A day in Leicestershire & Rutland - May 27, 2013

Dave had his moth trap out last night but there were only four moths in the trap but all different.  There was a Chinese Character, Brimstone Moth, Scalloped Hazel and a Muslin Moth.  The Muslin Moth was new for me so it was worth the effort.

Brimstone Moth

Muslin Moth

Chinese Character

We then took a short break before we went to Ketton Quarry for butterflies.  It was quite windy when we arrived on site but there were several sheltered areas within the complex.  In the first area we had a Common Carpet and Common Heath moths and there were several butterflies including Brimstone and a couple of Green Hairstreaks.  We continued to cover several areas on the reserve and found nine species of butterfly including both Dingy and Grizzled Skippers, although we only found one Grizzled.  We also had several Orange Tip, three Common Blue, a Peacock, a Speckled Wood and three Small heath.  Brimstone was by far the most common and we had at least twelve.  There were also several Burnet Companions.

After some lunch we went back with another guy who showed us where we might find an Adder.  There were two pieces of tin on the ground and he lifted both, the first produced nothing but under the second there was a female Adder and a Grass Snake.  Dave and I didn’t see the Grass Snake as it shot off as he lifted the tin but the Adder remained for a short while before moving off more slowly.  This was my first Adder in the counties, although we had looked many times at this site previously.  We also had a Red Kite and a Buzzard.

Dingy Skipper

Green Hairsteak

Common Blue

Small Heath

We decided to call at Rutland Water as Dave still had not seen Little Gull this year and the three first-summers were still present yesterday.

On arrival we went straight to lagoon three but there was no sign of the Little Gulls the feeding Common Terns.  There were a few Swifts over the water and woodland to the north and we also found a couple Hobbies, one hawking quite low over the water.

Common Tern over lagoon three

We moved to sandpiper hide on lagoon four we immediately found two of the Little Gulls roosting on one of the exposed spits.  There were also several waders feeding on another area of exposed mud that included four Sanderling but as I started scanning further they all flew but came back shortly afterwards.  As I began scanning I noticed what looked like a small Sanderling but when I got it in the scope on it I realised that it was a in fact a summer plumaged Little Stint, which is a good spring record for the counties.  There were also twenty Ringed Plovers and a single Dunlin.  There was a Curlew on another island and six Shelduck also on the lagoon.

A day's birding in Leicestershire and Rutland - May 25, 2013

I was out with Roger today and we initially went to Wistow Church to see if we could find a Spotted Flycatcher. As we got out of the car I thought I could hear one but when we went into the church yard I could hear nothing and there was no sign of anything.  I we returned to the car again I thought I could hear one and then Roger picked on up at the top of a tree on the other side of the road, success.  It remained for a while but then flew and disappeared.

We continued to Eye Brook Reservoir seeing a Little Owl at Slawston on route.  The water had dropped a little a Eye Brook Reservoir but a single Common Sandpiper was the only wader with the exception of a few Lapwing.  There were seven Shelduck present and two Little Egrets were observed, which were the first here since December 2012.  Two Buzzards flew over the bridge area and a third was observed to the west and two Common Terns were present near the inlet end of the reservoir.  Circa fifty Swift were observed towards Holly Oaks Farm and fifteen Swallow were observed from the road bridge.  There was also circa thirty House Martins amongst the Swift and I did pick out a couple of Sand Martins.  A Sedge Warbler was observed perched on top of some sedge and we also heard a couple of Willow Warblers, two Blackcaps and two Whitethroats.

It felt bitterly cold in the north arm at Rutland Water and other than a single Oystercatcher and five Shelduck there was little else but two Buzzards were observed over Burley Wood.

On the Egleton Reserve we went straight to shoveler hide on lagoon three where there had been three first-summer Little Gulls yesterday but there was no sign.

Mistle Thrush near the Bird Watching Centre

Willow Warbler near the badger hide

Willow Warbler near the badger hide

Male Tufted Ducks pursuing a single female on lagoon three

We walked the short distance to plover hide on lagoon four where we found just four Ringed Plovers and five Shelduck.  It was good to see that the four Lapwing chicks on island three were all still present after the cold and wet conditions yesterday.  With still no sign of the Little Gulls we decided to go into bittern hide for another look on lagoon three but all we could find was a dozen Common Terns.

Great Crested Grebe on lagoon four

Lapwing chick on lagoon four

As we approached the gate back to the centre we saw Rick who informed us that the Little Gulls were on lagoon four.  So we went into sandpiper hide and found them directly in front resting on the spit running away from island ten, which is not visible from plover hide.  An Osprey also circled overhead for a few minutes and we saw two more Buzzards over Burley Wood.

