Leach's Lamentations

 Regular birding bud Alan Shorrock and I paid a visit to Rutland Water today where we spent a lot of time on the dam. After an awful week of what felt like constant rain it was good to get some sunny weather at last and after a coldish start it even felt a bit warm. Soon after we arrived news emerged that a Leach's Petrel had been seen off Barnsdale on the other side of the res, it was potentially a new species for both of us and we considered heading off immediately but instead decided to wait for more news. Our hesitancy proved costly as the bird  flew off westwards a little later on. Whether we would have managed to see it if we'd  left then and there is open to debate, either way it could be a while before the next one appears.

Ringed Plover and Goosander

Leach's sized dip aside we actually had an OK walk along the dam and part of the south shore. At least four young Ringed Plovers were seen on the shingle beach near the dam though they were flushed a little later on by some walkers. Five brownhead Goosanders were dozing on rocks and showed well in excellent light. A distant Red-breasted Merganser was seen on the dam near to the Sykes Lane carpark and we headed in its direction hoping to get better views. We didn't pick it up on the outward leg but had better luck on the return journey. The immature drake was keeping company with a brownhead Goosander and we had some good views. Mergs appear to be getting scarcer inland nowadays so it's always a pleasure to see one. We didn't see much else other than an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a small selection of insects that included Common Darter, Migrant Hawker and Speckled Wood.

Red-breasted Marganser

We stopped at Eyebrook on the way home where the water level was high, any prospect of seeing waders seemed remote and so it proved. Duck numbers seemed low too though we did get a double figure count of Pintails Best bird was a Black Tern which seemed to spend most of its time flitting around the part of the res to the south of Stoke Dry carpark. Another tern was also noted but we couldn't I.D it with certainty though another observer had earlier seen two immature Arctic Terns. Two Great White Egrets were also noted but we didn't see much else of interest other than a couple of Commas and a Southern Hawker near the bridge.

Yellow-legged Gull and Pintails

Norfolk Road Trip

 I've just returned from a long weekend of wildlife watching in North Norfolk in the company of Alan Shorrock. I'd hoped for a grab bag of goodies blown in on easterly winds, that sadly did not happen but we did see a few half decent things and most importantly of all appear to have avoided the duff weather that has blighted the county over the last couple of days! Such a shame that I missed out on the Eyebrook Sabine's but that's the way the cookie crumbles and I'm not bitter...well not too much!

Black Darter, Sundew and Stonechat

We began on Friday at Dersingham Bog where some early cloud broke up allowing the sun to shine through. My main targets were the Black Darters that apparently make this site their home, I'd tried to see them on several previous visits but met with no success. Today was a different matter however and the darters did the decent thing with at least four basking on the planks of the boardwalk. Having only ever seen one before it was good to catch up with this distinctive species again. Other wildlife in the area included several Stonechats and  a small selection of raptors.

Little Stint, Ruff and Snipe

Our next stop was at Titchwell where we were treated to a variety of waders with a Little Stint being the best. Bearded Tits were heard but not seen while a distant Marsh Harrier was our first of the weekend. Willow Emerald was the pick of a small bunch of insects on offer though it was good to see decent numbers of Red Admirals nectaring on Ivy. On the way to our accommodation in Hunstanton a Hen Harrier crossed the road bringing our day to an agreeable end.

Knots and Spoonbill

On Saturday morning we decided to pop along to Snettisham to see the high tide wader roost. Little did I realise that several hundred other people had the same idea and a procession of folk were making the trek down to the reserve. The spectacle was worth the slog, we were too late to see the birds arriving but the sight of so many waders packed on to the islands was amazing. With such a potential buffet on offer it was no surprise that a Peregrine paid a call sending the hordes of Knot hurtling skywards, it was sometime before they settled down again.  As well as the Knot there were plenty of other waders around and the numbers of Curlews in particular were impressive. A flock of Spoonbill were present on the reserve while on the Wash we saw eight Eider and a Scaup before taking the hike back to the car. A Wall Brown helped to break the monotony though it didn't pose for pics.

