An early morning moth trapping in Wigston Magna, Leicestershire - September 28, 2014

With the forecast predicting a warm and cloudy night I decided to put the moth trap out.  I caught fifty-one moths of fifteen species and two, Beaded Chestnut and Pale Mottled Willow, were new for the year and the garden.

The following were recorded: Light Brown Apple Moth [11]; Garden Rose Tortrix [2]; Common Marbled Carpet [4]; Dusky Thorn [1]; Shuttle-shaped Dart [3]; Large Yellow Underwing [3]; Lesser Yellow Underwing [1]; Setaceous Hebrew Character [1]; Square-spot Rustic [1]; Beaded Chestnut [4]; Centre Barred Sallow [1]; Lunar Underwing [16]; Angle Shades [1]; Vine’s Rustic [1] and Pale Mottled Willow [1].

A day in Leicestershire & Rutland - September 27, 2014

I picked Roger up and we went to Dean’s Lane in the hope that there was some visible migration.  We arrived just after 07:00 and Steve arrived a few minutes later and it soon became clear that there were plenty of Meadow Pipits moving and by the time we left Steve had counted close to a thousand.  There was also a large concentration of hirundines feeding over one of the woods to the north and these eventually moved off south and were primarily House Martins.  There were also ten Jays moving north and three Skylarks, twenty Swallows, ten alba wagtails, a few Chaffinch, a Siskin and two Lesser Redpoll moving south.  A single Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, a Kestrel, at least three Great Spotted Woodpeckers, two Ravens and two Nuthatches were observed and we also heard a third Raven and a Treecreeper.  It went quiet just before 10:00 and Roger and I headed off to Rutland Water.

We went straight to the north arm and the fishponds at Rutland Water as there had been a drake Ring-necked Duck seen twice this week, including yesterday.  There were two Great Spotted Woodpeckers near the cottage as we arrived and there were a lot of birds in the fishponds and in particularly Tufted Ducks, with most of them roosting.  Tim and two other birders joined us but we were unable to locate the Ring-necked Duck and Roger and I eventually went to look in the north arm.  There were fewer birds on the water and very few diving ducks and again there was no sign of the Ring-necked.  We did find four Ringed Plovers, two Dunlin, a Ruff and a Greenshank and three Barnacle Geese had returned also there were four Little Egrets between the fishponds and the north arm.  After some lunch we gave the fishponds another go for the duck but with the same outcome.

When we reached the centre Ken called to say there were three Greenshanks and a Stonechat from Shoveler hide on lagoon three and so we set off there first.

The hide was pretty full when we arrived but the Stonechat was still present but there was now only a single Greenshank although a second returned along with two Green Sandpipers and there were at least ten Snipe.  The wildfowl numbers were fewer than in previous weeks although Roger found a drake Scaup but other than a single Pintail there was nothing else of note.  A Hobby was observed perched at the top of one of the trees behind the reedbed, where it spent a considerable amount of time and a Water Rail gave brief views just to the right of the hide.  With news of a Little Gull on lagoon four we went to Dunlin hide to try and locate it.

Juvenile Greenshank

Juvenile Greenshank

Juvenile Greenshank

There were plenty of gulls, mainly Black-headed but there was also Common, Lesser Black-backed, Herring, Great Black-backed and three Yellow-legged but there was no sign of the Little Gull.  We also located two Ruff and two more Greenshanks.

We found a single Chiffchaff as we walked back to the centre and there was a Black-tailed Godwit, a Curlew and a Common Sandpiper on lagoon one and a second Hobby briefly over lagoon two.  There was also a female Stonechat in front of the centre which I saw briefly but it then disappeared and we couldn’t re-find it.  With little else in evidence we finally called it a day and headed off home but not before seeing two Grey Wagtails near the stream on the edge of the car park.

A morning in Leicestershire - September 25, 2014

Dave and I made a visit to Dean’s Lane in the hope of seeing some visible migration.  On arrival Steve was already there and said “I wouldn’t bother getting out of the car”, apparently it was pretty quiet.  We stayed about two hours and had over 150 Meadow Pipits, twenty-two Linnets, twenty-one Swallows and forty-two House Martins, although we weren’t sure if the House Martins were actual migrants or local birds.  Twelve Jays also flew north and it looks as though there might be another irruption.  During our stay we also had three Sparrowhawks, five Buzzards, two Kestrel, at least three Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Raven and a Nuthatch and heard a Chiffchaff and a Treecreeper.

