Good, Could Have Been Better

 Alan and I went looking for Rock Pipits again today, there has been quite a few moving through and we wanted a piece of the pie. Sadly our trip to the dam part of Rutland did not deliver the goods pipitwise but there was some compensation on offer to offset this setback. Though it was sunny for quite a large part of the day a stiff north westerly breeze kept temperatures down and on the dam itself it was more than a little uncomfortable.

Dunlin

Our initial efforts did not produce much other than a female Goosander on the dam which disappeared not too long after discovery. We followed the shoreline along towards Normanton Church but didn't manage to find much of note. Our plan then was to head along to the north arm of the reservoir but we decided to have a look along the dam first. A single adult Dunlin was on the little beach at the southern end of the dam and this long billed individual may have been from one of the northern races. As we checked the area I heard Whooper Swans calling and six birds came into view flying in a south easterly direction, I couldn't  get any pics but Shozzer grabbed a couple before they moved out of sight. Several minutes later we heard but didn't see more Whoopers passing through.

Raven

Plans to move on were thwarted when Alan picked out a Raven sitting on the dam, seeing perched ones is something of a rare treat and we wandered along to get better views. The bird was casting hungry eyes towards a dead fish which a Great Black Backed Gull was munching on, the gull was not in the mood for sharing however. Though the Raven kept trying to steal a morsel the overly possessive larid was not inclined to share until, presumably full or perhaps just bored of fish, it moved on. It didn't take long for the Raven to seize this opportunity though it moved on itself too after just a couple of pecks and was replaced by a Yellow-legged Gull. Happy with the views we decided to head back to the car and make our way to the north arm though once again events conspired to hold us up...

Yellow-legged Gull and Goosander

I had a quick scan through the scope before we left and noticed a brownhead Goosander feeding just off the dam. As I watched a probable Red-breasted Merganser surfaced next to it, Alan had a look and agreed with my I.D. For the second time in short order we marched along the dam and were treated to decent views of this scarce inland visitor. Phil Rogers again put the news out for us and although some people seem to have only seen one of the half dozen or so Goosanders present rather than the Merg I gather it was eventually seen by others a little later in the afternoon. We left soon after though rather than heading to the north arm as originally planned we went to the Cross Keys in King's Cliffe for a pint instead. While enjoying my beer Phil sent news that a pale phase adult Pomarine Skua had flown over lagoon four at Rutland Water, oh well you can't win them all!

Red-breasted Marganser

After the pub we had a look at Blatherwycke Lake which was bathed in glorious evening sunshine. Our efforts came to naught unfortunately with only  half a dozen Mandarins, a Black Swan and Egyptian Geese to report. A huge flock of geese came in but they proved to be Greylags and we decided at this point to call it a day and head back towards Corby.

Alan's Whooper shot and the Merg again.