An early morning in Wigston Magna, Leicestershire - May 28, 2016

I put the trap out for the sixth time last night but the catch was still disappointing with just seven moths trapped and identified, although three were new for the year.

The following were recorded: Light Brown Apple Moth [2]; Mottled Pug [1]; Vine’s Rustic [1]; Clouded-bordered Brindle [1], Heart & Dart [1] and Shuttle-shaped Dart [1].

This took my total caught this year to thirty-six involving just eleven species.

Mottled Pug

Clouded-bordered Brindle

Vine's Rustic

An afternoon in Rutland - May 29, 2015

David and I went out later today as we waited to see whether or not the Red-necked Phalarope was reported from Rutland Water and I was also suffering with a cold.  With no reports of the phalarope we decided to visit Merry’s Meadow, which is a Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust reserve near Cottesmore in Rutland.

We parked off the road adjacent to the footpath to the reserve and as we walked the 400 meters to the reserve entrance a small party of Swift flew over and we saw a Whitethroat displaying from the hedge alongside the path.

As we reached the style leading into the first of the three fields of the reserve we heard and then saw a Curlew in flight.  The three fields have been grazed by cattle and sheep or cut for hay for several decades and is now one of the most important wildflower areas in the counties.  The first field in particular has a distinct ridge and furrow pattern and the ridges were covered in Green-winged Orchids, which was our target species.  The other two fields are still flower rich but are not as favourable for the orchids.  The first field was also rich in Meadow Buttercup, Cowslip, Yellow Rattle and Pignut, whilst the other fields were much reduced in these species with the exception of pignut.  As we walked through the western meadow a Cuckoo flew over and there were at least another two Whitethroats singing. 

Merry's Meadow

Green-winged Orchids

Green-winged Orchid

Pignut

Bugle

Cowslip

Having seen plenty of the target species we walked back to the car seeing a Swallows and several House Martins.  We had also seen a Small Heath, Orange Tip and Green-veined White butterflies and a Silver-ground Carpet moth during our visit.

From Merry’s Meadow we headed for Bloody Oaks Quarry, which is another quite small Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust reserve.  The principal habitat is the species-rich limestone grassland, which is rare in the two counties and consequently holds some interesting species.

After parking on the roadside verge we entered the reserve and after a few minutes found a Grizzled Skipper on the stony ground just inside the reserve.  A little further on we found a Dingy Skipper and eventually finished up with two Grizzled and at least three Dingy Skippers and we also found my first Common Blue of the year.  We also found three species of moth, a micro Anthophila fabriciana and two macros Common Carpet and Burnet Companion and as we were leaving we had four Buzzards overhead.  One of the scarce plants found on the site is Chalk Milkwort and we found a small cluster of these on the top section of the quarry.

Dingy Skipper

Chalk Milkwort

Chalk Milkwort

We moved onto Ketton Quarry next but the sunshine was less frequent during our visit and it gegan feeling a little bit cooler.  However we did find four Brimstone, a Common Blue and a Peacock butterflies and also two moths Pyrausta aurata and Common Carpet.  Another surprise was a Common Lizard that was sat on a rock obviously enjoying the warmth of the occasional sunshine.

Pyrausta aurata

Peacock

Common Lizard

We called briefly at Eyebrook Reservoir on our way home but it was pretty quiet with the best being five Common Terns and a single Yellow Wagtail.

On route home we had a Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Muntjac and all before we reached Horninghold, which is just a few miles from Eyebrook Reservoir.

A late evening at Rutland Water, Rutland - May 27, 2016

Tim had called to say that there was a Red-necked Phalarope on Lagoon Four at Rutland Water and David and I decided we would go over as we suspected that it might be gone by tomorrow.

We arrived in Dunlin Hide on Lagoon Four to find Erik and Nigel but no phalarope.  It had apparently flown and appeared to have come down in front of the Volunteer’s Training centre.  With no sign for over twenty minutes we decided to go to Plover Hide to see if it was visible.  Dave Grey had already joined us and Tim who had just returned on site came with us to the hide.

Although the light wasn’t brilliant from Plover Hide there was no sign of the phalarope but we could see thirteen Ringed Plovers, two Sanderlings and a Dunlin amongst the exposed rocky area.  Davie went to Shoveler Hide to see if was on Lagoon Three but called a little later to say there was no sign and that he was going to Sandpiper Hide on Lagoon Four.  Tim left shortly afterwards and it wasn’t too long before Dave and I started to move of to join David in Sandpiper Hide.  Just as we were leaving the hide David called to say he was watching it right in front of the hide.