From Dean’s Lane we drove the short distance to Blackbrook Reservoir.  As we walked down the track to the reservoir it was pretty quiet although we heard a Green Woodpecker and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over.  On reaching the reservoir the water was pretty low and there were several Little Grebes around the bridge.  We counted thirty-seven Mandarins, mainly on the southern shore with just a few on the northern shore.  Five Swallows over the water were the only birds of note.

Our next stop was Swithland Reservoir and we stopped on causeway first where we had a Buzzard and plenty of wildfowl, which were mainly Wigeon.  The northern side was rather low and we eventually found a female-type Goldeneye.  There was also three Buzzards over Buddon Wood and two Jay flew over.

A day in Leicestershire & Rutland - September 23, 2014

I drove to the southern end of Eyebrook Reservoir first today where the light was superb.  There were a few common passerines and several Red-legged Partridge but nothing of real note.  There were fifty Cormorants resting and preening on the islands but other than a few Teal and Mallard and a single Grey Heron there was nothing else.  At the inlet, the only waders I could find were Lapwing and a couple of Snipe and I could only find seven Pintail today.  Again there was some common passerine activity with several Meadow Pipits being the best.  The cloud rolled in whilst I was here and shortly afterwards I saw a single Red Kite and a Kestrel.

I decided to visit the north arm at Rutland Water and saw circa fifteen Swallow as I drove through Egleton.  There were lots of wildfowl and Coots in the north arm but I could only find a single Pintail, although many distant birds were roosting and they could have been more.  There were at least twenty-six Little Grebes spread out amongst the wildfowl and a single Greenshank was observed in flight.  There was a single Red Kite briefly over Burley Wood and while watching this I saw four Skylarks heading west.

Tufted Duck over the north arm

Coot in the north arm

Great Black-backed Gull in the north arm

On arrival at Egleton I spoke to Bob who I had not seen for several weeks and he said he might have had a juvenile Scaup on lagoon four.  I therefore headed off to sandpiper hide on lagoon four and found the possible Scaup straight away.  It looked possible and so I took a photo but it then drifted off and eventually went to sleep.  Whilst it was roosting there appeared to be a short tuft and it was then joined by two other Athya ducks that looked quite similar and eventually came to the conclusion that they were immature Tufted Ducks.  There were two Pintail close to the Tufted Duck and a third was found close to island four and a Ruff and Greenshank were quite mobile around the lagoon.  Bob then returned and we briefly discussed the presumed immature Tufted Duck before he re-found two Ringed Plovers, a Dunlin and a second Ruff that he had seen earlier.

Presumed juvenile Tufted Duck

Bob and I started to scan Burley Wood and were joined by Mike and Brian.  We found several Buzzards, a Red Kite, a couple of Sparrowhawks, two Hobbies, a Kestrel and a Raven and Bob had seen a Peregrine earlier.

We all eventually called it a day and I went back to the car park for lunch.  After lunch I went into the centre but other than a single Pintail and three Little Egrets there was little.  I noticed a couple of Hobby feeding quite close to Redshank hide on lagoon two and decided to go and hope they were still there.  On arrival there was no sign but there was one over Brown’s Island at the back of lagoon one.  I moved onto grebe hide on lagoon two where there were a couple of Pintail and a Greenshank and the Hobby was still visible over Brown’s Island.  A second Hobby then appeared much closer but flew behind the hide and disappeared.

I continued on to shoveler hide on lagoon three but there was very little close to the hide as there had been a working party there this morning.  However they had now finished and birds were slowly returned, although two Green Sandpipers flew off towards lagoon two.  As I was setting my scope up to view the wildfowl at the back of the lagoon I heard a Grey Plover call.  I sat down to look out of the flaps not really expecting to find it and it called again and as I scanned the sky I found not one but seven flying over the lagoon to the west.  They continued over towards lagoon four and I called Steve to see where he was as I thought they might come down on lagoon four.  He was at the bottom of the ramp leading to sandpiper hide and had heard them but couldn’t see them.  At this time I could still see them but they had gone beyond lagoon four and were still heading west and not looking as if they would come down.  This was certainly the most I had seen in the counties but fell well short of the record of twenty-one here in 1982.  I then picked up a Marsh Harrier low over the reedbed, which was immediately mobbed by two Hobbies and dropped back into the reeds.  I did notice the green wing-tags and it was therefore the juvenile from Norfolk, which had now been present since at least the 8^th.  Presumably the two Hobbies were the same I had seen several times throughout the day and were just very active feeding on the abundance of dragonflies.  A Snipe also dropped in and two Green Sandpipers returned.  A Little Egret then provided some entertainment when it caught a rather large perch, which looked too big for it to swallow.  However after quite some time it did manage to succeed and the fish could be seen stuck in its neck.  The bugle soon disappeared and after a several sips of water in carried on feeding.