Osprey over lagoon four

After returning to the car park and having lunch we walked towards the new lagoons with Ken who had now joined us.  We called at snipe, fieldfare, tern, pintail and the 360° hide covering the wet meadow, all the new lagoons and part of south arm three.  From snipe hide I located two distant Hobbies and there were two Little Ringed Plovers on lagoon seven.  We also saw a couple of Redshanks from snipe hide and there were two more on lagoon five,  On six the Oystercatcher that had been sitting in front of tern hide was now attending two chicks.  There were also more Shelduck and Common Terns on most lagoons with twenty-one Common Terns present on lagoon seven and twenty-seven Shelduck on lagoon one.  There were also plenty of warblers that included Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler but we only heard most of them.

Stock Dove over lagoon six

Common Tern over lagoon five

It had been a rather quiet day but we still managed over seventy species.

A day in Suffolk and Norfolk - May 22, 2013

Dave, Ken, Roger and I were off to Lakenheath Fen and then the north Norfolk coast if time allowed.  We picked Ken up in Corby and set off for Lakenheath seeing a Red Kite near Brigstock, Northamptonshire and a Common Tern over the A14 near Thrapston.

When we arrived at Lakenheath Fen were surprised to see so many other birders there, particularly mid-week.  We walked around the centre and on to New Fen, where a male Red-footed Falcon had been present for several weeks.  There were plenty of Reed Warblers and a few Whitethroats singing and we also heard a single Cetti’s Warbler as we walked out to the fen.  Two Cuckoos were also observed in flight and then a third perched as we arrived at the eastern edge of New Fen.  We continued walking to the western end of the fen and soon had the male Red-footed Falcon perched in some dead trees on the edge of the wood.  We had not been there too long when it took to flight, initially covering the northern edge of the fen but it gradually came closer and was even passing over our heads on several occasions.  It was a terrific bird and I was able to get some rather nice photos of it in flight.  Whilst we stood in this area we heard a Bittern booming and there was a Grasshopper Warbler reeling nearby and we also had several views of two Reed Warblers and a single Sedge Warbler and a Hobby passed over.

Red-footed Falcon over New Fen

The falcon eventually disappeared and we continued to walk to Joist Fen, listening for a Golden Oriole on route without success.  There were plenty of singing Reed Warblers and another Cetti’s Warbler was heard.  Dave had walked head and found a Crane in a field on the other side of the river but it disappeared behind the embankment and so we went to Joist Fen viewpoint.  From here we saw a second and third male Marsh Harriers of the day and had nice, if brief views, of a male Bearded Tit carrying food and a second bittern was heard booming and two Cuckoos.

Male Marsh Harrier over Joist Fen

Whitethroat at Joist Fen

Male Bearded Tit at Joist Fen

We walked back the same way to the centre but there was still no sign of any Golden Orioles but we did hear the Grasshopper Warbler reeling again but it remained elusive.  Dave had gone on further when Roger picked up a male Marsh Harrier we had seen earlier but Ken and i the noticed something smaller approaching and recognised it as the Red-footed Falcon.  It passed right over our heads and landed in a tree between us and New Fen and allowed good views for some twenty minutes or more.

We continued back to the centre and went on to the wash land viewpoint but it was rather disappointing with very little on or over the water.

It was now just after eleven and we decided to head for Titchwell and divert to Holme if a Red-backed Shrike, present yesterday, was reported.  As there was no news of the shrike by the time we reached Kings Lynn we went across country to Titchwell, seeing a Red Kite on route, and calling at Choseley Barns where we took lunch.

There were some passerines feeding on the ground near the barns and six Corn Buntings were amongst a party of Yellowhammers.  Roger then found a Grey Partridge, which disappeared into a furrow before Dave was able to see it.  We also had a female Marsh Harrier over the fields.

Reports would suggest that it was rather quiet at Titchwell and as we began to walk out along the western path a report of a female Red-backed Shrike at Cley came through and we almost decided to go but stayed at Titchwell.  As we moved along the path two distant Marsh Harriers were observed and although the freshwater marsh was rather full of water there was a good selection of waders.  They were mainly Oystercatcher and Bar-tailed Godwits but we also saw five Black-tailed Godwits, a Knot, a couple of Grey Plovers, a Little Ringed Plover and a Dunlin.

We continued to walk towards the sea when it started to rain so Roger and I decided to go to Parrinder Hide, whilst Dave and Ken continued, although Ken soon joined Roger and I.

We stood outside the hide and had good views of the waders, which had increased and eventually held two Ringed Plover, eight Grey Plover, a Knot, several Sanderling, a Dunlin, five Black-tailed Godwits, sixty-five Bar-tailed Godwits and fifty-three Turnstones.

Bar-tailed Godwits on the freshwater marsh

Bar-tailed Godwits over the freshwater marsh

Dave rejoined us and eventually the rain stopped and we decided to continue to the sea.  On the way out we spent some time watching two Skylarks that were dust bathing on the path and allowed extremely close approach and causing a bit of a jam due to their reluctance to move.  A Little Tern also provided some excellent views and a Spoonbill flew west before landing on Thornham Marsh.

