Wakey Wakey

 My brother David, John Barn and I spent the day wandering around two sites in Leics and Rutland on the hunt for interesting birds. Although it stayed dry for much of the time there was a cold wind blowing which made for a sometimes cold and unpleasant experience. Despite the biting wind we were treated to a selection of interesting wildlife.

Smew

We began at Eyebrook where Smew continue to be present in good numbers, fourteen were reported by others though we managed a more modest total of about six drakes. Attempts to locate any of the reported Scaup failed though many of the diving ducks were tight up against the opposite shore. Three Pintail were the most interesting of the other wildfowl on site. A trio of Great White Egrets were seen at various points around the res and there was a flock of about ten Siskins at the bridge.

Kittiwake

Satisfied that we had seen everything that Eyebrook had to offer we left and made the short journey to the dam at Rutland Water. There was no luck with either of the two reported Great Northern Divers but luckily that was our only failure here. Another birder alerted us to the presence of an adult Kittiwake flying along the dam, it continued to patrol the area throughout the length of our visit. The same birder then found the reported Slavonian Grebe close to the opposite shore, I had clear if distant views. After this we didn't manage to find any other birds of note though our day was not quite finished yet. An Otter swimming fairly close in treated us to some sustained views as it fed energetically. After ten miutes or so we left the Otter to carry on with its fishing and headed back towards Corby. One plus point for me was that I'd actually managed to visit Rutland without getting rained on - long may that trend continue! I didn't take many photos today, distance was one factor but the main one was that my replacement battery ran out of charge after only a couple of pictures.

Return To Rainy Rutland

 With rain forecast for most of this morning a plan involving some form of shelter seemed like a good idea. For this reason Alan Shorrock and I paid a visit to the Egelton reserve at Rutland Water where there are plenty of hides as well as the possibility of seeing good birds.

Stonechat and Pintail

Beginning at the Visitor Centre we were treated to several fly passes by a female Marsh Harrier, we saw her or another at regular points during our visit. Also showing at several points on the reserve were Great White Egret and Pintails, there were good numbers of the latter present. A distant female Goosander was my first of the year and so too was a male Stonechat that Alan picked out in front of the centre. The neighbouring Lagoon 2 was fairly quiet with good views of a male Kingfisher the best on offer.

Golden Plovers and Redshanks

Lagoon 4 played host to a large number of Golden Plovers and Lapwings as well as a distant Yellow-legged Gull but there didn't appear to be much else on view. We moved on to Lagoon 3 where Redshanks and Snipe were added to the day list but there were far fewer ducks here than there usually is. From here we walked along to Lapwing Hide which overlooks the south arm of the main reservoir. We had been told that two Scaup had been reported from here but initial impressions were not looking that promising. There seemed to be very few birds on the water and most appeared to be Great Crested Grebes. Eventually after some searching the birds were found close to the shore near Old Hall, two immature drakes associating with several Tufted Ducks.

Kingfisher

We were on our way back to the centre when we bumped into a female birder who told us she had just seen redhead Smew on Lagoon 4. A hurried thank you was followed by a swift return to Sandpiper Hide where the Smew was quickly found. Unusually she was out of the water and resting on one of the islands doing a spot of preening. Apart from a brief swim she spent most of her time there treating us to some decent views. Apart from the duck there were a few Dunlins sharing the islands with the plovers and they completed our tally for the day. Nowadays a visit to Rutland always seems to involve some rain but at least it often involves some good birding too.

Bully For Me

 I had enough time today to take a short walk along to the area near the STW, sunny conditions and blustery gusts of wind made for a nicer stroll than yesterday.

Red Kite

Not much to report unfortunately with things being very definitely on the quiet side. Teal have returned to the ponds, their nervous whistles could be heard as I passed by. Several Red Kites seemed to be enjoying the breeze as they passed by overhead but that other than a very attractive male Bullfinch was that as far as birding was concerned.

X Rated

 Stagecoach are running a promotion at the moment where you can buy a single ticket for two quid to anywhere included in the deal. This and a day off tempted me into taking the X4 over to Wellingborough for a spot of birding along the embankment.

Great White Egret and Yellow-legged Gull

I ended up regretting my decision to some extent as the outward journey in particular was fairly horrendous. My bus doubled as the school bus and I had the dubious pleasure of listening to assorted student blah blah for what seemed like hours. Happily most of the teenage lug tormentors got off at Kettering taking their inane banter with them. Thinking that the journey would now improve considerably turned out to be a tad premature. A car crash on the A509 reduced the traffic to a crawl when it moved at all and it took an interminable amount of time (twenty five minutes actually but it seemed much longer at the time!) to clear the jam.  With the air on the bus growing increasingly tainted by flatulent emissions it was with some relief that I finally emerged into the relatively clean air of the Wellingborough rush hour. 

Caspian Gull

I'd love to say that my efforts were rewarded but I suspect it would have taken more than the embankment could offer to erase memories of the journey. There was a trio of Great White Egrets spread between Chester House Lake and nearby Ditchford while the duck population included both Goldeneye and Pochards. A couple of Ravens having a territorial dispute caused quite an uproar, the victorious bird returned back towards the town while the vanquished one headed over the river. The highlight of my visit was the presence of adult Yellow-legged and adult Caspian Gulls on Chester House Lake. Rubbish record shots were taken, the usual enemies of bad light and distance hampered my photographic efforts. Fine drizzle began to fall and I retreated to the pub for a couple of ciders before tackling the journey home, mercifully it was much better!

