Saturday 8 April 2017

A day in Leicestershire & Rutland and Lincolnshire - April 6, 2017

With Roger on short break in Wales, David, Malcolm and I went to Deeping Lakes where I was hoping for more luck with the Cattle Egret than on Tuesday.

When we arrived in the car park there was no sign of the Cattle Egret again but we did spend some time scanning the lake to the north-east of the car park.  There was a good selection of birds on the lake that included Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard and Shoveler and we also found a single drake Pintail.  There were a couple of Oystercatcher on the grass surrounding the lake and I found a single Little Ringed Plover on one of the islands.  Interestingly there were quite a few adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls and two adult Herring Gulls present and presumably they are nesting nearby.

With no sign of the Cattle Egret we started to walk to the hide when Malcom picked up rather smart male Marsh Harrier that was observed in the southwest corner and was seen to carry a stick into the reedbed.  When we reached the hide, there was no sign of the Long-tailed Duck but with quite a few Tufted Duck being visible through the trees on the island we walked southwest to see if we could view them better from outside.


As we walked along the path a Green Woodpecker flew into a bush and remained a few minutes but flew again once we got too close.  We could see at least some of the Tufted Duck but there was still no sign of the Long-tailed Duck.  I walked a little further down the path but wasn’t able to get a better view but I did see a Chiffchaff.  When I re-joined David and Malcolm they hadn’t seen anything else but then David found a female Goldeneye.

When we got back to the main path we went up the bank to view the river and another Green Woodpecker flew over.  On reaching the top of the bank we could see two egrets up stream but they were both Little Egrets.  A third egret then flew from the river bank and was quite close, it flew down stream and right in front of us and we could see it was the Cattle Egret.  It continued downstream before veering off to the left and towards the car park area.

When we got back to the car park it wasn’t visible in the fields but Malcolm then found on one of the islands on the lake to the northeast and we were able to get views of it preening and resting on the island.


Cattle Egret

With the Cattle Egret on the list we set off for Frampton Marsh and arrived around 10:30 seeing just three Kestrel of note on route.  After parking we scanned the wet meadows to the west and found a few Avocets, a couple of Ruff, several Curlew and quite a few Redshanks.  We went into the visitor’s centre to see what was about and found the water level on the reedbed area to be very high with very little of the islands visible.  There were a few Avocets on one of the remaining islands and five Little Grebes but otherwise it was quiet.

Most of the more unusual birds had been seen towards the sea wall but with Malcom and I needing Corn Bunting for the year we took the path leading to the northeast edge of the reserve.  Just before we reached the path to the 360 Hide and adult Mediterranean Gull flew over and landed quite close to the hide.  It flew again briefly but again came down close to the hide and so we took the path to the hide to hopefully find it still there.

When we reached the hide, there was no sign of the Mediterranean Gull but there was a Ruff quite close and Malcolm then found a Little Ringed Plover and I was able to photograph both birds.


Little Ringed Plover


Little Ringed Plover


Ruff


Ruff

From the hide, we saw plenty of Avocets and there was also a party of thirty plus Black-tailed Godwits but with little else we came out of the hide an went to look for the Corn Buntings.  The small area of scrub between the reserve and the arable farmland seemed very quiet and there was no sign of any Corn Buntings.  We walked northwest along the path seeing just a few Linnets and Reed Buntings and a single Buzzard.  As we approached the turn back to the centre a Kestrel flew over and we saw a single Tree Sparrow in the hedgerow as we made our way back.

When we got back to the car we drove to the sea wall car park and found a Spotted Redshank almost straight away.  After taking a few photos of the Spotted Redshank we had lunch and scanned the area whilst doing so.  We found more Avocets and Redshanks and I picked up a single Dunlin in flight, which dropped out of sight and the others didn’t see it.  There was also lots of Brent Geese in both directions from the car park but we couldn’t see either the Pink-footed Goose, which had been reported earlier or the Black Brant present over the last few days.


