A day in Leicestershire & Rutland and Northamptonshire - April 19, 2016

Malcolm had informed me yesterday of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker that was performing quite well yesterday at Lings Wood in Northampton and as it is a species that is quite difficult to see these days I decided to go and take a look.

I left home quite early to ensure to give myself the best chance of seeing the bird and arrived in the car park at around 07:00.  The bird could be heard drumming from the car park yesterday but there was no sign when I got out of the car and put on an extra level of clothing.  There was quite a bit of song that included a Chiffchaff and a Nuthatch but the woodpecker was still silent after about ten minutes and I began to wonder if it was going to perform today.  However it suddenly began drumming and on scanning the tree I thought it was in I couldn’t locate it and moved a little closer until I appeared to be right under the tree where it was drumming but I still couldn’t find it.  I knew it took Malcolm almost an hour yesterday to find it and so I gave him a call.  He described the branch it was drumming on yesterday, which I located but still couldn’t see it but then I saw some movement and after moving back from the tree had good views of a male sitting on the top of the branch it was drumming on.  The branch was almost horizontal and consequently by getting too close to the tree it was out of sight and I suppose I was focusing more on vertical type branches.

I went back to the car to get my scope and whilst I was trying to get the scope on the bird I noticed a bird fly in and the Lesser Spotted fly off.  The new arrival was a Great Spotted Woodpecker, which began to drum on the same branch.  It didn’t stay too long and the Lesser Spotted soon returned to continue drumming.  I managed to get a few shots of the bird without disturbing it and when I left it was still drumming almost constantly.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Malcolm had also heard that there was a Cuckoo back at Great Easton and so as it was on the way to Rutland Water I called in there in the hope of getting my first Cuckoo of the year.

When I arrived Malcolm was already there and was a good way down the footpath and so I set off after him.  He called to say don’t rush as I haven't seen or heard a Cuckoo, however when I eventually caught up with at the end of the path he had heard one but it was rather distant.  We hung around at the end of the path for a while but with no further sign of the Cuckoo we made our way back along the track.  The area is quite good for warblers and we did see or hear two Chiffchaff, six Willow Warbler and a couple of Lesser Whitethroats but I was surprised not to have any contact with Blackcap or Whitethroat, which would suggest that there hopefully more to arrive.  We also found a couple of Marsh Tits with one providing good views and initially I thought they might be Willow Tits as one was very drab, particularly on the underparts.  However after confirming that they were Marsh Tits we realised that the underparts were probably coated in the pollen from the catkins they were feeding amongst.  As we got back to the cars we had a Red Kite and a Buzzard soaring just to the north of the footpath.

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Malcolm was going to call at Eyebrook Reservoir but I was heading straight to Rutland Water but called Bob to see if he was there and if so what had he seen.  He was there but hadn’t seen anything of note in the North Arm and I said I would probably catch up with him on the Egleton Reserve.

When I arrived in the car park Bob’s car was there but he had obviously gone on and I went to the centre to see what was in the book.  Stephen was volunteering today had been down to Lagoon Four earlier and had seen three Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper and a Wheatear and so I set off in that direction.

As I approached the hide two Ospreys were soaring high just to the south and a third bird then flew low over the hide and headed off south before soaring close to the other two birds.  When I entered Sandpiper hide Bob was there and indicated that he had seen a Greenshank with a Redshank at the back of the lagoon.  I soon found the bird, which was the first of the year for Rutland Water and obviously a patch-tick but also a year-tick.  The Redshank was still there and there were also six Ringed Plovers and eight Dunlin.  I then located the three Whimbrel feeding on the west bank and Bob found a male Wheatear on the same bank.  There was also five Common Terns resting near island ten and there were three pairs of Oystercatcher on different islands and a forth Osprey was still on the nest with a single Yellow Wagtail making a brief visit to island ten.  As we scanned Burley Wood we located a Red Kite, six Sparrowhawk, at least ten Buzzards, yet another Osprey and a Raven.

Bob had heard a Lesser Whitethroat singing towards Dunlin Hide and as I still haven’t seen one we went to search for it.  As we walked towards Dunlin Hide it sang again and we then saw it perched nicely at the top of one of the bushes alongside a Willow Warbler.

