I had arranged to meet David
and Malcolm in the Egleton car park at Rutland Water and then go on to Frampton
Marsh in Lincolnshire.
When I left home the sky was
clear and there was a light south-west breeze but the forecast for later was
for heavy showers. I had a Great Spotted
Woodpecker as I drove through Wistow Park and a Green Woodpecker approaching
the turn for Eyebrook Reservoir and there was a Shelduck on the road in Egleton
village. David and Malcolm were in the
car park when I arrived and Malcolm said it was his turn to drive and so I
transferred my gear into his and we were soon on our way.
We had a single Buzzard on
route to Frampton but had seen little else as we were approaching the
marsh. We checked out the farm yard for
Turtle Dove but found just a single Collared Dove and so went back and drove
part of the way to the reservoir. We
stopped at the bend and found a notice indicating that it was the best place to
look for Turtle Doves as they often perched in a dead tree or were seen flying
along the hedgerow. It felt quite cool
in the freshening south-west wind, particularly as we were stood in the shade
and after some twenty minutes with no sign of a Turtle Dove we went to Frampton
Marsh.
We drove to the car park near
the sea wall as news yesterday indicated that most of the waders were using the
area between the car park and the East Hide.
It felt a little warmer now we were in the sun and as we were getting
ready five Ruff were observed in flight and a single Dunlin flew over. Once kitted out we walked the short distance
to the sea wall, seeing a Sedge Warbler and a Reed Warbler before scanning the
area from the top of the wall. There
were plenty of Avocets and there was a party of fifty Black-tailed Godwits,
most of which were resting with just a few actively feeding. Malcolm picked a male Marsh Harrier hunting
over the saltmarsh and there was a party of circa forty Brent Goose feeding to
the west.
Cattle appearing stranded
We groups of Ringed Plovers
and Dunlin further towards East Hide we began walking north-east along the sea
wall. We scanned the birds on several
occasions and Malcolm picked up a stint, which I and David, thought was a
Temminck’s Stint as it looked rather plane and showed a distinct pectoral
band. When we got further along the bank
other birders were surprised we had seen a Temminck’s as they were claiming a
Little Stint, with one guy saying he could see it. He got us looking in the right area but all I
could see was a roosting Dunlin but he said it was roosting right of the
Dunlin. David and I moved further along
the bank but could still only see the Dunlin but another birder then said he
had a stint, which we did get on but like many of the birds was roosting and
only partially visible. He said he
thought it was a Little Stint and was proved right when it moved a few minutes
later. David then began to have doubts
about our Temminck’s sighting but I was sure this was a different bird and
Malcolm agreed.
As we walked further along the
track two Little Ringed Plovers were observed in flight and I then picked up a
first-summer Little Gull being harassed by a Common Tern. There were plenty of both Ringed Plover and
Dunlin but there was no sign of yesterday’s Curlew Sandpiper. I then picked up a wade in flight I suspected
was a stint and was able to keep on it and get the scope on it after it landed
seeing it was was the Little Stint again but this time it was a little loser
and certainly more active.
As we approached East Hide we
stopped to view the waders again seeing just Ringed Plover and Dunlin, when
Malcom said I think I’ve got the Temminck’s.
He managed to get us and another birder onto the bird and sure enough it
was a Temminck’s Stint.
We then went into East Hide
and scanned the two areas of marsh in front and to the right. There was a first-winter Little Gull to the
right and it provided some nice photo opportunities whilst we were in the hide
and there was also a second individual.
First-summer Little Gull
First-summer Little Gull
First-summer Little Gull
First-summer Little Gull
First-summer Little Gull
First-summer Little Gull
First-summer Little Gull
First-summer Little Gull
First-summer Little Gull
We eventually left the hide
and walked back towards the centre but hadn’t seen a great deal else when we
stopped at the path leading back to the road.
We were hoping for Corn Bunting and a few Swifts provided some
entertainment whilst we were looking for the bunting. David had gone further along the path, whilst
Malcolm and I were trying to photograph the Swifts, which was proving
difficult. I then though I heard a Corn
Bunting and walked towards David and as I got nearer I heard the trill
of a Corn Bunting and it looked as though David was trying to photograph
something that was visible from where he was.
When I reached him, there was a Corn Bunting singing from the top of a
small bush giving the opportunity to photograph.
Swift
Swift
Swift
Corn Bunting
Corn Bunting
Corn Bunting
Satisfied with the views of
the bunting we walked back to and along the track to Reedbed Hide, seeing a
Yellow Wagtail in flight as we did so and just before we reached the hide we
found a couple of Barnacle Geese on the top of the embankment.
Barnacle Goose
Barnacle Goose
There was plenty of
Black-headed Gull activity around the nesting islands and few Avocets and
another Yellow Wagtail flew over. In the
other direction, there was more of the same plus a roosting Pochard. We bypassed the 360 Hide and continued
walking back along the road to the car.
Avocet
When we reached the car, we
drove back to the main car park for lunch where the only bird for the day was a
Kestrel. We then went back to view the area
where the Turtle Doves were being reported but there was still no sign and
Malcolm walked up to the reservoir to look along the hedge where we had seen
them before and I joined him shortly afterwards and got some nice photos of a
Yellow Wagtail.
Yellow Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Whilst Malcolm and I were
enjoying the pair of Yellow Wagtails David called to say that he had seen a
Turtle Dove in flight and so we walked back.
He indicated that the dove had flow across the field from right to left
but with no further sign I decided to go and have a look in the farm yard. As I approached the yard I scanned the area
but there was nothing and I started to walk back towards the car and had only
take two steps when a Turtle Dove rose from behind a hump of earth and not
surprisingly disappeared. David then
called to ask if I had flushed the bird as it had flown back across the field and
both he and Malcolm saw it.
Pleased we had all seen the
Turtle Dove we headed back to Rutland Water, seeing a Red Kite, two Buzzards
and a Kestrel before we reached Tallington.
David checked the book in the
centre when we got back and decided he would head off home as there was just a
confusing message about two Spotted Flycatchers, which we assumed were near the
Volunteer’s Centre. As Malcolm and I
were preparing to walk to Lagoon Four, Andy one of the wardens told us they
were between the car park and the centre.
We had a look but there was no sign and we continued to Lagoon Four.
On reaching Lagoon Four we
went onto Sandpiper Hide and scanned the lagoon and found fifteen Shelduck, a
Little Egret, six Oystercatchers, two Avocets, two Little Ringed Plovers, six
Ringed Plovers, two Redshank and a Yellow Wagtail. We also picked-up a Hobby feeding over Lagoon
Three area and a Kestrel over Lagoon Four.
Malcom then called it a day and went back to the centre and just after
he left there was the first of three afternoon showers, which were quite
heavy. After the shower had passed I
found a Red Kite over Burley and a Dunlin on the lagoon.
Malcolm then called to say he
had seen both Spotted Flycatchers and indicated where they were. Shortly afterwards I made my way back but
called in Redshank Hide but there was no sign of the female Ruddy Duck and after
the second shower passed I went back to the centre. When I reached the centre, it was starting to
rain again and I was stuck in the centre for about thirty minutes as the wind
had dropped and this shower was slow moving.
There wasn’t a great deal on the Lagoon One but I did see four more
Shelduck in flight over the Wet Meadow.
When the rain eventually
stopped the sun came out but there was no sign of the Spotted Flycatchers and I
called it a day.
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