Spotted Redshank


Spotted Redshank


Brent Geese

As we walked towards the sea wall we found seven Pintail and several Black-tailed Godwits and another Little Ringed Plover and a further two Little Ringed Plovers were observed displaying above us.  On reaching the top of the sea wall we could get good views in both directions and found another Spotted Redshank.  Other than more Redshank and several Meadow Pipits there appeared to be very little on the salt marsh, although the heat-haze was bad.  Malcolm and I had seen a party of swans fly off towards the fields to the west and after some discussion we decided it might be worth a walk to the raptor watchpoint.

As we walked along the sea wall we could get better views of the Brent Geese that were feeding to the west but there was no sign of either the Black Brant or the Pink-footed Goose amongst the flock.  As David and I started to continue along the sea wall, Malcolm called me back, as he had found a goose well away from the Brent Geese and thought it was the Pink-footed Goose, which proved to be correct.

When we reached the point where we could view the fields we could see a group of swans that were quite distant and with heat-haze being bad they weren’t easy but I was pretty sure that the three left hand birds were Whooper Swans, which David and Malcolm eventually agreed with.  The main party to the right of these were Mute Swans but there were two nearer the Whooper Swans we couldn’t see very well.  As we continued to try and identify the final two birds, David indicated that he was sure there was a Corn Bunting singing and he then heard again and was certain.  Malcolm and I hadn’t heard and when it sang again I asked him where he thought it was.  It appeared to further down the footpath and so we started to walk along the path and I saw a bird at the top of a bush I was fairly sure would be it.  However, as I altered the others and tried to get the scope on it, it flew and disappeared.

We continued along the track and sat down on a bench hoping it might return, whilst we scanned the meadows.  We didn’t find anything new but the Pink-footed Goose was now a little closer but eventually we went back through the gate to view the swans again and were able to identify the other two as Whooper Swans.  I then noticed a bird at the top of bush, which I thought might be the Corn Bunting and as I was getting my scope into position, David said the Corn Buntings was singing again and on getting the bird in the scope we confirmed it was the Corn Bunting.


Corn Bunting

We made our way back to the car park seeing a distant Marsh Harrier over the salt marsh as we did so and found the Spotted Redshank in better light when we got back and therefore took a few more photos.


Spotted Redshank


Spotted Redshank

We popped into the centre to see if there was anything of note but there was nothing new and we returned to the car.  As we were getting ready to leave Malcolm noticed what he thought was a White Wagtail, which was on the wet meadow and quite close and after agreeing with his identification were able to get some nice shots of the bird as it continued feeding.


White Wagtail


White Wagtail


White Wagtail


White Wagtail


White Wagtail

We eventually left Frampton and headed back towards Rutland Water but called at Barnack Hills and Holes hoping we could find some Pasqueflowers.

We arrived on site at around 16:00 and walked out from the car park into the area where there are areas roped off to protect the rare flowers.  There were plenty of Cowslips and it appeared that they were the only flowers but Malcom then spotted a group of Pasqueflowers and we eventually found a second group.


Cowslips


Pasqueflowers


Pasqueflowers


Pasqueflower


Pasqueflowers

When we arrived back at Rutland Water, David and I decided we would go northern lagoons hoping we find a Sedge Warbler.  There was an Osprey visible on the nest platform on Lagoon one but a brief visit to Osprey Hide on Lagoon Two produced just a few Sand Martins.  When we reached Shoveler Hide we found a couple of Little Grebes close to the hide and there was also a Shelduck and Pochard.  As we sat in the hide I thought I heard our target bird, a Sedge Warbler, but David didn't hear it.  I then heard it on another two occasions but was surprised he still hadn’t heard it.  I suggested that he shifted his position in the hide and this time when it sang again he heard it, after which it seem to be in song all the time.  With not much time left we went to Sandpiper Hide on Lagoon Four where we found a pair of Avocet, a Little Ringed Plover and two Redshanks in our brief stay.

I left the hide slightly behind David and when I approached the badger hide I thought I heard a Tawny Owl, only for it to call again a few seconds later confirming my initial thoughts.

