A day's birding in Lincolnshire & Rutand - March 30, 2013

I was out with Dave and Roger today and we headed off to Freiston Shore, Lincolnshire and hopefully a Lesser Scaup.

When we arrived at Freiston there was a nasty looking black cloud coming from the north and a few minutes later we had probably the worst of the winter showers of the day.  We sat it out in the car as did c.1000 Oystercatcher and other waders but as the snow began to ease some of the birds began to leave and one particular group that were probably Knot all appeared to go.  There was also seven Avocet present.  When the shower had stopped we walked down the southern path towards the sea wall seeing three Tree Sparrows just after we had left the car park.

Tree Sparrow

As we walked down the track more of the Oystercatcher began to leave but we did find sixteen Knot, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Redshank and a Turnstone.  We then found the target bird a first-winter male Lesser Scaup.  Although it was always rather distant we did get some reasonable views through the scope.  When we finally reached the sea wall we had a good view all around and found seventeen Curlew and a single Ringed Plover.  There were also plenty of Brent Geese still around with many in flight over the salt marsh.

Oystercatcher leaving their roosr

Brent Geese

Reed Bunting

From Freiston we drove the relative short distance to Frampton Marsh where it was quite breezy and cold.  The water levels were higher than normal and it also appeared quiet on the bird front.  Roger did find the four White-fronted Geese, which were present from the centre for a short time before flying off to the grassy meadows, where there was also a single Black-tailed Godwit.  We walked to the 360° hide where we found twenty Avocet,  a Ringed Plover, three Dunlin, five Ruff, a Curlew and two Redshank.  Wave after wave of Brent Geese were coming in and landing to the left of the hide and there must have been in excess of a thousand.  There was also fourteen Pintail and we found two distant Little Egrets.

White-fronted Geese

White-fronted Geese

Brent Geese

Brent Geese

Avocet

Avocet

Lapwing

Lapwing

Lapwing

First-winter Great Black-backed Gull

Adult summer Black-headed Gull

We decided to go Rutland Water on route home andwent to the north arm and then had a walk around the reed bed.

Again as we arrived we had our last wintery shower of the day but we could see several waders on the spit from the car.  When the shower ceased we got out of the car and found two Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin and then I noticed a smaller Ringed Plover, which turned out to be our first Little Ringed Plover of the year.  We walked through the gate to view the rest of north arm and I immediately found the Black-necked Grebe and then Dave found the Slavonian Grebe.  The Black-necked Grebe was now beginning to look quite nice as it was in almost full summer plumage and the Slavonian was also showing signs of moulting.  David eventually found the winter plumaged Grey Plover on the north shore.

We entered the reed bed from the Normanton Peninsular and initially focussed on the area between there and the ringing hut.  We found two nice male Siskin close to the hut and a Treecreeper close by.  We then walked around the boardwalk but the only ting of note was a single Water Rail.  We also found a couple of Marsh Tits and four Redwings as we walked back to the road.

Just as we were about to leave Tim called to inform us that he was watching a Jack Snipe from shoveler hide on lagoon three but unfortunately Dave and Roger needed to get back and we had give it a miss.  He then tweeted that he had found a second.

Male Siskin

Leicester, Leicestershire - March 29, 2013

There had been forty Waxwing reported on Hand Avenue in Leicester and I decided to go and have a look fairly early and also get some fuel from Sainsbury’s.  When I arrived at the site where Roger had seen them yesterday there was no sign.  I therefore decided to go and fill up only to find out that due to a power-cut Sainsbury’s was closed.  I returned to the site but with still no sign I decided to go home.  On getting back home and checking Birdguides I found that twelve had been reported at 07:30 and I must have missed them by minutes.

I decided to give them another go but on arrival there was still no sign and so I went and filled up at Sainsbury's.  I returned to the site but there was still no sign and after driving around a short while I set off for home.  As I turned into Braunstone Way I noticed a party of birds in a tree on the opposite side, but they then dropped away.  I decided to turn around and check them out.  As I came back along Braunstone Way they were back in the tree and I was able to confirm that they were Waxwing.  I again went to Hand Avenue but the eastern side and had good views of forty birds both in the tree and feeding on berries at a low level.

I wished I had taken my camera but this area of Leicester has a reputation and I was afraid I might return without it.  Having said all contact with the residents was courteous at all times and I am certain I would have been OK.  Perhaps they stay over the weekend.

A day's birding in Leicestershire & Rutland - March 18, 2013

Dave, Roger and I were intending to go to Freiston Shore today to hopefully see the Lesser Scaup but we were unable to get in touch with Roger and Dave and I decided to go local instead and hopefully visit Freiston on Saturday.

