Nuts About KP

 This morning Alan S and I made the relatively short cross border hop to the reserve at Rutland Water. Our target was a male Kentish Plover which has been hanging around Lagoon 4 for at least several days. In gloriously sunny and increasingly warm conditions we arrived before the centre had opened. Deciding to sneak in before the masses arrived we headed off towards the lagoon and the appropriately named Plover Hide from where the bird had been noted.

Glossy Ibis and Avocet

It took twenty minutes to reach the hide which turned out to be pretty quiet, we had already passed several other "sneakers" heading back towards the car park and their news was encouraging, the bird was showing albeit distantly. A lady birder in the hide was kind enough to let me see the bird in her scope and I had good though rather distant views. Happy, I left Shozzer and the bird behind and returned to the centre to obtain our permits. I returned to find that the bird had gone and had to content myself with distant views of a Glossy Ibis, rather a lot of Avocets as well as a flock of at least eight Sanderlings. With such insect friendly weather on offer we then opted to abandon Rutland and head back towards the hallowed soil of Northants,

Wood Whites

Fineshade Wood was our destination of choice with a view to finding a Chequered Skipper or two. Not for the first time our efforts met with failure though we enjoyed some good nature spotting and didn't feel that disappointed. Wood Whites were apparently introduced here in 2024 and last year I managed to see one. Clearly their fortunes have improved as we saw good numbers including several outside the wood itself. Best of the rest was my first Green Hairstreak of the year, views were brief though conclusive. Other species noted included Common and Holly Blues, Small Copper, G-V and Small Whites, Brimstone, Orange-tip, Small Heath and Speckled Wood. Other nature noted before we left included Raven, Common Lizard and Broad-bodied Chaser. Our day concluded at the Cross Keys in King's Cliffe where some serious rehydration occurred before we returned to Corby.

Small Copper and Small Copper