It had been a pretty good day’s birding with eighty-six species recorded, three of which, Cattle Egret, Sedge Warbler and Corn Bunting, were new for the year.

A day in Leicestershire & Rutland and Lincolnshire - April 4, 2017

I left home in slightly overcast conditions but the sun was shining by the time I reached Eyebrook Reservoir.  I had seen a couple of Buzzards on route, one at Wistow and the other approaching Eyebrook Reservoir.

After turning onto the northern approached road to Eyebrook Reservoir I stopped to view the old oak and found both Little Owls on view.  There were six Tree Sparrows around the inlet bridge and I had a nice view of a male Blackcap and heard another and a Chiffchaff.  From the gateway along the eastern edge I found a couple of Snipe on the edge of the stream, where there was a suggestion of a muddy edge.  There was a single Shelduck and a Little Egret on the edge of the stream and a second Little Egret in flight a little further to the south.


With little else obvious at the reservoir I set off to the Lyndon Reserve at Rutland Water but saw very little on route but did hear a Chiffchaff near Wing.

The centre was closed when I arrived in the car park and so I went to view the feeders where there was a single Yellowhammer.  Whilst I stood observing the feeders I heard a Willow Warbler singing and then had brief views.

I went down to Teal Hide to view the south arm and both the Manton Bay Ospreys were on view with the female on the nest and the male on the perch above the nest.  Apparently, the female laid her first egg during the day and the male was observed incubating later in the day.  When I scanned the far side just to the left of Goldeneye Hide on Lax Hill I picked up a sandpiper and identified it as a Common Sandpiper, which was the first site record of the year and there were also two Black-tailed Godwits.

From the centre, I drove to Sykes Lane and after parking set off to view the dam.  There was another Chiffchaff singing and I heard and then saw another Blackcap.  As I started to walk across the dam it appeared devoid of birds and I almost turned back but I eventually walked right across but had only seen three Pied Wagtails and two Meadow Pipits.  I stopped and scanned the dam from the south end but found nothing but a Red Kite passing over head provided and excellent photo opportunity.  After getting a few shots of the Red Kite I started walking back and hadn’t gone too far when I was sure I heard a Yellow Wagtail call and on looking along the dam found a nice male perched on the rocks close to the top of the rocks.  It was close enough to photograph but before I had a chance a Pied Wagtail chased it and I couldn't relocate it.  When I finally made it back to the car I hadn’t seen a great deal else, with a second Red Kite being the best.


Red Kite


Red Kite


Pied Wagtail


Meadow Pipit


Meadow Pipit

I made a brief stop at Barnsdale and focussed on the first piece of woodland hoping for a Marsh Tit or a Nuthatch but there was no evidence of either and I didn’t see a great deal else.

With little seen in Barnsdale I made my way to Egleton and after a brief chat with Stephen went towards the southern lagoons, initially making my way to the 360 Hide on Lagoon Five.  I called at Mallard Hide and found a couple of Curlew before moving on, having a couple of Chiffchaff and another male Blackcap on route.

From the 360 Hide, there were three Oystercatchers and four Redshanks but there was no sign of the reported Barnacle Goose.  I went to Shelduck Hide, which is also on Lagoon Five, but there was still no sign of the reported Barnacle Goose.  As I walked back up the track I heard at Blackcap and found a Chiffchaff feeding in the hedgerow on the left.


Chiffchaff


Chiffchaff


Chiffchaff

As I continued beyond the 360 Hide there were two Oystercatcher feeding on the grass to the left and four Shelduck and a pair of Redshank were on Lagoon Eight.  I called in Pintail Hide on Lagoon Six but there was nothing of note and I made my way to Harrier Hide, seeing a Chiffchaff as I approached the hide.

There were a couple of Oystercatcher on Lagoon One and an Osprey flew low over the hide on two occasions but there was little else and I started to make my way back to the centre.

I called at Snipe Hide on the way back where I found four Shelduck and a pair of Pintail and on getting back to the centre there was an Osprey on the nest platform, which was presumably the same bird I had seen from Harrier.

