A Twitch In The Tail

 Today's travels took Alan Shorrock and I as far as Summer Leys where we enjoyed a bright start, a rainy period either side of midday and then a dry spell until evening. A brisk westerly kept the temperature down meaning that it was not quite time to discard the thermals just yet! From a birding point of view there were some signs of spring but it was a taste of winter that eventually provided the highlight.

Shoveller and Wigeon

There was not much on offer from Rotary Hide but Pioneer provided my first sighting of Little Ringed Plover this year with three present on the scrape. We had better quality views from Paul Britten Hide though they were still fairly distant. Alan Picked out a Sand Martin over the main lake and there was an immature Yellow-legged Gull too. The hide provided much needed shelter when the first of several heavy and squally showers blew in heralding a spell of unsettled weather for the next hour or two.

Little Ringed Plovers and Redshank

The yucky weather meant that we spent quite a lot of time in the hide overlooking the feeders and luckily there was a decent selection of visitors to keep us entertained. Best was a Redpoll which payed several visits and there were good numbers of Siskins popping in too. Just over the road at Mary's Lake a large flock of about forty Sand Martins were noted while Alan found a male Blackcap. We left and headed to the Coach and Horses in Wellingborough for a welcome pint.

Siskin and Redpoll

While heading for home news emerged that the four White-fronted Geese had returned to Titchmarsh after spending some time at Waddenhoe water meadows. A quick diversion was called for and we arrived at the reserve with some time to spare before sunset. The geese did not disappoint, all four were showing in the meadow at the northern end. We watched them for some time before deciding to head back towards Corby, there was no need for any further detours this time around!

White-fronted Geese.