Little Egret with Perch

Little Egret showing neck bulge after swallowing the Perch

Juvenile Hobby over lagoon three

Steve then joined me in the hide and just after he heard a Water Rail I found it just to the right of the hide in the base of the reeds.

Steve and I then went to Lapwing hide where he found three Goldeneye, which were my first of the autumn.

There was then a message regarding a Stonechat in front of Mallard hide on lagoon one and so I decided to go and have look before I went home.  On arrival there was no sign and it didn’t appear in the thirty minutes I spent in the hide but I did find six Pintail on the lagoon.

A day in East Yorkshire - September 21, 2014

Dave, Ken, Roger and I set of for Spurn at around 07:15 in the hope that yesterday’s Masked Shrike was still at Kilnsea.  We hadn't gone too far when we received a message that it was still there and we continued hoping for a new bird.

On arrival there were lots of birders scattered around and after parking we joined a few birders in the car park looking towards Rose Cottage.  We were soon on the shrike but it was pretty distant and so we decided to go to the sea wall to see if we could get any closer.  There were plenty of birders along Easington Road and I saw a single Chiffchaff, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Whinchat and Ken had a Red-breasted Flycatcher.  As we walked along the sea wall we had another two Whinchat and a Stonechat and although we could see the shrike the views were no better then before.  We could see a crowd developing inside a field off Easington Road and it was obvious that they were a lot closer.  We started to walk back seeing the Red-breasted Flycatcher on route and there was a ring-tailed Hen Harrier flying over the estuary.  As we walked towards the field I had further views of the Red-breasted Flycatcher and on reaching the field entrance it was difficult to gain access.  I managed to get in a position where and could see the shrike quite close in the hedgerow.  I fired off a few shots but it wasn't easy and most were unacceptable being out of focus.  Eventually the bird started moving further down the field and I moved further into the area where access had been arranged.

From my new position was able to view the bird through the scope and had some excellent views.  I eventually joined the others a little further on and the bird started to move back closer along the hedgerow.  Whilst it was a little further away I mounted my camera on my tripod and took another couple of shots, which turned out to be reasonable record shots.  It eventually went back down the hedge and Dave, Roger and I went to view the sea.

Masked Shrike

The sea was, perhaps surprisingly, very quiet and after about ten minutes we decided to go and have some lunch.  As we walked back we saw some other Leicestershire birders and stopped for a chat and whilst doing so Roger picked up a Red-throated Diver over the sea.

As we were having our lunch we could see a crowd on the sea wall suddenly get quite active and we assumed that the Olive-backed pipit had been seen.  A few minutes later Dave, Roger and I set off to join them whilst Ken went for further views of the shrike.  When we reached the birders, the pipit had been seen and was now apparently somewhere amongst some small bushes.  A birder who was obviously local decided to go close to the edge of the bushes to try and flush it, which succeeded in moving it into a small bush and some birders managed to get on it before it returned to the larger bush.  After a few minutes they tried again and this time it flew out and went away towards the field.  Dave had seen it drop into a small bush on the other side of the dyke and I was able to get alongside him and see the bird briefly before it dropped out of sight.  Although the views were quite brief I did see the facial pattern and the nice olive upperparts.  It was now in an area that was not accessible and it wasn’t seen again.

We walked back to the hide on canal scrape where I had really poor views of a Jack Snipe before we headed off to have another look at the sea.  We spent the last half-an-hour watching the sea and had a Sooty and Manx Shearwater and several Gannets.  Several distant skuas and auks were observed but they were too distant to be certain of their identity.  As we walked back to the road we had a Whinchat, Stonechat and a Wheatear all perched closely together on fence.