After some lunch, I drove to the North Arm but all I could find were a pair of Shelduck and a Redshank on the south shore and a Little Egret on the North Shore.  Whilst I was in the North Arm it became much colder and there was some light drizzle and I picked up three Swallows high above the water.  As I walked back to the car Steve and Terry arrived and whilst we were chatting an Osprey flew over but with the weather taking a turn for the worse we all went back to the centre.

There wasn’t a great deal visible from the centre but a lady returned saying she had seen a pair of Garganey on Lagoon Two but seemed a bit confused as from which hide.  She said it was the new hide and the first hide walking towards the northern lagoons but the new hide isn’t the new hide but does have a new ramp.

I went back to the car to get my waterproof coat, whilst Erik, Steve and Terry went to Redshank Hide, which is the first hide.  As I approached Redshank Hide, Terry was leaving and heading for Osprey Hide, which is the new hide, as there was no sign of any Garganey from Redshank Hide.

I joined Erik and Steve in Redshank where there was a couple of Pochard but little else.  I then received a text regarding a Cattle Egret at Deeping Lakes and we decided to go.  As we were leaving the hide Terry called to say he had seen the Garganey but that they had swum towards Grebe Hide and so went to Grebe Hide.  There was no sign when we got in the hide but Erik then picked them up towards Osprey Hide and we watched then for a couple of minutes before they swam out of sight again.

We then returned to the car park and headed for Deeping Lake, which was only about forty-five minutes away.  We drove through some heavy rain on route and it was still raining when we pulled up into the car park.  Richard arrived just after us but there was no sign of the Cattle Egret and after about twenty minutes Erik and I set off for the hide to hopefully find the Long-tailed Duck.  We hadn't gone very far when Erik caught sight of an egret in flight that dropped into the area we had just come from.  We walked back quickly but as I approached the shelter neither Richard or Steve looked at all excited.  Richard and Steve hadn’t seen the egret but another birder who Erik spoke to had and it was just a Little Egret.

Erik and I then set off for the hide again and this time Richard joined us and we heard Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap before reaching the hide.  I wasn’t too optimistic in finding the Long-tailed Duck as it isn’t possible to see all the lake from the hide.  There were plenty of distant Tufted Duck but the Long-tailed Duck didn’t appear to be amongst them and we were about to give up when I noticed what I thought was a small bird dive.  I alerted the other two and Erik scoped the area and when I indicated that it was up again he confirmed it was the Long-tailed Duck.

As we walked back we found Steve on the river bank but he hadn’t been able to find the Cattle Egret.  When we got back to the cars Richard saw something drop behind the reeds but on checking we found a Little Egret.  As we left the site and headed for Rutland Water a Green Woodpecker flew over.

On getting back to Rutland Water I was unsure whether to call it a day but Steve and Erik decided to go to Dunlin Hide on Lagoon Four.  I finally decided I would join them and set off.  Erik, who had gone to get his bike, caught me up and accompanied me part of the way before he continued onto the hide.

When I joined then in the hide Erik had already located three Ringed Plovers but I only eve saw one of the them and there was no sign of the Avocets, reported earlier.    There were plenty of gulls just in front of the hide, mainly Black-headed and Common but also a few Lesser Black-backed and Great Black-backed and an odd Herring Gull.  Erik then said Little Gull but it flew before Steve and I could get on it and although Erik was sure it came down again we couldn’t locate it.  Erik then went to Sandpiper Hide in the hope of finding it there but after about fifteen minutes with no news form him and only a couple of Pintail being found I called it a day.

I called Erik when I got out of the hide and he indicated that he had heard a Sedge Warbler from the bottom of the ramp to Sandpiper and so I joined him there.  We couldn’t hear the Sedge Warbler and so I started to make my way back to the car park, whilst he went to Shoveler Hide on Lagoon Three.  I hadn’t gone too far when he called to say that the Little Gull was feeding with Black-headed Gulls on Lagoon Three.  I went back and fortunately it was still there when I arrived in the hide and I had reasonable if distant views of a first-winter/summer bird.