Escaped Black-winged Stilt, Willow Emerald and Muntjac

We had hoped to visit Holme next but the reserve was apparently full and that meant turning to Plan B. This involved a return visit to Titchwell where we dipped on Yellow-browed Warbler and also a Wryneck which was seen briefly at the paddocks. A look at the sea did not produce much and the reserve seemed quiet, a group of Spoonbills were present and we also saw the escaped Black-wing Stilt. Good insects included a camera shy Wall Brown and an equally uncooperative Small Copper. While walking back towards the car park our day was improved immeasurably when a Honey Buzzard drifted in from the SW and headed along the coast towards Brancaster. On that eventful note we brought our day to a close and headed back to Hunstanton.

Spotted Flycatcher, GWE and Dunlin

Sunday morning saw us visit Holme where we managed to get in and park. We began with a spell of sea watching and were rewarded with a small selection of birds. Plenty of Common Scoters were on the move with about a hundred passing, a drake Eider was also seen and also my first Brents of the winter. Five or six Gannets and an Arctic Skua were my first of the year and Alan also saw a Kittiwake, there were about five Red-throated Divers too.   Leaving the sea behind we took a stroll around the NOA reserve before heading to the neighbouring NNT one. I had a couple of brief views of a Yellow-browed Warbler near the car park which sadly Shozzer didn't get on to. He had more luck with some Spotted and a Pied Flycatcher in the dunes which we watched for some time. Our next achievement was to miss not one but two reported Wrynecks though in our defence I don't think many people saw them. Rain was now beginning to fall and we decided to bring the day and our weekend to a close, not the best birding weekend I've ever had but good enough.

Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and more Knots

Hazy Sunday Morning

 Just a short one today as I restricted myself to a walk around Brookfield Plantation and the surrounding area. There was plenty of sunshine on offer though high level cloud meant that it was often rather hazy. No surprises wildlife wise but it was by no means a complete waste of time.

Peregrine

I began by checking on the local Peregrines and was rewarded for my efforts with decent views of the female. In the plantation a pair of Mandarins were a welcome sighting as they're pretty scarce here. Best of the other birds was a family party of Marsh Tits, Not much in the way of mammals with just a Fallow Deer and Muntjac on view. On my outward journey through the wood I didn't manage to find any insects though that thankfully changed on the return leg of my journey.

Speckled Wood and Large White

The hedge row that borders the flooded quarry near Gretton was quite productive with several Speckled Woods, a Comma and a Red Admiral showing. Ay least eight Willow Emeralds were noted and I also saw Common Darter and Migrant Hawker. Best bird was a Raven which was calling from the trees on the edge of the plantation. Walking back through the wood added Large and Small White to my list while a Small Heath was seen at nearby Willowbrook Industrial Estate. I'm off to Norfolk for a birding break next weekend so hopefully will have something more interesting to report in my next post.

Willow Emerald and Common Darter

A Bit Of A Slog

 Alan Shorrock and I visited a couple of sites in the Welland Valley today and while the weather was good the birding was not great. A few insects were active once the day had warmed up a little but numbers are dwindling now as autumn gathers pace. Overall a little disappointing but days like today have been infrequent this year so I can't grumble too much.

Red Admiral and Common Darter

We began at Titchmarsh NR where a small selection of waders were the highlight, yesterday's Common Scoter having predictably moved on. Three Dunlin, a Redshank, at least two Common Sandpipers and a Green Sandpiper were on view from the North Hide, there was little else to report. A small selection of butterflies included Commas and Red Admirals as well as a single Common Blue. Common Blue damselflies also made it on to today's list as two females were noted along with a single Willow Emerald. Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers made up the rest of the ode list, we didn't see much else before moving on to Summer Leys.

Green Sandpiper and Snipe.

No sign of the Bittern at the scrape where a Green Sandpiper did show reasonably well. It was down to two distant raptors to provide the interest, a Hobby was spotted by the sharp eyed Shozzer while one of a growing band of would be Bittern photographers picked out a Marsh Harrier. Very little else was seen, a Pintail showed from Rotary and a Brown Hawker was seen from Pioneer. We left and headed to the Saxon Tavern where a pint helped to revive flagging spirits.

Great White Egret

After The Rain

 Another visit to Eyebrook today though this one began as a solo mission as I managed to get myself a lift over there this morning. My timing was a little off  however as I was caught in several showers but they were mercifully brief and soon gave way to some sunny spells. I'd hoped the weather might bring a decent bird or two in but sadly that did not happen and things kept a very familiar look to them.