We were driving towards Tut Langton from Kibworth Harcourt when I spotted a Barn Owl perched on top of the hedge road.  We continued to Tur Langton and then turned around hoping it might still be there.  There had been a few vehicles that had gone towards Kibworth and as we approached we saw it hunting along the roadside before it perched on the opposite hedgerow, where I was able to get a few shots off.

Barn Owl between Kibworth Harcourt and Tur Langton

We continued to Eye Brook Reservoir without further excitement and on arrival there was no sign of the Little Owl and two Shelduck were the highlight.

We continued to Rutland Water and went to the Egleton Reserve as the Hawfinch had been reported again yesterday after no sightings all month.  We spoke to Tim Appleton who was unaware and decided to walk down the service road in the hope of perhaps seeing them.  At the feeding station there were plenty of birds, mainly Chaffinch, but we did manage to see a single Tree Sparrow and two female Brambling.  We continued to walk towards lagoon four seeing a number of Fieldfare and Redwing and also a nice male Brambling.

On reaching lagoon four we went into dunlin hide and immediately found five Curlew and two Oystercatcher.  We also found five Ringed Plover and there was sixteen Shelduck also present.  I released the flap on the western side of the hide to view the hedgerow behind but there was nothing.  I looked out on several occasions without sight of anything when suddenly two birds appeared to come out of the large tree and fly towards the hide.  Hawfinch I cried as I watched the birds approaching as I initially thought they would fly, above, but in front of the hide but as they got close they flew directly over the hide.  We rushed outside but there was no sign and we were unable to relocate them and Dave had failed to see them.

From shoveler hide on lagoon three we found a single red-headed Smew and again it would appear that the wildfowl numbers continue to drop, although Pochard remain in reasonable numbers.

Drake Teal on lagoon three

Drake Teal on lagoon three

Moorhen on lagoon three

First-winter Common Gull over lagoon three

The new Bittern hide on lagoon three, which will be open soon

As we walked back to the centre we continued to look for the Hawfinch but without success although there were plenty of Redwing in evidence and there were thee Water Rails in one of the wetter meadows.  After a brief spell in the centre overlooking lagoon one, we decided to have lunch.

Redwing in the Egleton Meadows

It was still rather cold in the fresh northeast wind but we decided to walk to snipe hide on the wet meadow where there was a pair of Pintail and plenty of Wigeon and a few Teal.  We continued on to the 360° hide but there were few birds on this lagoon and so we continued to pintail hide on lagoon six.  Here we found a couple of Oystercatcher and three Shelduck and Dave picked up a distant Osprey over the north arm.  Fourteen Curlew and six Snipe were observed in flight and the Curlew looked as though they had alighted on the wet meadow, so we made our way around to snipe hide again.  Sure enough the fourteen birds were feeding amongst a party of Wigeon and when they were disturbed the Wigeon flew onto the flash and the Curlews towards the water’s edge.

Female Shelduck over lagoon six

Female Shelduck over lagoon six

Oystercatcher over lagoon six

Black-headed Gulls in territorial dispute on lagoon six

Wigeon and Curlew over the wet meadow

just as we were leaving the reservoir, Tim called saying that there were two Cranes gaining height over lagoon four.  We rushed back and looked Church Road but there was no sign.  We finally decided to call a day and gave the Little Owl another ago at Eye Brook Reservoir but with the same results and the only bird of note on route home was a Buzzard near Uppingham.

Rutland Water, Rutland - March 16, 2013

I went to Rutland Water today and stayed on the Egleton Reserve in an attempt to get out of the wind.

I had seen a single Buzzard near Tugby and a Red Kite near East Norton and two Raven flew over the top of Wardley Hill.

At Rutland Water I walked along the service road to the feeding station where I had twelve Tree Sparrows and two female Brambling.  There was also a single Fieldfare and circa thirty Redwing in the meadows and a flushed a Little Egret from ne of the ditches.

Egyptain Goose in the Egleton Meadows

Greylag Goose over the Egleton Meadows

From Dunlin hide on lagoon four was ten Curlew but other than ten Shelduck there was little else of note.  I continued towards lagoon three but decided to give shoveler hide a miss due to the biting wind and instead went on to buzzard hide.  There were clearly fewer wildfowl on the lagoon today although I did have a brief view of a red-headed Smew as it swam out of sight.  Smew hide on lagoon two produced a male and female Goosander but little else of note.  I then went to plover hide on lagoon four but there was nothing new or anything close to the hide.  A brief visit to osprey hide on lagoon two again failed to produce anything of note.

