A Stroll Along The Nene

 This morning was yet another dull and grey one in what seems to have been a conveyor belt of sunless Sundays so far this year. Once again I boarded the X4 and headed along to Oundle from where I took a riverside stroll between the south and north bridges. The birding while far from exciting was interesting enough and I enjoyed my walk despite the dreary conditions.

Mandarin and Great White Egret

I began by doing a quick circuit of Barnwell CP where a pair of Mandarins were in the usual spot near to the Kingfisher Hide, they certainly added a much needed dash of colour to what seemed like a monotone world. Some distant swans feeding in a field between the park and Stoke Doyle piqued my curiosity for a brief moment though further investigation revealed that they were Mutes. I soon left the joggers and dog walkers to enjoy their morning and headed towards the river.

Pintails

Near Lower Barnwell Lock a small patch of reeds was playing host to a Great White Egret which was channelling its inner Bittern. I watched it catch and eat a small fish before it became aware of my presence and took flight. Similarly a Kingfisher which was flying along the river towards the lock abruptly changed course  as soon as it saw me. I continued my trek over ground which was still water logged in places towards the A605 floods. Large numbers of Wigeon continue to feed here with lesser numbers of Teals and other dabblers. An impressive forty plus Shovellers were also present but were overshadowed by a smart looking pair of Pintails, they're fairly common at Eyebrook but seem scarce in Northamptonshire. Once I'd scoped the floods I moved on noting another or perhaps the same Great White Egret near Ashton. At Ashton Mill a Water Rail called from the small reedbed and this was the last thing of note before I caught my return bus back to Corby.