When Dave and I arrived in the hide it was still there and we were able to confirm that it was a male.  We watched it for several minutes as it fed just beyond a party of Black-headed Gulls but then it suddenly took to flight and I lost it.  Dave Grey did pick up a wader in flight, which was probably the phalarope, but it flew off in the direction of Lagoons two and Three and we couldn’t find it again.

Richard and Craig then arrived and we left them with Erik in the hide but just before we departed Erik arrived saying that it still hadn’t returned but Craig and Richard were still looking.

When we got there and it had flown and we were unable to find it I thought we had dipped but credit to David in looking for it from the other hides, which obviously paid dividends.  It moved my year-list onto 205 and my patch-list to 145 with a point’s score of 175.

A day at Frampton Marsh, Lincolnshire - May 26, 2016

David and I set of Frampton Marsh today hoping for Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper that had both been present yesterday.  There were two Red Kites observed near Morcott in Rutland and then a Kestrel and a Whitethroat near Crowland in Lincolnshire on route.

When we arrived at Frampton Marsh we drove to the old car park near the sea wall and found masses of waders feeding on the pools to the south-west of the road.  They were mostly Ringed Plover and Dunlin and we estimated that there were at least ninety Ringed Plover and 300+ Dunlin.  As we scanned through the waders we found a Sanderling but other than Avocets and Redshanks we couldn’t find anything else.  On the other side of the road we found several Black-tailed Godwits and two first-summer Little Gulls and there was also several Common Terns.  We spent quite some time scanning the area and the David found the summer Little Stint that wasn’t too far away.

Another birder then informed us that they had seen the Curlew Sandpiper close to the raptor watch point on the sea wall.  The waders had flown a couple of times and the raptor watch point on the sea wall.  The waders had flown a couple of times and although most had come back down we were unable to find the Little Stint and so set off along the sea wall to the raptor watch point.  As we approached the area there were plenty of waders and again most were Ringed Plovers and Dunlin with circa ninety and 150+ respectively.  We soon found the summer plumaged Curlew Sandpiper, which was rather splendid and there was also a winter plumaged Knot and two more Sanderling.

Dunlin feeding near the old car park

Dunlin in flight near the old car park

Dunlin in flight near the old car park

As we scanned the salt marsh we found a single Short-eared Owl quartering the ground but there was no sign of the reported second bird or two Marsh Harriers that had been seen earlier.

When we got back to the road we decided to continue along the sea wall towards the East Hide.  There was more water in this area and consequently we saw few waders but did see a Shelduck escorting nine tiny young and a couple of Little Grebes.  We didn’t enter the East Hide but continued along the track towards Reedbed Hide and found a Corn Bunting singing to the right of the path.  The area to the left of the path, which is usually an area of shallow water and islands, was quite dry and it was clear that work was being carried out.

When we reached Reedbed Hide it was clear that a number of Black-headed Gulls were nesting on the islands but it was difficult to see how many or if anything else was there due to the dense vegetation.  We did find a Little Ringed Plover and Sanderling to the right of the hide and a single Lesser Black-backed Gull dropped in but there was no sign of the hoped for Mediterranean Gulls.

When we got back to the car all of the waders had disappeared and had presumably gone out onto The Wash to feed as the tide receded.  We drove back along the road to the main car park where we had some lunch and found Rick, who had just arrived.

After lunch we made a quick visit to the Visitors Centre where we found a Little Ringed Plover but there was still no sign of the Mediterranean Gulls and so we set off with Rick to the reservoir where we hoped to see a Turtle Dove.

There had been no reported sighting of the doves this morning and as we made our way along the path another birder said they weren’t there.  Between the centre and the reservoir we heard a Cetti’s Warbler on several occasions and also heard Chiffchaff and Blackcap as well as seeing a couple of Sedge Warblers and there was a party of twelve Black-tailed Godwits on the marsh and two distant Egyptian Geese.

When we reached the reservoir and looked back at the favoured trees of the Turtle Doves there was just a Woodpigeon and two Magpies but we decided to give it some time in the hope they would appear.  The Woodpigeon remained perched in the bushes but the Magpies were quite active.  Two Stock Doves flew over and shortly afterwards two Turtle Doves flew in.  They probably were there for just about a minute when they flew off over the top of the hedge and we didn’t see them again but at least we had seen them.

A Reed Warbler was observed just before we started to walk back and as we continued down the road to the footpath two Jays flew over.