It had been an excellent days birding and as we drove back I was able to get the City’s score, which wasn’t good news as they were losing 3-1 to Man United at home.  I got some grief from the others in terms of spoiling their day.  On checking a few minutes later it was 3-2 and shortly afterwards 3-3.  I mange some comment that the win was now on and on checking again it was 4-3 to the City.  Ken wouldn’t believe and I had to show him the score on the phone and few minutes later my wife called to ask if had seen the score and I said yes they were winning 4-3 but she no they have now got a fifth and the game finished 5-3.  What a day, a new bird and a magnificent win for the City.

A day in Leicestershire & Rutland - September 20, 2014

Dave, Roger and I set for Eyebrook Reservoir at around 07:30 and arrived just after 08:00.  The Little Owl was in the old oak as we arrived but it managed to elude me as it dropped into the foliage and didn’t reappear.  At the inlet we found a single Curlew Sandpiper, a couple of Dunlin and a single Curlew but the Curlew flew off just after we arrived.  There were four adult Shelduck, which had arrived since my last visit and I counted twelve Pintail.  We had seen a Red Kite whilst looking for the Little Owl and what was presumably the same bird was observed quartering the fields on the Leicestershire bank.  A Buzzard was seen perching on some vegetation on the edge of a field attempting to catch one of the many Pheasants released for shooting.

We eventually moved onto to the north arm at Rutland Water when news broke of a Masked Shrike at Spurn.  We considered going but both Roger and Dave needed to be home early and in all probability we would have only an hour on site and therefore decided we would go tomorrow.

On reaching the north arm the weather was still pretty grim with a cool northerly wind and swirling mist.  There was an adult Little Gull feeding over the water and we found five Pintail and three Red-crested Pochard amongst the mass of wildfowl and Coot.  There were a couple of Ruff, a Snipe and a Greenshank on the north shore and a Common Sandpiper and two more Greenshank were observed in flight over the southern shore.  There were two Little Egrets on the north shore and we saw Hobby and a Great Spotted Woodpecker in flight.

On reaching the Egleton Reserve we went into the centre and spent an hour looking over lagoon one.  It was fairly quiet but we did find three Pintail, two Ruff and a Black-tailed Godwit and a Kingfisher performed just in front of the centre.

After some lunch we headed off to Lapwing hide where there had been two Goldeneye yesterday but there was no sign today, although we did find two more Pintail and another eight were visible on lagoon two, where there was also a couple of Green Sandpipers and a Greenshank.

From Shoveler hide on lagoon three there was another Ruff, five Snipe and four Green Sandpipers but all we found amongst the mass of commoner wildfowl was a single Pintail.  I did pick up a single Water Rail on the edge of the reed island but it soon disappeared.

Ken had now joined us and he had seen a Little Stint close to plover hide and so we went to take a look.  There was very little on the island in front of the hide but Roger found the Little Stint and three Ringed Plovers on island one, which were rather distant and we also found another five Ruff before moving to sandpiper hide.  Whilst in the hide we found an adult Shelduck and a Green Woodpecker flew from the left going behind the hide, which Roger then located on one of the posts along the entrance track to the hide.  As I checked my phone for an update on the shrike there was another message of a Jack Snipe from snipe hide on the wet meadow.

It is quite a walk from sandpiper to snipe hide and on getting there we could only find three Snipe and ten Golden Plovers flew over.  A Kingfisher also paid a visit perching on bushes on the far side of the flash.  Another birder then entered the hide who had seen the Jack Snipe earlier and we had not been looking in the right place but unfortunately now having the right location it was not easy to see the area, although it wasn’t visible anyway.  We tried from harrier hide but again with no success although we had a second Hobby as we walked along the track.

An early morning moth trapping in Wigston Magna, Leicestershire - September 19, 2014

The moth trap was out again last night and I trapped and identified seventy-seven moths of sixteen species, one of which, Lunar Underwing, was new for garden and the year.

The following were recorded: Light Brown Apple Moth [4]; Garden Rose Tortrix [1]; Small Dusty Wave [1]; Brimstone Moth [2]; Canary-shouldered Thorn [1]; Shuttle-shaped Dart [1]; Flame Shoulder [1]; Large Yellow Underwing [22]; Lesser Yellow Underwing [16]; Setaceous Hebrew Character [6]; Square-spot Rustic [1]; Lunar Underwing [1]; Angle Shades [1]; Vine's Rustic [2]; Burnished Brass [1] and The Snout [1].

