I had called Roger yesterday
after seeing the Jack Snipe and agreed to go back with him this morning to
hopefully see it.
When we pulled up in the car
park it was overcast but dry after rain overnight but there was a risk of an
odd shower this morning. There was still
a good flow of water entering the reservoir and consequently the water level is
now rising steadily. The Mute Swans were
present near the inlet with their brood of seven and we saw a couple of Little
Egrets and a Red Kite before reaching the viewing point for the Jack Snipe.
As we scanned the far shore
there was no sign of the Jack Snipe or White-fronted Goose but we did find a
Little Ringed Plover. When we were sure
that the snipe wasn’t there we moved into the hide to see more of the Leicestershire
bank but there was still no sign of the snipe.
An Oystercatcher flew over and there was a Muscovy Duck on the shoreline
but with nothing else of note we walked further along the track to view Blowers
Lodge Bay but there was still no sign of the White-fronted Goose. We did have a couple of Tree Sparrows and a
Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over before we started to make our way back.
As we reached the view point
for the Jack Snipe we met another birder and stopped to chat for a while and
whilst doing so Roger said I think I might have the snipe and then confirmed he
had. I couldn’t make it out with the
bins and so extended the tripod legs to use the scope and found the snipe close
to the water’s edge and some vegetation.
Yesterday it was quite easy to pick up but today with the light being
poorer and the edges of the reservoir much wetter the snipe blended into the
background, making it easy to overlook.
It had started to rain and so
we made a hasty retreat back to the car but got pretty soaked in doing so but
at least Roger had seen the Jack Snipe.
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