We went back to the centre with the intention of looking for the Mediterranean Gulls but found that a Wood Sandpiper had been reported near the raptor watch point.  David needed it for a year-tick and so we returned the old car park and walked back along the sea wall to view the pools near the raptor watch point.  The area was now almost devoid of birds with just the winter plumaged Knot and two Dunlin present and there was no sign of the Wood Sandpiper.  As I scanned the salt marsh I picked up a female-type Marsh Harrier but it dropped before David could get on it.

After getting back to the car park we went into the centre again where David found a first-summer Mediterranean Gull in flight that initially came towards us before flying off to the northeast.

As we headed back towards Frampton village we found a Grey Partridge quite close to the road but the only other bird of note on the way home was a Buzzard near Gaulby in Leicestershire. 

Grey Partridge

It had been an excellent days birding with eighty species recorded that included two year-ticks, Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper.  There was also a good supporting cast with Grey Partridge, Knot, Sanderling, Little Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Short-eared Owl and Turtle Dove.

A day in Leicestershire & Rutland - May 24, 2016

When I arrived at Eyebrook Reservoir this morning I found Stephen on the bridge, who had called prior to going to Rutland Water hoping to see a Kingfisher.  We hadn’t seen very much by the time he left and the Kingfisher didn’t appear after he had gone but I did have a nice view of a singing Garden Warbler.  I moved around the road towards Stoke Dry and parked to view the inlet but the water is still so high there is no suitable feeding for waders and there wasn’t even a Lapwing.  An Osprey flew over fishing briefly and I also saw a Red Kite and two Buzzards over the Leicestershire fields and there were four Common Terns present.

Osprey

Goldfinch

After parking in the Egleton car park at Rutland Water I saw a singing Garden Warbler near the service road but there was nothing in the book today and so I walked towards the southern lagoons.  As I made my way along the trail through the woodland I found a Chiffchaff, Blackcap and yet another Garden Warbler but saw nothing else before reaching Snipe Hide.

Chiffchaff

There were three Shelduck on the Wet Meadow and a Little Egret flew over and I eventually saw a Sedge Warbler that was singing just in front of the hide and the off-duty Avocet dropped in to feed.

I continued onto Tern Hide on Lagoon Six seeing a Chiffchaff close to the turn to Harrier Hide.  The Avocet was still sitting on and there were a pair of Shelduck and an Oystercatcher nearby.  The second Avocet returned whilst I was in the hide and a Common Tern spent a while fishing over the lagoon.  To the west I had distant views of a Red Kite and a Buzzard.

Greylag Goose on Lagoon Six

Canada Goose on Lagoon Six

Drake Tufted Duck on Lagoon Six

Black-headed Gull on Lagoon Six

I went back along the track and headed for Fieldfare Hide seeing another Chiffchaff as I turned down the path to the hide and a Cetti’s Warbler burst into song just as I entered the hide but as usual I didn’t see it and there was nothing from the hide.

As I returned towards Lagoon Six I heard a couple of Whitethroats but didn’t see either of them and on reaching Pintail Hide on Lagoon Six found another Oystercatcher and a Little Egret and the off duty Avocet was also visible.  Walking past Lagoon Eight there were pairs of Shelduck and Oystercatchers on the nearest island.

I continued down the track to Shelduck Hide and saw a Sedge Warbler briefly and then viewed Lagoon Seven from the entrance track.  The water level in the lagoon is now much higher after the repair work but other than a few Common Terns I saw nothing else.  From Shelduck on Lagoon five I found a Little Egret, two Oystercatchers and a Redshank but sadly there was no sign of the any young Oystercatchers.

After some lunch in the car park I went back to the centre and found that three Sanderling and a Turnstone had been seen on Lagoon Four but I checked out Lagoon One before heading in that direction.  There were three Oystercatchers on the lagoon and I counted seventeen Common Terns feeding over the water.

There were three Shelduck, an Oystercatcher and a Little Egret visible from Shoveler Hide and thirty-three Common Terns over the lagoon but other than a Buzzard over the woodland I found little else.  I moved onto Plover Hide on Lagoon Four and soon found the three Sanderlings along with four Ringed Plovers but there was no sign of the reported Turnstone and so I went back to Bittern Hide.  The reeds are now well re-established in the area cleared by the volunteers but there was a female Mallard escorting six half grown young, which are probably the remains of the brood of eleven I saw earlier this month.  There were several Reed Warblers singing and I saw three quite close to the hide.