Small Dusty Wave

Lunar Underwing

Lunar Underwing

Lunar Underwing

A day in West Norfolk - September 17, 2014

Roger, Steve and I set off for West Norfolk at 06:30 in the hope of seeing some scarce migrants.  There had been a number of desired species along the coast yesterday and we felt we should start at Burnham Overy Staithe as there were several good birds yesterday.  We arrived at the harbour car park at around 09:45 although there was as yet no news regarding any of yesterday’s birds.  There was a light north east breeze and it was quite murky and even drizzled at times as the mist swirled around.

As we walked along the sea wall Steve picked up some Grey Partridge in the first field and it wasn’t too long afterwards when what we thought might be a Willow Warbler was heard calling in the hedge.  After some time looking for the bird we eventually saw it and it turned out to be a Redstart, although it was pretty illusive.  A Sparrowhawk then flew low over the field and a Marsh Harrier and seventeen Little Egrets were observed over the marsh.  It was low tide and there were quite a few waders feeding on the exposed mud but they turned out to be virtually all Redshank with an odd Curlew amongst them.  As we approached the bend close to the large pool there was a Kestrel and we had at least three Marsh Harrier to the east, one of which showing green wing-tags similar to the bird seen yesterday at Rutland Water and was possibly from the same brood.

There were sixteen Black-tailed Godwits feeding on the large pool and several more Redshanks and Steve picked up two Snipe and then two Bearded Tits feeding at the base of the distant reeds.  A Black-necked Grebe was on the lagoon and a single Greenshank was also present.

We continued along the bank seeing a Wheatear on a fence post just before we turned and headed out to the dunes.  As we approached the bushes on the right of the boardwalk we found a Lesser Whitethroat and a Garden Warbler and another birder drew our attention to a Pied Flycatcher.  We could see the apple tree that the Yellow-browed Warbler had been reported and then noticed some birder activity just beyond it.  We quickly joined them expecting to see the Yellow-browed but they were watching a Red-breasted Flycatcher, which was most likely a newly arrived bird.

Wheatear

Wheatear

Wheatear

We continued to watch the Red-breasted Flycatcher as it fed from the wired fence and also seeing another Wheatear.  Another birder was then observed taking photos and on joining him we had nice views of a bright Yellow-browed Warbler as it fed at the top of the bushes.  News then percolated through that the Barred Warbler was still present and had been seen in the rose bush about 400 meters into the dunes.

We decided to give it a go but as we walked out towards Holkham it soon became obvious that others looking for it were unsure of its location.  As we were trying to find the appropriate rose bush a ring-tailed Hen Harrier made an appearance and three Siskin flew over.  I obtained some information from two other birders that it was being looked for yesterday further down the track and so we walked back towards the boardwalk.  As Roger and I were looking on the other side of the fence, which is where Dave had seen it earlier in the week, Steve said he thought he had it.  We turned around and he gave us directions saying it was still there.  I looked and saw some movement and managed to get my scope on the bird and yes it was the Barred Warbler, well done Steve.  However, not surprisingly it dropped and seemed to move behind the rose bush out of sight.  We walked around the other side to join another couple of birders and after a few minutes we saw it fly back close to where we had first seen it but it dropped out of sight.  Steve then re-found it and Roger managed to get his scope on it before it disappeared again.  Roger later found it in the same area and was also then able to get it in the scope as did Steve but again it dropped out of sight.  A few minutes later it flew further left and Roger eventually got on it and I also picked it up again and watched it as it fed on some berries.  The Hen Harrier also put in another appearance whilst we were looking for the Barred Warbler.  Quite a crowd had formed and most had still not seen it but we decided to head back for some lunch.

As we walked back to the boardwalk we saw another couple of Wheatear and on approached the apple tree there was quiet a crowd and although we didn’t see the Yellow-browed Warbler again we did have further views of a Red-breasted Flycatcher, apparently there were now two, the Pied Flycatcher, two Garden Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Whitethroat.

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

Red-breasted Flycatcher

Red-breasted Flycatcher

There were now more waders in the harbour as the tide rose and there were two Grey Plover, five Knot and seven Turnstone as well as plenty of Curlews and Redshanks. After some lunch and with no further news we felt Titchwell was the best option.

