Nene Valley Travels

Today was  rather grey though on the plus side it stayed dry for the most part and there was also the occasional bright spot to enjoy too. Alan Shorrock and I decided to visit the New Workings near Whiston again on the hunt for migrants. I hoped the south easterly winds might drop a few goodies in but in truth I'm not sure that my plan worked as most of the birds on view were long stayers rather than new arrivals.

Yellow and White Wagtails

Several Grasshopper Warblers were heard reeling in the field closest to the road though they were hunkered down and we didn't manage to get a glimpse of them. Good numbers of Yellow Wagtails were spread around the area and were joined by at least five White Wagtails, another birder believed that there were over ten present. On a pit north of Whiston Lock Al picked out a pair of Garganey which though distant showed well through the scope. On the river a rather tame drake Red Crested Pochard appeared to be paired up with a female Mallard and we got good views of him. The long staying Pink-footed Goose was also seen in its usual spot between the pits and Cogenhoe though it was distant and also asleep for most of the time. Butterflies seen on our walk were Orange-tip, Green-veined White, Peacock and Red Admiral.

Garganeys, RCP and Pink-footed Goose.

After Whiston we popped in to Summer Leys and spent all of our time there in Paul Britten Hide. A Black-tailed Godwit was seen feeding on the scrape though there was not much else on view. Three adult Dunlins were picked out on Gull Island though they were flushed soon after discovery by a Sparrowhawk. Two of them were re-found again a few minutes later and we also saw a couple of Snipe. Three Yellow Wagtails were our final sighting of the day, we didn't manage to see the Glossy Ibis which had been reported earlier.

Black-tailed Godwit and Dunlin