I decided to go into Sandpiper Hide on Lagoon Four in the hope of finding the Turnstone.  As I scanned the lagoon I found the three Sanderling and a fifth Ringed Plover but there was still no sign of the Turnstone.  There was a single Shelduck near island ten and one of two Oystercatchers on the bank was brooding at least one young Oystercatcher.  There were another three Oystercatchers scattered around the lagoon but unusually there was nothing over Burley Wood, although I did see a Buzzard over the fishponds.   It had turned rather cold this afternoon and I was beginning to feel it but on doing one last scan before leaving I found the Turnstone.

A day in Leicestershire & Rutland - May 21, 2016

I set off this morning and headed straight to Rutland Water where there had been thee Sanderling and five Turnstones yesterday afternoon.  I didn’t see too much on route with a Buzzard between Wistow and Kibworth being the highlight.  When I arrived in the Egleton car park it was dry and overcast with a fresh southerly wind.  I set off for Plover Hide on Lagoon Four hearing Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap before reaching the hide but seeing nothing of note.

I scanned Lagoon Four but it was very quiet with just a few Great Black-backed Gulls on the area favoured by waders and an Oystercatcher and three Common Terns on the closer islands.  I then picked up a couple of waders in flight but lost them almost immediately but was sure at least one was a Ringed Plover.  Shortly afterwards three Ringed Plovers appeared on some tiny exposed areas of mud before they flew and landed in the favoured area.

With little else I moved to Bittern Hide where I could hear at least two Reed Warblers but there was little else just a couple of Greylag Geese and a few Mallard and so I moved onto Shoveler Hide hearing a Nightingale as I did so.  From Shoveler I could see that the water levels had risen further and there was now much less exposed mud.  I counted twenty-nine Common Terns feeding over the lagoon and there was a pair of Shelduck, a single drake Shoveler, three Pochard and an Oystercatcher present and also saw a Reed Warbler and a Buzzard over the reedbed.

I went into Sandpiper Hide on Lagoon Four to get a different perspective of the lagoon but other than finding a couple of Ringed Plovers there appeared little else, although I did pick up a Red Kite and a couple of Buzzard over Burley Wood.  A party of birders then entered the hide and with some having to stand I was about to leave to give them some room, when one of them mentioned a Dunlin.  As I scanned the nearest island I found three Dunlin and also a Sanderling and a Turnstone and suspected that they had just arrived.  The three Dunlin and Sanderling after briefly feeding flew and landed near the furthest island and the Turnstone also eventually moved.  The Sanderling and Dunlin continued to fly around the lagoon on several occasions and were not always visible and I also lost sight of the Turnstone.

The party of birders eventually moved on and as they did so Roger arrived as I had made him aware of the waders.  It didn’t take too long to relocate the Sanderling, Dunlin and Turnstone but we also had at least eight Ringed Plovers, which was an increase in what I had seen earlier.  There were two Oystercatchers on the spit and I initially thought that it was the pair that had two young on the last visit but I then noticed a third bird in the vegetation.  A forth bird then joined the bird in the vegetation and although I couldn’t see any young their behaviour when a crow flew over suggested that at least one was still alive.

With nothing new appearing we returned to the car park for lunch seeing a Chiffchaff just as we reached the car park.  After lunch we went to the centre to view Lagoon One but other than three pairs of Shelduck a drake Pochard and several Common Terns it was pretty quiet and we eventually headed for Snipe Hide on the Wet Meadow.

We had brief views of a male Blackcap just after leaving the centre but saw little else on route.  There were two pairs of Shelduck on the Wet Meadow but other than a female Shoveler and a Redshank we couldn’t find anything else of interest.

We continued on to Tern Hide on Lagoon Six and found the Avocet still sitting and there were another two pairs of Shelduck and four Oystercatchers on the lagoon.

A brief visit to Pintail Hide also on Lagoon Six didn’t result in anything new and so we continued on to the 360° Hide on Lagoon Five.  As we went by Lagoon Eight we could see a pair of Shelduck and two more Oystercatchers and from the 360° Hide there were two Little Egrets, two Oystercatchers and two Redshanks.

We checked out Lagoon One again form the centre but with northing new we departed seeing a Mistle Thrush mobbing a Sparrowhawk as it flew across the car park towards Lagoon One.

I called at Eyebrook Reservoir briefly on my way home where there was a pair of Shelduck on the Leicestershire bank, a Kestrel hunting along the Rutland bank and a Little Egret at the inlet.  A Yellow Wagtail flew over calling and a Buzzard was also observed just east of the reservoir.

