Into The Valley

 Mr Shorrock and I took a trip along to the Nene Valley today and if our day didn't quite hit the skids it was not one of our most successful either. We started at Earls Barton gravel pits and chose the new workings near Whiston Lock to kick things off. Although it was mostly sunny a very cool wind meant that temperatures belonged more to winter rather than spring.

RCP with partner and kids?

A cream-crowned Marsh Harrier was our first bird of note as it moved through the site heading towards Northampton. Waders were represented by Redshank, Lapwing, Oystercatcher and Little Ringed Plover while the most memorable ducks were initially the seventy or more Shovellers dotted around the site. I didn't spend too long looking at the north workings as the wind was too uncomfortable but did at least hear my first Blackcap of the year singing. A walk along the river towards Cogenhoe produced a brief sighting of my first Small Tortoiseshell of the year and also a male and two female Goosanders on the western end of the workings. On the river a drake Red crested Pochard was keeping close company with a duck Mallard and some ducklings, these might cause some head scratching later if they reach adulthood! One final first of the year was of a Bee-fly basking on a sheltered spot next to the Nene.

Bee-fly and Snipe trio

Our travels then took us to a very quiet Summer Leys where we failed to see the Ruff that had been reported earlier in the day. Highlights were few and far between and a sextet of Snipe seen from Paul Britten Hide were the only things of note. Not for the first time a pit stop at the Coach and Horses in Wellingborough ensured that the day came to a most agreeable conclusion!