The weather was still pretty much the same with a swirling mist and occasional drizzle as we made our way down the west bank.  There was very little on either the Thornham or the Reedbed Pools although we did hear and see a Cetti’s Warbler in flight.  As we approached the island hide it started to drizzle and so we entered the hide to take shelter.  There were seven Little Stints and two Curlew Sandpipers feeding amongst several Ruff and there were two Spotted Redshanks, one being quite close to the hide.  I had left my camera in the boot of the car but was now regretting it and eventually I cracked and walked back to get it.  The round trip took me almost twenty minutes but the Spotted Redshank was still present when I got back and I had seen a fly over Yellow Wagtail on my way back to the hide.

Adult male Ruff

Spotted Redshank

Spotted Redshank

Spotted Redshank

There was a small mixed party of Ringed Plovers and Dunlin as well as four Bar-tailed Godwits on the fresh marsh, although surprisingly we couldn’t find any Pintail amongst the wildfowl.  We eventually moved on towards the beach seeing more Ruff and a third Spotted Redshank on the fresh marsh and also a fly over second-winter Mediterranean Gull.  The channel on Volunteer Marsh contained numerous Redshank and both Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits as well as a Knot and a Turnstone.  There were more Black-tailed Godwits on the Tidal Marsh but other than a Little Egret very little else.

On reaching the beach the tide was beginning to go out and there were few waders with just a few Oystercatchers and a dozen Sanderling.  Steve found a nine Common Scoters and six Eiders and we all eventually managed to see at least one Great Crested Grebe.  The mist was still swirling around and viewing was not easy but it did seem very quiet, although seven Gannets flew east during one period when the visibility improved.  There was also a couple of Sandwich Terns and a single Common Tern observed off shore and six Knot landed on the shoreline.  Twenty Swallows were observed over the beach and at least three Wheatears were observed and were all perhaps signs of visible migration.

As we walked back there was another Wheatear on the edge of Volunteer Marsh, again perhaps suggesting birds were arriving.  Further scanning of the Fresh Marsh did produce a Whinchat and another Yellow Wagtail and there were five Golden Plover on one of the spits.  There were two female-type Red-crested Pochard along with a Pochard on the Reedbed Pool as we walked back and we could hear a Water Rail calling.  With the weather getting no better we left Titchwell at 17:20 but called at Choseley Barns on the way home.  We found a single Red-legged Partridge and four Grey Partridge and two Marsh Harriers, one being a male, quartered the fields.

On route home I had added three species new for the day, Common Gull, Stock Dove and Jay, which took my daily tally to 105.  It had been an exceptional day’s birding with a good selection of birds, including some nice scarce migrants.

A day in Leicestershire & Rutland - September 16, 2014

I was out a little later today due to the foggy conditions and only left as the sun began to shine.  However on route to Eyebrook Reservoir the fog thickened again and was very slow to clear at the reservoir.

Initially I went to the first cattle pen to view the inlet but could see very little although eventually found a couple of Shelduck and eight Pintail.  With no sign of any waders I drove to the southern end to view the island but other than a couple of Little Egrets and a Yellow-legged Gull there was very little.  I counted over a hundred Red-legged Partridge, which have been released for shooting, along the road and in the fields.  As the fog began to clear I went to the Rutland bank to view the inlet.  There were a couple of juvenile Curlew Sandpipers and a Snipe feeding in the stream and I eventually found three more Snipe and three Dunlin and a Green Woodpecker flew over the road.

With visibility still not perfect I decided to go to the Egleton Reserve at Rutland Water.  It was about 11:30 when I arrived in the car park and I went to the centre to observe lagoon one before I took my lunch.  One of the first birds I saw was a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper in the company of a single Dunlin.  There was also four Ruff, two Black-tailed Godwits and a Green Sandpiper and a Kingfisher made a brief visit.  Scanning through the wildfowl I found a single Pintail and there were seven Little Egrets on the lagoon.

Whilst having lunch I had a Kestrel over the car park and a distant Sparrowhawk over Brown’s Island.  I went back to the centre after lunch but there was no sign of the Curlew Sandpiper or Dunlin, apparently the Sparrowhawk had flushed everything and they had not returned.  Ken joined me in the centre and we then went to shoveler hide on lagoon three.  There were two Snipe and three Green Sandpipers to the left of the hide and masses of wildfowl.  Scanning the wildfowl I found a couple of Pintail but there was no sign of the recent Red-crested Pochard.  A couple of Hobbies were observed over the northern edge of the lagoon, a distant Sparrowhawk over the north arm and a juvenile Marsh Harrier flew over the lagoon before alighting in the reedbed.  The Marsh Harrier had green-wing tags on both wings and apparently it had been raised somewhere near Holkham, Norfolk.