Curlew on lagoon four

Curlew over lagoon four

As I walked back towards the centre a party of finches flew over and settled briefly in the alders alongside the path. All of those I managed to identify were Siskin and there must have been about thirty.

Female Tufted Duck on lagoon two

Male Tufted Duck on lagoon two

Jackdaw in the Egleton car park

After some lunch I set off to 360° overlooking lagoon five where there were very view birds and nothing of note.

Great Crested Grebe on lagoon five

I continued on to heron hide in Heron Bay where I could see an Osprey on the nest in Manton Bay but otherwise it was rather quiet.  A visit to the nearby kingfisher hide on lagoon eight produced two Ringed Plovers and two Oystercatchers.

Great Crested Grebe in Heron Bay

Pair of Wigeon in Heron Bay

Oystercatcher over lagoon eight

I began walking back to the centre planning to call at pintail, harrier and snipe hides.  From pintail hide on lagoon five there were another two Oystercatcher and two more Shelduck.  Harrier hide produced virtually nothing and from snipe hide I saw my second Little Egret of the day, a Red Kite over mallard hide and a pair of Pintail on the small flash.

Barnacle Goose on Lax Hill

Drake Wigeon on the wet meadow

It had been a rather quiet day as many of the winter visitors have left and due to the bitterly cold weather summer migrants are non-existent.

A day’s birding in Leicestershire & Rutland - March 21, 2013

Dave, Roger and I had initially been going to either Freiston or Frampton today but with no news from either site and with the weather not looking too good we decided to stay local.

Our first site was Eye Brook Reservoir, which is still almost on top water and as such did not produce too much with a couple of Shelduck being the best.  Even the regular Little Owl failed to show today.

From Eye Brook Reservoir we drove Manton Bay where we had a single Osprey on the nest.  This bird 00(09) is a third-year female that fledged at site B, Rutland Water in 2009 arrived on the 19^th, which I had observed later that day.

We continued to the Egleton car park where we bumped into Time the Reserve Manager who gave us a lift to lagoon four where there had been a Snow Bunting yesterday evening.  We entered sandpiper hide to view the lagoon but there was no sign of the Snow Bunting but there were eight Shelduck, four Oystercatcher, a Ringed Plover, seven Dunlin, two Snipe and a Green Sandpiper.  We also walked to plover hide on lagoon four for a different view.  We were still unable to find the Snow Bunting but there was a red-headed Smew and a first-winter Caspian Gull.

Shelduck in territorial dispute on lagoon four

We walked back along the service road where we had seven Brambling, two males and five females and a single Buzzard with a rather well worn tail was observed over the meadows and there was also a Jay on the seed.

Buzzard with well worn tail

We left the reserve and headed for Dickinson’s Bay but there was no sign of either the Slavonian or Black-necked Grebe.  We did see a Buzzard over Burley Wood and there was another pair Oystercatcher present.

From Dickinson’s Bay we went to the dam where Dave and Roger were hoping the Brent Goose I had seen on the 21^st was still present.  There was no sign of the Brent but we did find the elusive Great Northern Diver towards the north shore and there were two Red Kites over Empingham and three Buzzards close to the dam.

We moved onto Normanton where we had good views of a pair of Mandarin and eventually found a Chiffchaff, which Dave had heard sing on one occasion.

Pair of Mandarin at Normandy

Male Mandarin at Normandy

Female Mandarin at Normandy

We then drove back to the centre seeing the Osprey still in the nest area as we passed over Manton Bridge.  We later found out the breeding female, an unringed Scottish bird, had returned this morning to Manton Bay and had chased off 00(09).  So we had almost certainly seen two Osprey today. 

Whilst we were having lunch we overheard two other birders indicating that they had seen the Slavonian and Black-necked Grebes in Dickinson’s Bay.  So after we had finished our lunch we went back and were soon observing the grebes.  The Black-necked was beginning to show significant moult into summer plumage and the golden eared plumes were visible but the Slavonian was still in full winter plumage.  There was also a kettle of six Buzzards over Burley Wood and the two Oystercatcher seen earlier were still feeding in the same area.

We returned to the centre where we saw three Little Egrets on lagoon one and six Curlew feeding at the back of the lagoon.  There were six Shelduck on the lagoon but wildfowl numbers still appeared to be declining.  We had discussed going to Luffenham airfield where there had been up to four Short-eared Owls but just before we departed Roger found a Barn Owl resting on a post.  It moved posts on several occasions and appeared to be looking for food in a ditch close to the wet meadow.

When we arrived at Luffenham airfield the wing had strengthened and it felt quite cold.  We had at least three Red Kites and a single Buzzard but there was no sign of any Short-eared Owls so we called it a day.

Red Kite at Luffenham Airfield