Adult Herring Gull on Volunteer Marsh

Skylark on the path

Skylark dust bathing on the path

Skylark dust bathing on the path

Skylark dust bathing on the path

Linnet on the path

Little Tern over Thornham Marsh

Little Tern over Thornham Marsh

When we eventually reached the sea I found a single Eider and Dave pointed out a female Common Scoter.  There were quite a few waders on the beach, particularly Sanderling, but there was nothing new.  Tony, who had joined us, then pointed out a massive raft of Common Scoter out towards the wind turbines and Roger then found two Gannet amongst them and we eventually saw three.

We walk back and I stopped and was trying to get photos of Swallow and House Martin, unsuccessfully when Tony said that must be a Temminck’s and sure enough not too far away a Temminck’s Stint was feeding on the edge of a tiny island.  Dave and Roger had gone on but I called Roger and they both came back and good views of the bird.  Finally a Cetti’s Warbler was heard before we got back to the car.

On route home we had a couple of Fulmar off Hunstanton cliff top, two Buzzard near Heacham and a Red Kite from the A47 just beyond the A43 roundabout.  We then had our third Red Kite of the day near Morcott and a Sparrowhawk over Uppingham.

A day's birding in Leicestershire & Rutland - May 21, 2013

I drove to Eye Brook Reservoir and had a Barn Owl between Kibworth and Tur Langton as it hunted along the roadside before disappearing over a hedge.  It was very close to the area where I had seen it, or another, on March 28^th.  I also saw a Little Owl near Slawston, which was my first sighting in this area since January 9^th.

It was very quiet at Eye Brook Reservoir and there was no mud even around the edges today.  There was a single Shelduck and eight Common Terns present and a good number of Swift and hirundines, mainly House Martins with a few Swallows.  The only warbler I saw was a Whitethroat but I did hear another Whitethroat as well as a couple of Willow Warblers and Blackcaps.

From Eye Brook Reservoir I went to the north arm at Rutland Water where it was also very quiet and the wind was now quiet fresh and very cold.  There were seven Shelduck and three Common Terns but very little else with water being almost devoid of birds.

I went to Egleton Reserve and walked to plover hide on lagoon four but found very little, a single Little Ringed Plover and eight Ringed Plovers being the best.  There were a few Common Terns present and I noticed that they several more were flying over and on looking found two first-summer Little Gulls amongst them.  I eventually moved off to the new Bittern hide where there were eighteen Common Terns feeding over the lagoon and these were joined by the two Little Gulls.

Little Egret from bittern hide

Little Egret from bittern hide

Little Egret from bittern hide

From bittern hide I went to osprey hide on lagoon three where I had good views of a Sedge Warbler but very little else, although I did hear a Cuckoo.

Sedge Warbler from osprey hide

I walked back to the centre and a brief look on lagoon one produced nothing but two distant Osprey.  I had seen or heard Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler an Reed Warblers and there were plenty of Swift over the reserve but did appear to very quiet.  I had my lunch before deciding to walk the other way this afternoon as it did appear to be a little warmer with a abating wind.

I walked to snipe hide on the wet meadow and then on to fieldfare hide before returning to harrier hide on lagoon one.  Other than more Shelduck, Common Terns and warblers nothing of note was seen.  A Hobby was then noted sitting on a post not too far from harrier hide after which it performed over lagoon one for some time.

Swift from snipe hide

Orange Tip from fieldfare hide

Orange Tip from fieldfare hide

Orange Tip from fieldfare hide

Hobby from harrier hide

I walked to tern hide and then pintail hide on lagoon six where there is a substantial Black-headed Gull colony on the island with a few Common Terns and an Oystercatcher but there was no sign of last week’s Little Ringed Plovers or Redshanks.

Oystercatcher on lagoon six

Cuckoo Flower on Lax Hill

European Hare around lagoon six

As I walked past lagoon eight towards the 360° hide a saw two Oystercatcher and a single Common Tern on the lagoon.  I continued past the 360° hide and went on to shelduck hide on lagoon six.  I checked out lagoon seven before entering the hide and counted sixteen Common Terns on one of the islands, which they will hopefully nest on.  With nothing of note from the shelduck hide and went to the 360° where there were two Redshanks and a heard a Little Ringed Plover on a couple of occasions but couldn’t locate it.  There were a number of Common Terns feeding over the lagoon and some provided good photo opportunities.

I called at snipe hide on the way back to the centre where I found a pair of Wigeon and being told that a Short-eared Owl had been seen near fieldfare hide and lagoon five I decided to go into mallard hide on lagoon one.  All I saw was my only Shoveler, a drake, of the day but there were no further sighting of the owl.

Common Tern over lagoon five

Common Tern over lagoon five

Common Tern over lagoon five

It had been a fairly quiet day, particularly for mid-May but it did provide several photo opportunities.