Oundle Oiks

 Today's weather was not unlike yesterday's though it was a little less cold and the grey skies were a couple of shades lighter. On my bus ride over to Oundle there was plenty of mist but I was delighted to encounter pretty clear conditions when I arrived. My walk mirrored the one that I did last Sunday in that I began at Barnwell CP before checking out the floods and finishing with the Peregrines.

Grey Heron and Great White Egret

There was an increase in the human traffic at the country park with plenty of joggers doing circuits of the perimeter as well as the usual mix of strollers and dog walkers. Singing Chiffchaffs hinted at the spring to come while large numbers of Redwings were a nod to the waning winter. I had several brief views of a Water Rail on the edges of one of the ponds, the park's becoming a fairly reliable site to see them. During an unsuccessful stint in Kingfisher Hide I heard Oystercatchers calling but didn't manage to see them. As the park got busier my urge to stay diminished and I headed off towards the marina. Three Oystercatchers were present on the grass close to the clubhouse before they departed noisily, a Kingfisher was seen close by near Barnwell Mill.

Oystercatchers and dabblers

My travels then took me to the area that overlooks the A605 floods where numbers of Pintail remain high. Growing numbers of Shovellers were also present while both Wigeons and Teal are maintaining their presence. Two Great White Egrets were again noted while at least four Littles were also seen. Presumably the same three Oystercatchers then dropped in and remained for the duration of my stay, the only other waders were a dozen or so Lapwings. A singing Cetti's Warbler was the only other bird of note but I'm sure as the spring develops more interesting stuff will appear. My efforts to see the local Peregrines initially came to nothing but were eventually rewarded when the female appeared and posed for some pics. I then left to catch my bus home, I'm sure more visits will follow soon.

Pintail and Peregrine