Monday 3 April 2017

A day in Leicestershire & Rutland - April 1, 2017

David and I set off for Eyebrook Reservoir this morning, seeing just a Buzzard as we approached Cranoe before we turned into the northern approach road to the reservoir.  The Little Owl was partially visible in the nest hole in the old oak and we parked just beyond the inlet bridge and found a Red Kite quartering the field.  We walked back to the bridge to view the stream and feeders seeing a Little Egret and two Snipe between the bridge and the reservoir and three Tree Sparrows on the feeders.  We didn’t see a great deal else at Eyebrook Reservoir, where the wind and some light rain was making it rather unpleasant and we moved onto Rutland Water.

As we reached Bisbrooke a Green Woodpecker flew over and we had another Red Kite as we were approaching Wing.  We stopped briefly at Lyndon church where we found a Treecreeper but there was no sign of any Nuthatches.

When we reached the reservoir, we headed for the North Arm and found Roger’s car parked at the end of the unnamed road.  There were two Oystercatchers visible from the parking area but little else and so we walked out to the spit and joined Roger.  I doubt it would be possible to get any more water into the reservoir as the water was coming up through the ground on the spit, which was rather wet.  Roger had already located the two Slavonian Grebes, which were now both in summer-plumage.  He indicated where they were and although it was quite breezy they were quite easy to locate and there was also a pair of Shelduck nearby and a Little Egret on the shore.  Two more Oystercatchers flew in and where joined by the other two in an aerial display and David picked up a Great White Egret in flight as it came down on the north shore and then promptly moved out of view.  We then turned our attention onto Burley Wood where we saw two Red Kites, at least five Buzzards and an Osprey. The wind was making it feel quite cold and eventually we moved onto the Egleton Reserve.

At long last there were feeders back at the feeding station, which were new and had a catch tray to hopefully reduce the seed dropping to the ground and therefore discouraging the rats.  There were a few Blue and Great Tits visiting the feeders but little else although we did see a Chiffchaff feeding amongst the vegetation.

Roger and I went to the viewing area and found good numbers of Sand Martin over the lagoon, whilst David paid for his annual permit.  The light wasn’t too good but as I scanned through the martins I was sure there was a Swallow amongst them.  I alerted Roger and we had seen at least two when David joined us but other than a single Pochard there were little else on the lagoon.

As we left the centre and started to head for the northern lagoons we heard a Blackcap singing and walked the other way but couldn’t locate it and so we then continued onto the northern lagoons.  As we approached the badger hide David thought he heard a Willow Warbler but two calling Green Woodpeckers distracted us but we never managed to see either of them, although they were both very vocal.  As we continued he heard the Willow Warbler again and I also heard it and as we went over the small bridge it appeared very close.  We scanned the bushes and trees alongside the small stream and I eventually found it feeding in a hawthorn bush.  A Blackcap had been singing intermittently behind us and as we walked around the other side I saw it briefly and there was also a Chiffchaff.  As we continued along the track I was heard another Blackcap in sub-song.  Roger and I stopped and it eventually appeared and provided some nice if brief views.

We hadn’t seen or heard a great deal else by the time we reached Sandpiper Hide on Lagoon Four.  From the hide, I soon found the two reported Avocets and David found a Little Ringed Plover and there were also four Oystercatchers, three Little Ringed Plovers and at least eight Redshanks on the lagoon.  There were seventeen Shelduck scattered around the lagoon and a Little Grebe, which can be quite elusive at this time, appeared to the left of the hide.  Surprisingly we were unable to find any Pintail, which have been favouring this lagoon recently.

We moved onto Lapwing Hide but we had forgotten that the fishing boats can now come right into the arm and with five of them near the bund there were very view birds and it wasn’t long before we returned to Shoveler Hide on Lagoon Three.

There was more wildfowl on the lagoon than there has been recently and presumably some had come off South Arm Three.  However, we couldn’t find anything of real note and a couple of Shelduck and a Pochard were the best.  A Buzzard was observed over the woodland behind the reedbed and a Cetti’s Warbler was heard several times but there was no sign of a Sedge Warbler Tim had found whilst undertaking his common bird census earlier.

