2025 started on a decidedly awful note with gusty winds and persistent rain ushering in the daylight hours. I'd resolved to visit Blatherwycke Lake in search of a potential Slavonian Grebe which had been reported earlier but had to wait until around noon before taking the plunge. Alan Shorrock and I eventually got over to the lake and we were lucky to find some dryer than expected conditions on our arrival.
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| Female Scaup |
The eastern most portion of the lake was quite quiet and we did not see much of interest other than three Mandarins on the southern shoreline. On the western side of the bund the long staying female Scaup was still present though the light and distance made for challenging viewing condition. While searching the rest of the lake we found a quartet of Egyptian Geese as well as a selection of the regular wildfowl but there was no sign of anything else of note. A pair of Stonechats at the shoreline near to Glebe Farm were among our best birds here and there was nothing else to report.
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| Stonechat and Peregrine |
Our journey home took us past the power station where we stopped to check for Peregrines. Luck favoured us and we found one bird perching out of the wind on one of the chimneys. With the light fading our day was drawing to a close and we headed to the Samuel Lloyd for a pint and a bite to eat.