Black Tern and Wood Sandpiper

A Raven made a low pass over Sam's Dyke but there was not much on offer either here or at the island. The inflow was a little more interesting with a smattering of waders on view of which a Wood Sandpiper was the highlight. I did not manage to see the Little Stint that was noted by another observer but did OK with everything else. Presumably the same two Black-tailed Godwits from my previous visit were present again and Ringed Plover numbers remained high. At least one Green Sandpiper called as it flew over and there were two mobile and often vocal Greenshanks. Two Ruff, four Dunlin and a Snipe rounded off the wader list while the juvenile Black Tern remained loyal to its favourite buoy. Other birds of interest included a Stonechat and also a juvenile Peregrine which caused widespread panic when it put in a brief appearance before I left.

Greenshank and Spitfire

Good Friday

 Any day that I can blag off work is cause for celebration but when it's coupled with great weather, good wildlife and a couple of pints then it really is a top drawer occasion. I began my day at Eyebrook in the company of regular wildlife spotting pal Alan Shorrock before moving on to Priors Hall.

Wood Sand, Blackwits and Ruff

Six Pintails near the island were an early highlight at Eyebrook though most of the other good stuff was at the sharp end. Waders continue to feature strongly here and two Wood Sandpipers were a decent sighting. Other waders here included a brace of Black-tailed Godwits, three Dunlin, a Green Sandpiper, a Ruff, two Snipe, at least one Greenshank and twenty plus Ringed Plovers. There were plenty of gulls too but I could only pick out a single adult Yellow-legged in amongst them. Slightly more interesting was a juvenile Black Tern whose favourite perch were some buoys in between the tern rafts. Pick of the passerines were two Whinchats which showed distantly from the Rutland bank. Perhaps one of the best sightings this morning was an Otter which was hunting in amongst the water weed where the brook meets the reservoir, every sighting of Otters is appreciated.

Pintails, Black Tern and Otter

Alan wanted to check Priors Hall out for Southern Migrant Hawkers so we left Eyebrook at about noon and made our way over there. It took a while but we did manage to see at least one SMH which on closer investigation proved to be my third individual here. Plenty of Migrant Hawkers were here too though many were trying to escape the heat by resting amongst the reeds and sedges. Both Common and Ruddy Darters were present in good numbers while damsels were represented by Emerald and Willow Emeralds. few butterflies were seen though Red Admiral and Brown Argus were both noted.

** Update   Since I originally posted this my "Emerald " damselfly has been re-identified as a Scarce Emerald by the county recorder making it potentially only the third county record - I really should take more days off.

SMH, Emerald and Willow Emerald.

              

No Beauty Spot At Eyebrook

 During the week a chap posted a picture of a Beautiful Demoiselle on the Leics/Rutland FB page that had been photographed at Eyebrook Reservoir. It seems as if this is likely to be the first record for the site and that was reason enough to prompt a visit from myself, Phil and Cheryl. Happily the forecast thunder storms did not arrive and we enjoyed a sometimes cloudy and sometimes sunny blend of weather during our sojourn at the res.

Little Stint (right) with Black-tailed Godwit

Before we got down to the business of finding the demoiselle Phil and I stopped at the Sharp End to have a look for any waders that might be about, Cheryl had got out earlier so she could have a stroll around the reservoir. Highlight was the reported Little Stint which made up for my dip here a couple of weeks ago. It was on the opposite shore of the res so my attempted record shots were predictably dire! Other waders were also on the move, three Golden Plovers dropped in while we were there while a Whimbrel flew over the bridge while I was looking for odes. Other waders in the area included a Dunlin, twenty plus Ringed Plovers, a Greenshank, at least two Green Sandpipers and five Black-tailed Godwits. We did not see the Garganey that was noted earlier but you can't win them all.

Speckled Wood and Willow Emerald.

We could not find the Beautiful Demoiselle at the bridge but did manage to catch up with a few other odes. Several Willow Emeralds were on either side of the bridge where a few Banded Demoiselles were also present. Brown, Southern and Migrant Hawkers were hunting in the general area and there were a few Common Darters over the brook itself. Butterflies were few in number but Comma, Speckled Wood and Small White were seen. Aside from the aforementioned Whimbrel the best bird was a Kingfisher which passed by at least twice before we left in search of lunch.

Banded Demoiselle and Southern Hawker