A day in Leicestershire & Rutland and Cambridgeshire - May 19, 2016

David, Roger and I set off for Paxton Pits in Cambridgeshire to hopefully see a Great Reed Warbler.  We left reasonably early and managed to avoid the rush hour traffic but other than a Buzzard, between Thrapston and the A1 junction, we nothing of note.

When we arrived in the car park and whilst getting our gear on we saw a distant Red Kite and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over twice.  Another birder then informed us that the Great Reed Warbler was showing very well this morning and we set off with high expectations.  As we walked along the path towards Washout Pit there was plenty of song and we heard Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler and Nightingale before we reached the pit.  We also saw three more birders returning who also said that the Great Reed Warbler was showing very well and was being chased around by several Reed Warblers.

When we reached the site we weren’t 100% sure we were in the right area but the view point we found did seem to match what the three birders described.  After checking nearby for other viewpoints we settled down to view the reedbed on the far side of Washout Pit.  We saw quite a few Reed Warblers but there was no sign of the Great Reed Warbler and we could only hear Reed Warblers singing.  Whilst we were watching the area we saw a Blackcap and Garden Warbler and both Cetti’s Warbler and Nightingale were heard nearby but both remained elusive.

Several other birders joined us but there was still no sign of the Great Reed Warbler and David wondered off to view from another area.  Whilst he was away I picked up a bird sitting at the front and about halfway up the reeds but on trying to find it in the scope I didn’t see it and assumed it had gone out of view.  However as I scanned again with the bins I found it was still there and this time using the scope I soon found it.  It is not always easy judging size of a single bird but it appeared larger and had rather a prominent bill and although it was facing me I could see that the tail looked rather full and long and was pretty sure it was the Great Reed Warbler.  I altered the other birders present and got an immediate response from one that it was just a Reed Warbler, whilst the others were still trying to get on it.  I was still pretty sure that it wasn’t a Reed Warbler when it turned and gave a back view and as it did so a Reed Warbler appeared next to it and any uncertainty was immediately ruled out as the bird in question was much larger.  David had returned and had a quick look through my scope to ensure he saw it but just afterwards it just dropped out of sight and despite a further wait it didn’t reappear and we returned to the car.

We had heard four Nightingales and two Cuckoos during our visit but didn’t see any of them and left for Rutland Water.

On arrival at Rutland Water we went to the unnamed road to view the North Arm but it was very quiet.  There was a pair of Shelduck with ten tiny young and a Mallard with a more developed brood of five.  There were also another five Shelduck, three Oystercatchers and two Common Terns and over Burley Wood we had several Buzzards and a Red Kite.

After some lunch in the Egleton car park we went to the Bird Watching centre to view Lagoon One but like the North Arm it was very quiet and we saw just four Shelduck, a Pochard, an Osprey and four Common Terns before we moved to Shoveler Hide on Lagoon Three.

Just after setting off we saw a pair of Blackcaps and a Little Egret flew over the large meadow and we also heard Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap and on approaching the gate to Shoveler Hide there was a Hobby over Lagoon Four.  From the hide we saw another couple of Hobbies and there were two Shelduck and five Pochard near the hide and thirty-five Common Terns feeding over the water.

Drake Pochard on Lagoon Three

Female Pochard on Lagoon Three

Osprey over Lagoon Three

Hobby over Lagoon Three

Common Tern over Lagoon Three

Common Tern over Lagoon Three

Common Tern over Lagoon Three

Common Tern over Lagoon Three

We went to Plover Hide on Lagoon Four but found just two Ringed Plovers on the stony area.  As we left the hide and approached the scrub just beyond Bittern Hide a Nightingale sang intermittently but we couldn’t locate it and there was also a Garden Warbler in the same area.

A visit to Sandpiper Hide on Lagoon Four produced a pair of Oystercatcher with two tiny chicks, another Ringed Plover and eleven Common Terns on Island Ten and a Curlew on Island One.  We did have further views of Red Kite, Buzzard, Osprey and Hobby and two Ravens were observed whilst in the hide but they were all distant.

After making our way back to the centre we didn’t find anything else on Lagoon One and after a coffee moved off.  We made a brief visit to Eyebrook Reservoir where we saw a couple Shelduck, two Little Egrets and a distant Red Kite and heard Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat but saw very little as we made our way home.

It was rather disappointing at Rutland Water and it looks like migration is coming to an end.  However I had recorded seventy-eight species during the day, one of which was a year-tick, taking my total onto 202.

