentable. Happy enough with our views and reluctant to suffer a drenching we headed to the Samuel Lloyd in Corby soon afterwards for a few celebratory pints.

Slavonian Grebes (You'll have to take my word for it!)

Shower Dodger

 A day of sunny spells and squally showers which saw me heading over to Oundle before the next autumnal storm blows in. I took a stroll along the Nene before heading to Barnwell, a combination of the weather and the kids being back at school made it much less busy than last week. There was  nothing to match Monday's excitements birdwise but on the plus side I spent far less time travelling.

Little Egret and Great Tit

The floods near the A605 are already quite extensive and are beginning to attract birds. Dabbling ducks made up the bulk of sightings with Wigeon being commonest with lesser numbers of Teal, Shoveller and Mallard also present. A small number of Black-headed Gulls were bathing but there was no sign of any waders. Near Barnwell a brace of immature Little Egrets were my first in the area for some time, they're surprisingly scarce along this stretch of the Nene.

Moorhen and Gadwalls

Barnwell was a little on the dull side, small numbers of Redpolls and Siskins were the highlights.  From Lowlands Hide there was very little activity other than the family of rats and a fleeting visit from a Nuthatch. The Kingfishers did not give themselves up easily and I spent over an hour in their namesake hide hoping for a sighting. Eventually a female paid the briefest of calls before disappearing out of sight. Realising that it probably wasn't going to be my day I decided to give up and head back into town.