A Grand Day Out

 My brother David and I ventured out into the wilds of North Norfolk today, we enjoyed decent weather and even better birds as we stopped at several spots along the coast. A Merlin seen from the car near Kings Lynn was an excellent way to kick things off, I just don't see enough of these little falcons so every one is appreciated.

Pink-footed Geese and Raven

Our birding proper began at Holkham where we parked the car along Lady Anne's Drive. Plenty of Pink-footed Geese were frequenting the area and they were accompanied by good numbers of Wigeon. Both Curlews and Black-tailed Godwits were feeding in amongst the geese and we were put on to a covey of six Grey Partridges by some other birders. Stand out bird here was a Raven which was my first ever sighting of this species in Norfolk. Some good birds had been reported from the sea here recently so we wasted no time in heading off in that direction. On our way to the beach another Merlin was noted harassing a flock of Linnets, clearly lightning can strike twice! Our efforts from the beach were rewarded as David picked out first a drake Long-tailed Duck and then a Red-necked Grebe. Other species seen on the sea included twenty plus Red-breasted Mergansers, some Common Scoters and some fly-by Red-throated Divers. Returning towards the car we stopped to enjoy a small flock of Shore Larks feeding in the roped off area, Snow Buntings had also been reported in the area though we didn't manage to catch up with them.

Grey Partridges and Shore Lark.

Encouraging news regarding the reported Long-eared Owl at Glandford decided our next course of action. We arrived at Cley Spy to find both the owl and a hoard of admirers in place. The Long-eared showed very well as it preened in the winter sunshine before settling down for a snooze. Next stop was at the East Bank at Cley where we attempted unsuccessfully to find the Long-billed Dowitcher which was apparently spooked just before we arrived. Sadly the bird did not return in the time that we spent there though I gather it reappeared a little later on. On our return drive along the coast we stopped briefly at Holkham to enjoy views of a flock of White-fronted Gesse feeding in a field near the A149.

Long-eared Owl

Final port of call was at Brancaster where a Hume's Warbler has been present for some time. By now the sun had disappeared behind some clouds and a stiff breeze was blowing, things were not looking too encouraging. Many would be warbler spotters began to drift away before I heard an unfamiliar call which led me to find the warbler feeding in waterside sallows. It disappeared before the few remaining diehard birders could see it but our patience was to be rewarded. Some twenty minutes lapsed before the bird called again but this time the bird was relocated and showed well if rather distantly. This was my first ever sighting of this species and proved to be the icing on what had been a very tasty cake! All in all one of my better birding trips recently, it's certainly going to take some beating!

White-fronted Geese

Nice Day For A B.O.P

 Today was another sunny and fairly mild one and while the birds didn't quite live up to the quality of yesterday it was still a nice morning for strolling. My route took me up through the industrial estate and on through Brookfield Plantation before I emerged near Gretton from where I headed down to the Welland Valley.

Raptor selection

Brookfield was pretty lively, a Buzzard called as I arrived while screeching Jays could be heard from deep within the wood. A Raven croaked as it flew overhead, I was to get at least two other sightings today. Two Sparrowhawks circled over the wood, they didn't appear to be displaying though this is the time of year when they begin. From one of the many ponds a small flock of Teal headed skywards, I heard more on the flooded quarry. There's not much water in the Welland Valley and my visit only produced a large flock of Lapwings and good numbers of winter thrushes. My return walk through the plantation added Nuthatch and Marsh Tit to my list while a check on my local Peregrines produced a sighting of one. Very little other wildlife showing today other than several Fallow Deer in the wood.

Meadow Pipit and winter thrushes.

From Russia With Love

 2023 dawned bright and sunny which  was a welcome contrast to yesterday's grey and miserable damp squib of a day. Alan Shorrock and I turned into county twitchers as we set off for Summer Leys in search of some rare passerines..

Yellow-browed Warbler

Our priority target at the Leys was to see one of the Yellow-browed Warblers which have been seen regularly at Mary's Lake for the last few days. This is a rare species in the county which is if anything  even scarcer in winter and it's not a bird that I've encountered often before. We managed to park along the lane fairly easily and it wasn't that much of a hike to get to the birds' preferred spot. Happily we didn't have to wait too long before one put in an appearance pleasing the assembled group of clickers and year tickers quite a lot. Over the next hour or so it flitted about actively as it fed in front of the gathered admirers, I'm guessing that my own photographic efforts were far from being the best taken today!. After a while both Shozzer and I decided to move on though we left plenty of watchers still in situ.

Reed Bunting and Teal

There was not a great deal of other birds to report  today, a brace of Great White Egrets being perhaps the best. Amongst the large number of Lapwings on site were as many as thirty Golden Plovers and we also noted ten Snipe in the same area. There were no surprises in among the gathered waterfowl and we left once we were satisfied that we had seen most of the available birds on view.

Ducky diversions.