A visit to Shoveler Hide on Lagoon Three produced very little, except for three more Common Terns and I went to check South Arm Three from Lapwing Hide.  As I walked along the track I could hear a Reed Warbler singing and managed to get brief views whilst in was in a small bush.  When I reached Lapwing Hide the water was almost like a mill pond but there were few birds on the water and all I found of note were two more Common Terns.

As I made my way back to the centre I had brief views of a Sedge Warbler and some rather nice views of a Blackcap as it sang from the top of a tree alongside the path.  I little further along I found Bob taking it easy resting on one of the benches and we then continued on to the centre together.

When I reached the car park Stephen had finished his volunteering shift and after a brief chat was on his way back to Lagoon Four in search of the Yellow Wagtail.  Ken had also arrived and after lunch he and I set off towards the southern lagoons.

We stooped on a couple of occasions to observe a Willow Warbler and a Chiffchaff  and as we were alongside Lagoon Five bund I heard an Avocet calling and saw it briefly as it passed in front of heading south.  On reaching Snipe Hide overlooking the Wet Meadow we found a couple of Pintail and several Shoveler on the flash and there were two Oystercatchers just to the left of the hide and a single Little Egret.

We moved onto Harrier Hide seeing another Willow Warbler on route but we found nothing new from the hide and continued on to Fieldfare Hide.  As I scanned a small group of Tufted Duck diving to the right of the hide I found a female Scaup and then Ken noticed that there were actually two amongst the Tufted.

We walked back to Tern Hide on Lagoon Six where we found a couple of Oystercatchers and three Redshanks with another Osprey flying over the hide and then presumably it was the same one returning a few minutes later.

Osprey over Lagoon Six

As we passed Lagoon Eight there was another pair of Oystercatchers on one of the islands, which were possibly nesting but there was little else on the lagoon.  We did our best to check out Lagoon Seven where we found a Green Sandpiper and another two Oystercatchers and from Shelduck Hide on Lagoon Five we found another three Redshanks.

As we were walking back to the centre an Osprey flew over again, which was presumably the bird we had seen over Lagoon Six earlier.

Osprey over path between Lagoon Five and Six

On reaching the centre we went to the viewing gallery and found a Black-tailed Godwit, a Curlew and another Pintail but there was nothing else new.

Grey Heron on Lagoon One

I called at Eyebrook Reservoir briefly on route home and was just in time to see a Short-eared Owl on the ground in one of the fields on the Leicestershire bank.  There was also three Whimbrel and two Common Terns and a good number of hirundines, which were mainly Sand Martin but I did also notice a few Swallow.  As I left the reservoir the Little Owl obliged in the Old Oak but other than a Buzzard on the right as I was climbing away from Eyebrook Reservoir I saw little else.

It had been quite a successful day with two year-ticks, a Greenshank and the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, with the Greenshank also being a patch-tick, which moved my total on to 130 with a point’s score of 156.

A day in Leicestershire & Rutland - April 16, 2016

Roger and I had a later start this morning as yesterday’s forecast was predicting rain or even snow but the morning forecast was less severe and although it was cold the day wasn’t looking too bad.

We headed for Eyebrook Reservoir first seeing a Red Kite near the Horninghold crossroads and the Little Owl as we approached the reservoir.  The water is still very high with little habitat for waders and other than a couple of Yellow Wagtails, which Roger missed we had seen very little as we stopped near the Stoke Dry car park.  When we scanned the water towards the dam there was still nothing of note until I picked up four terns that were quartering the water between us and the dam.  As we watcher them we thought that they were probably Arctic Terns but it was some time later that we were actually confident that it was what they were.

From Eyebrook Reservoir we went straight to the Egleton Reserve at Rutland Water and seeing that the five Whimbrel present last night were still there earlier today we headed straight off towards Lagoon Four.  As we approached the lagoon a party of volunteers were replacing the fencing posts along the path to Sandpiper Hide and so we continued on to Dunlin Hide.

When we entered the hide we found it full and the news wasn’t good as those in the hide hadn’t seen the Whimbrel.  We couldn’t get a seat and it was difficult viewing from the back of the hide but then one of the group indicated that he had probably got the Whimbrel.  He gave guidance as to where they were and after repositioning my position I got reasonable views of the five birds feeding on the western bank of the lagoon.  Another group member then called a Wheatear, which was a female on one of the islands.  The male Osprey was sitting on the perch and there were six Oystercatchers, six Ringed Plovers and five Dunlin on the lagoon.  The group of birders eventually left the hide and Roger and I were then able to get better views of the Whimbrel.