A day in Leicestershire & Rutland- May 5, 2016

David and Roger were just out for the morning today but I picked David up and we went to the Egleton Car Park where we met Roger we walked down the service road to reach the reedbed area, seeing a several Garden Warblers and hearing a Chiffchaff and Blackcap as we did so.

Tim then called to say that there were several Black Terns over Lagoon Three and so Roger and I decided to go and take a look.  David was just coming out of Plover Hide as we approached Bittern Hide and we felt we would be better off looking at Lagoon Three from there as the light wasn’t too good.  We soon found several Black Terns amongst the more numerous Common Terns and were trying to count them when everything was disturbed but we were confident that there were at least six.  As we watched the bird wheeling over the lagoon David picked up a flock of Black Terns flying together and when I got on them I realised that there were more than he first thought and we counted fifteen.

Roger and I eventually went into Plover Hide to view Lagoon Four and David went off to look at South Arm Three and Lagoon Three.  There were a few Ringed Plover and Dunlin amongst the rocky area on the lagoon and I counted eighteen Ringed Plovers and five Dunlin but other than the pair of Osprey there was little else.

As Roger and I were approaching the track to Shoveler Hide David appeared and said he had seen very little from either Lapwing or Shoveler hides.  However after a brief chat we decided to all go to Shoveler Hide to take a look.  After opening the flaps one of the first birds I saw was a drake Garganey but other than the terns there was little else and we moved onto Sandpiper Hide on Lagoon Four.

As we scanned the lagoon we saw much what we had seen from Plover Hide but then David picked up a Grey Plover in flight, which then landed on one of the islands.  We could see that it was starting to moult into summer plumage and was probably a different bird to the one seen on Tuesday.

We walked back to the centre seeing Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat on route.  We all went into the centre to see what was on Lagoon One but other than a few Common Terns there was little else.  Roger and David then went off to Lyndon whilst I decided to visit the southern lagoons.

I had a Blackcap and a couple of Garden Warblers as I walked towards Snipe Hide on the Wet Meadow, where there was a summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit and a Redshank on the flash but other than a Little Egret in flight saw little else and moved on to Tern Hide on Lagoon Six.

From Tern Hide I could see an Avocet on one of the islands that was obviously sitting on eggs but there was no sign of the second bird.  I stopped at Pintail Hide on route to the 360° Hide to get a different view of Lagoon Six but just added an Oystercatcher.

Shelduck over the Wet Meadow

Oystercatcher from Pintail Hide

As I walked by Lagoon Eight there were two Oystercatchers on one of the islands and from the 360° Hide there were three Oystercatchers and a Redshank.

I made my way back to the Egleton car park for lunch and after speaking to David decided to go to Lyndon to try and locate a Great Northern Diver.  I spent quite some time in Teal Hide without any joy with the diver but there was a nice drake Goldeneye.  I viewed the feeders for a while seeing four Tree Sparrows but the hoped for Marsh Tit didn’t materialise and so I walked east to Swan Hide.  This is not an area a visit regularly but I had four Oystercatchers flying over the South Arm and three Garden Warblers as I walked towards Swan Hide.

With little from Swan Hide I made my way back to the centre and then returned to Egleton.

I went into the Bird Watching Centre and found a female Pintail on Lagoon One and then noticed quite a few waders on a small island that will soon become part of the long island.  There were nineteen Ringed Plovers and nine Dunlin and also a Greenshank.  Another birder informed me that there had also been a Grey Plover, which we couldn’t find and I assumed that they were the same waders seen on lagoon four earlier, although the Greenshank was obviously new.  When I looked a few minutes later the only waders still present was the Greenshank and I assumed the others had returned to Lagoon Four.  There was also five Black Terns over the Lagoon along with ten Common Terns.

I headed off for Shoveler Hide and heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming and then saw a second bird in flight over the large meadow.  On reaching Shoveler Hide there were clearly more Black Terns and I counted forty-three, along with thirty-five Common Terns.  Tim then entered the hide with a couple who he was showing around and he found an Arctic Tern that was perched on a buoy.  The Garganey was also still showing quite well but with little else I went to Lapwing Hide to scan the South Arm for the diver but still couldn’t find it.

A quick visit to Eyebrook Reservoir on route home produced a Little Egret, a Buzzard, an Osprey, a Kestrel and a couple of Common Terns but the Little Owl didn’t oblige.

I had recorded eight-eight species with the Black Terns being new for the year and my patch list is now at 139 with point’s score of 167.