Green Sandpiper

Green Sandpiper

Juvenile Hobby

Having exhausted lagoon three we moved to sandpiper hide on lagoon four.  There was a Little Ringed Plover on the first area of mud in front of the hide and a Ruff and Greenshank were also observed on more distant areas.  Whilst in the hide an adult male Peregrine flew over and I saw a distant Red Kite and Buzzard.

Male Peregrine

A further visit to the centre failed to add anything new for the day and I eventually called it a day and headed off home, looking forward to a day in Norfolk with Roger and Steve tomorrow.

A day in Leicestershire & Lincolnshire - September 13, 2014

Roger and I went to Burrough Hill in Leicestershire which can be a good during migration.  We set off from the car park seeing several Tree Sparrows on the feeders alongside Blue, Great and Coal Tit.  The fog was swirling around quite a bit and it appeared very quiet bird wise as we walked down one of the footpaths to the bottom of the hill.  When we reached the bottom it was still very quiet but we eventually found a couple of Chiffchaffs, a Whitethroat and a Goldcrest.  We found a third Chiffchaff as we approached the wood before we scrambled up the steep bank to the top.  The fog was now clearing and the sun was making an effort to emerge and several Blackbirds flew out of the grasses just above the scrub and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over.  Roger then found a Spotted Flycatcher and more Blackbirds emerged.  We stood and looked down into the scrub on the western edge seeing more Blackbird, a couple of Song Thrushes, Blue and Great Tits, another Spotted Flycatcher, two more Chiffchaffs and two male and three female Blackcaps and several Swallows suddenly appeared and began feeding over the hill.  As we started to walk back across the top we flushed four Meadow Pipits and seven Skylarks flew over, which were the first I had seen since the end of July.  There were now clearly more birds feeding along the track to the car park, mainly Chaffinch and House Sparrows but there was also several tits, Tree Sparrows and a single Yellowhammer and we also found a Treecreeper.

On reaching the car park, I called Erik and Ken, as we were going to meet them in the Egleton car park and head off to Frampton Marsh in Lincolnshire.

We arrived at Frampton just before midday and after some lunch we set off towards the east hide.  There were several Ruff and a couple of Black-tailed Godwits on the first lagoon but otherwise it was a bit quiet.  As we started to walk along the track on the northern edge of the reserve there were clearly fewer waders than when Dave and I were here on the 3^rd but we did find a Ringed Plover, ten juvenile Little Stints and a couple of juvenile Curlew Sandpipers.  When we reached the east hide the Pectoral Sandpiper had disappeared and hadn’t been seen for a while.  We settled down and began scanning the area in front of the hide.  There was another Little Stint, two more Curlew Sandpipers, four Dunlin, and several Black-tailed Godwits along with five Avocets.  There were also several Pintail and Shelduck amongst the more common wildfowl but there was no sign of the Pectoral Sandpiper.  There were also fewer passerines around the hide with just and odd Pied Wagtail and several Linnets.  I suddenly noticed a Little Ringed Plover to the left which then flew and landed on the other side of the hide.  Roger and I both followed it as it flew and then Roger noticed another wader close to where it had landed, which was one of the two reported Pectoral Sandpipers.  Having been so elusive it then provided some nice views and remained despite an immature Peregrine flying over when both it and the Little Ringed Plover crouched close to the ground.

Pintail

Juvenile Peregrine

Curlew Sandpiper

Curlew Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper

Meadow Pipit

After some discussion we decided to walk back along the sea wall and complete the circuit.  There was more water on the salt marsh and there had clearly been a high tide but other than a few Little Egrets, a single Pied Wagtail and several Meadow Pipits there was little else.

As we walked along the bank Erik found a couple of Brent Geese on the fresh marsh and then he found another four on the salt marsh.  I then picked a Spoonbill that was feeding on one of the small pools and Roger then noticed the Glossy Ibis in the larger pool that was quiet close to the path.  We were able to watch the ibis at a reasonable distance and even took some photos before it flew into one of the channels.  When the sun caught the plumage it looked remarkably green on the upperparts.  We scanned one of the lagoons as we walked back to the centre and found four more Little Stints with several Dunlin but saw little else before we departed.

Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis

Golden Plover

Juvenile Black-tailed Godwit