We moved onto Shoveler Hide on Lagoon Three but other than four Shelduck and four Goldeneye we saw little else and headed back to the car for lunch.  On the way back we saw a Green Woodpecker, a Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler and heard several more Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers and also Blackcaps.  Whilst we were having lunch a Red Kite flew over the car park and two more Chiffchaff were observed.

Our plan after lunch was to visit the southern lagoons but another birder told us that there were a number of terns off Lapwing Hide and felt that they were probably Arctic.  When we checked the book in the centre there was an entry of nine Arctic Terns and a Reed Warbler singing along the path to the hide and so we set off for Lapwing Hide after checking out Lagoon One, where we found a single Redshank.

I had a brief view of a Great Spotted Woodpecker near Badger Hide and a Jay provided some excellent views as we were approaching Osprey Hide.  As we started to walk down the path to Lapwing Hide we found Briand, Roger and Rosie looking for the Reed Warbler.  We could hear it singing but it was fairly deep in the reeds and so we all continued onto Lapwing Hide.

We soon found several terns which were clearly Arctic but we could only find seven but they did provide some nice views in reasonable light.  Roger then found a pair of Scaup out in South Arm Three but we couldn’t locate the reported Great Northern Diver and so Roger and I moved off to look for a Common Sandpiper on Lagoon Four.

The Reed Warbler appeared to be a little closer when we returned but we still couldn’t see it and I heard a Sedge Warbler singing briefly.

When we got back to Dunlin Hide on Lagoon Four the Whimbrel were still present and whilst scanning for the sandpiper we had a Little Ringed Plover, an additional Dunlin and two Yellow Wagtails and we also found the Wheatear again but there was no sign of the Osprey or Common Sandpiper.  During our time in the hides this afternoon we had seen a Red Kite and four Buzzards over Burley Wood and I had seen two more Buzzards towards Hambleton.

When we returned to the viewing gallery in the centre we found a second Redshank and two Oystercatchers were now on the long island and I found a single Curlew on the meadow.

With little else Roger and I decided to go back to Eyebrook Reservoir as a Lesser Whitethroat had been performing well earlier.  When we pulled up at the railings on the Leicestershire bank we could see four terns over the water and initially assumed that they were the Arctic Terns.  As I watched them from the car I was pretty certain

that one, at least, was a Common Tern.  I got out of the car to get a better look and sure enough one was clearly a Common Tern but there were now five terns and the others were Arctic.  We then heard a Lesser Whitethroat and walked down the road to try and locate it but it stopped singing and we couldn’t find it.  When we got back to the car there was no sign of any of the terns and we assumed they had departed.

We drove further along the reservoir to the fencing near the island where the Lesser Whitethroat had been this morning but there was no sign this afternoon, although we did see a couple of Chiffchaffs and a Osprey.

As we left Eyebrook Reservoir for home a Red Kite was observed as we turned onto Stockerston Lane and we saw a Buzzard just after leaving Tur Langton.

I had added three year-ticks today, Arctic Tern, Whimbrel and Reed Warbler and also added them to my patch list which now stands at 129 with a point’s score of 155.

A day in Leicestershire & Rutland April 2, 2016

The weather forecast yesterday was predicting a nice day today but when we Roger and I set off for Eyebrook Reservoir it was overcast with some light rain.  We had a Red Kite as we were approaching Cranoe but there was no sign of any Little Owls along the approach road to the reservoir.

Mike was on the bridge when we arrived at Eyebrook Reservoir and he had seen a Kingfisher and heard and observed a Willow Warbler.  A Red Kite appeared towards the Leicestershire bank and there was a Little Egret on the stream.  As we continued to scan we found several Snipe and a Chiffchaff gave some nice views but the Kingfisher and Willow Warbler failed to reappear.

We moved further along the reservoir to view the inlet but the water was now quite high and there were few areas for any waders and other than a few more Snipe we found nothing.  There was a single Shelduck on the water and three Swallows appeared but with little else we moved off to the North Arm at Rutland Water.