The weather was showing signs of improvement with some sun and the wind feeling less cold as we walked back to the centre.  There were fare fewer hirundine over Lagoon One now but there was an Osprey sitting on the man-made nest.  I tried to see if it was ringed but couldn’t make anything out, seeing only its bluish legs, but it was some distance away.  It then disappeared off the nest and presumably a bird then seen over Lagoon Three area was the same bird.  With little else being evident we went back to the cars for lunch.


Male Blackbird in the Egleton Meadows


Song Thrush in the Egleton Meadows


Mistle Thrush in the Egleton Meadows

There didn’t appear to be a great deal else at Rutland Water and after some discussion David and I decided we go for a Ring Ouzel that had been reported today at Warren Hills.  Roger had seen the Ring Ouzel yesterday and also had to be home early and so stayed at Rutland Water.

We left Rutland Water and headed for Cossington Meadows where we were hoping to see the Glossy Ibis that has been present since late October last year.  We parked near the recreation ground at Cossington and walked the short distance to Rectory Marsh at Cossington Meadows.  We were surprised to find a Swallow and a drake Pintail on the marsh and as we walked around we flushed several Teal and saw a drake Shoveler, a Little Egret and Grey Heron.  We were starting to feel that the ibis wasn’t present when it suddenly flew onto the small island and began preening.  I took a few photos of it and then we made our way back to the car and went to Warren Hills.


Glossy Ibis


Glossy Ibis


Glossy Ibis


Drake Pintail


Drake Shoveler

When we arrived at Warren Hills the sun was shining and the wind had eased considerably and it was now a pleasant afternoon.  I walked on ahead of David and found a Kestrel hunting over the hill top before it flew off to the west.  I had seen some birders further along the path and so David and I walked towards them hoping they would have the Ring Ouzel.  However, when we reached them they had seen the Ring Ouzel but when they first came up the track.  They described where it was and David and I then walked back to view the fields below the first field.  Initially there was no sign and I called Roger who appeared t have seen it in a different area yesterday.  Whilst I was taking to Roger David said I've got it.  I finished the call with Roger and then had a job finding it as I was looking where I thought the others had seen it and it had moved into the next field.  It was quite some distance away, which was a pity, as it was a superb male and looked rather smart.  There were a couple of Buzzards visible towards Bardon Hill and a Meadow Pipit was observed but with the target seen we went to Swithland Reservoir to finish the afternoon.

We parked along the causeway to view the southern section of Swithland Reservoir and found two drake Mandarin Ducks but with little else other than a singing Chiffchaff we drove around to the dam to view the northern section.  When we arrived, it was now a very pleasant afternoon, feeling quite warm and little wind, which makes a pleasant change at Swithland Reservoir.  David found a pair of Mandarin Duck near the wall viewpoint and there were twenty-five Goldeneye on the water.  We did find another drake Mandarin Duck and a pair of Grey Wagtails with another Swallow flying over and we also heard both Jay and Coal Tit but didn’t see either of them.  Four different Buzzards were observed soaring over the woodland, with one coming fairly close and David picked up a Peregrine, which was some distance away, that then flew over reservoir heading for Buddon Wood before dropping into the quarry.  We stopped overlooking the new landscaped area before leaving but didn’t see anything of note.

David decided we should call at Stoughton Airfield to see if there were any Wheatears.  We checked an area to the south of the airfield before parking just inside the entrance.  There was no sign of any Wheatear but David was sure he heard a Grey Partridge.  I walked to the road to hopefully get closer but with the constant traffic noise I didn’t hear it.  When I got back to the car he had heard it again and we wondered if it was in the airfield grounds.  However, it wasn’t heard again and there was no sign of it and we called it a day.  I had mentioned that there was a nice strip of land behind the hedge on the other side of the road that might be suitable for Grey Partridge and on seeing it as we were leaving David agreed.  As he turned left onto the road a Grey Partridge appeared at the roadside but with David watching the road he missed it and we couldn’t go back easily but it was nice to prove conclusively that they are still in the area.