After parking along the unnamed road we scanned the fishponds and found a single Redshank but it then began to rain quite heavy and so we retreated back to the cars.  Whilst we were waiting for the rain to ease I noticed that there was a large flock of hirundines over the water but was unable to see them clearly enough to identify them but suspected that most would be Sand Martins.

The rain eventually eased and we walked down to the end of the spit but there were now fewer hirundines but amongst the Sand Martins I did find two Swallows and a House Martin.  There were also three Redshanks along the south shore but we couldn't find the male Garganey that had been present the previous two days.  Roger then found the Red-necked Grebe and Mike picked up a Great Northern Diver but we couldn’t find Slavonian Grebe.  I called Tim to establish where the Garganey had been seen and he informed me that it had been flushed yesterday afternoon and had gone onto Lagoon Three and he also said that a Common Tern had been seen in the North Arm earlier today.  Whilst I was talking to him I picked an Osprey towards Barnsdale but we couldn’t find the Common Tern but Roger found an Oystercatcher on the north shore and two more flew over.

We eventually moved off to the Egleton Reserve to find the car park pretty full and when we reached the viewing area it was also crowded and so we went downstairs to view the lagoon.  I soon picked out the Long-billed Dowitcher, which appears to have made Lagoon One its new home, but as the viewing wasn’t great we moved off to Snipe Hide on the Wet Meadow.

There were a couple of Chiffchaffs singing as we walked through the wooded area behind Lagoon One and we saw one of them as we approached the far end.  We heard another Chiffchaff just after coming out of the wooded area and then saw another as we were approaching Snipe Hide.

From Snipe Hide we found a pair of Pintail on the flash and there was another male visible on Lagoon One.  Other than two Shelduck and a few Shoveler and a brief view of a male Sparrowhawk there was little else and so we moved on to the 360° Hide on Lagoon Five.  There was a single Oystercatcher and three Redshanks on Lagoon Five and quite a few Sand Martins were entering the pipes in the man-made structure.

As we came out of the hide we could see two Shelduck and two more Oystercatchers on Lagoon Eight and we had another Chiffchaff as we walked down the path to check out Lagoon seven were we found another Oystercatcher and two Ringed Plovers.  There were also six Shelduck and we had yet another Chiffchaff.

We made our way back to the car park for lunch, seeing an Osprey overhead as we approached the car par.  Brian, Roger and Rosie were in the car park and had seen a couple of Wheatears at the Luffenham Airfield but little else.  Ken had also arrived and after we had finished our lunch we went to the centre, which was still rather crowded and so we left Ken looking for the dowitcher and headed off towards the northern lagoons.

It was pretty obvious that there were more birders on the reserve today and so we decided to go to Dunlin Hide to view Lagoon Four as we felt it was more likely to have space.  I called Ken to let him know where we were and started to look for the four Wheatears that were on the western bank and soon fund all four together but by the time Ken arrived he could only locate two.  A Little Ringed Plover had been seen earlier but on scanning the islands I could just find one Ringed Plover but Roger noticed a second bird behind it, which we assumed would be another Ringed Plover.  Rick then found the Little Ringed Plover on the same island and only one Ringed Plover could now been seen, so it perhaps was the Little Ringed Plover alongside the Ringed Plover.  There was a Dunlin feeding along the edge of an island and at least four Redshanks, which were quite mobile moving between islands.  There were also several Buzzards soaring towards the north and a single Sparrowhawk was also observed.

There was an Osprey on the nest of the lagoon and apparently there had been two earlier and hopefully these are the two birds that were holding territory last year and might breed this year but only time will tell.

I then received a text from Roger Brett saying the drake Garganey was showing on Lagoon Three and so we set off for Shoveler Hide.  When we arrived it was still showing but was some distance away, swimming alongside the reedbed.  Brian picked up our third Sparrowhawk of the day but other than hearing a distant Cetti’s Warbler it was pretty quiet and when Rick and Graham arrived the Garganey had unfortunately disappeared.  Brian, Roger and Rosie went to Dunlin Hide to look for the Wheatears and Little Ringed Plover as they had missed them earlier, whilst Ken, Roger and I headed back to the Bird Watching Centre.

When we arrived in the centre Roger looked in the book and found that the Slavonian Grebe had been reported in the North Arm and so we went to the fisherman’s car park to look for it.  It didn’t take us too long to find the Red-necked Grebe and Great Northern Diver but we couldn’t find the Slavonian Grebe.  Another Chiffchaff gave some nice views and a Blackcap was heard singing but not seen.  As I was scanning I found an Osprey splashing around in the middle of the reservoir and it had obviously plunged in for a fish but when it took off it wasn’t carrying anything.  As it moved off west along the North Arm I picked up another as the first passed under it, with the higher bird showing just a brief interest as the first passed below.

Another birder in the car park said they had seen the Slavonian Grebe from the end of the unnamed road, although rather worryingly he said it was in winter plumage, whilst the recent bird was well into summer plumage.  We did go and have a look from the end of the road but again failed to find it but we did have much better views of the male Garganey, which had returned to the North Arm and was feeding amongst the juncus.  It wasn’t particularly easy to see as it moved through the area but it suddenly flew out onto the water to give excellent views.

We drove via Eyebrook Reservoir stopping briefly to observed the old oak and fund one of the Little Owls showing nicely and we also saw a couple of Buzzards after passing through Kibworth.

A day in Norfolk & Suffolk - March 31, 2016

David, Roger and I left home just be 06:30 and after picking Ken up at Corby headed for Santon Downham in Norfolk.  Our journey was a little slow around Cambridge but we arrived on site at 08:50, having seen just a Red Kite near Brigstock in Northamptonshire.

It was bright and sunny on arrival and we walked north along the Little Ouse River from St Helen’s Picnic site in very pleasant conditions.  We hoped that we might locate a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker but there was no sign although we did have a good selection of commoner birds.  A male a female Mandarin flew over as we walked back to the car park and we also saw a Green Woodpecker, a Jay, two Marsh Tits, a Treecreeper, two Grey Wagtail and a couple of Siskin during the walk.  There were two Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming, at least three Nuthatches calling and circa forty Fieldfares flew over but unfortunately the visit didn’t produce the target bird.

From Santon Downham we drove to a Goshawk site near Cockley Cley and just after arriving had some nice views of a male circling over the forest.  Not too long afterwards an immature female gave even better and longer views but then it went rather quiet.  We also had a Sparrowhawk, at least ten Buzzards, a Curlew flying over and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Our next target was Stone Curlew and we decided to go to Weeting Heath to see them as I had been lead to believe that there was also a Fiercest and Crossbill present.  When we arrived we found out that there wasn’t a Firecrest and that just two Crossbills had flown over one day recently.  We went to the western hide and found a single Stone Curlew on the heath.  We scanned around in search of others but didn’t find any and the single bird also disappeared and we felt we had been lucky to see one.  There was no sign of the two reported Wheatears but we did have another Marsh Tit and a Nuthatch and a Brimstone butterfly was also observed.

With little else we moved on to Lakenheath Fen hoping for Bittern and Bearded Tit.  When we arrived on site information determined that we should visit the Washland Viewpoint first as there were two Garganey and a couple of Great White Egrets reported.  On arrival news was that the Garganey and the Great White Egrets had disappeared and after a good scan of the area we headed off to the Joist Fen Viewpoint.

We hadn’t gone too far when David indicated that he could hear Lesser Redpoll calling and then three flew into a nearby bush and whilst watching these I picked up a single Brambling.  As we continued along the path we were out of the wind and it was quite warm and it was not totally surprising that we saw two Peacock butterflies.  It is a fair walk to the watch point and particularly when we just saw a single Buzzard and heard a couple of Water Rails and few Cetti’s Warblers on route.  On reaching the watch point there were at least six Marsh Harriers but very little else.  David and Ken had gone to view the fields from the footpath alongside the Little Ouse River but I soon got a call from David saying they hadn’t seen anything and were heading back to have another look for the Garganey.

Roger and I followed on and I got a nice photo of Kestrel that was perched on a post after catching a vole or mouse but otherwise we had seen just a few Little Egrets when David called to see if we were on our way back, saying the Garganey were showing quite well.  Roger and I stopped and scanned the washland from the footpath and soon located the male Garganey but we couldn’t find the female.

Male Kestrel

As we approached the centre other birders informed us that a Willow Tit had been showing well on the feeder in front of the centre but it had disappeared when got back and didn’t put another visit before had to depart.

It had been a bit of a mixed day with the highlight being the views of the Goshawks and of course male Garganey are always nice to see but only seeing one Stone Curlew and dipping on other species was disappointing.