David and I were out for a day’s local birding and after picking him up
we headed for Eyebrook Reservoir, seeing very little on route. As we approached the reservoir there was a
Common Buzzard to the west of the road and a stop at the bridge produced a
Eurasian Tree Sparrow and we heard a Garden Warbler. Three Little Egrets were visible at the inlet
and a Common Chiffchaff and Blackcap were also observed with a Whitethroat
showing briefly.
We moved further around the reservoir to view the inlet and found six
Black-tailed Godwits, five of which departed to the east after a few
minutes. There was also a single Little
Ringed Plover and three Common Redshanks feeding into the stream. As we continued scanning I picked up a Green
Sandpiper in flight and after moving to get a view of the bay, we found two
more and a Common Greenshank. Malcolm
then joined us and after pointing out the Green Sandpipers and Common Redshanks
I picked up a Eurasian Sparrowhawk showing to the north and then a Common
Buzzard in the same area. Malcolm and
David walked back down the road to try and locate the Little Ringed Plover
calling a Red Kite as they did so.
Whilst they were away I counted six Common Terns and heard another
Blackcap. David and Malcolm returned
having success with the Little Ringed Plover but with little else we moved onto
Rutland Water.
When we arrived in the car park we heard two Blackcap and a Common
Chiffchaff before we made our way to Snipe Hide on the Wet Meadow. A Little Egret flew over and we heard another
Common Chiffchaff and a Lesser Whitethroat before reaching the hide.
There were two Black-tailed Godwits on view from the hide, one in summer
plumage and the other in winter plumage.
Four Little Egrets flew over and there were two Egyptian Geese visible
on Lagoon One. Another summer plumaged
Black-tailed Godwit then revealed itself and a Western Osprey was observed over
South Arm Three. A distant Common
Kestrel was observed beyond the centre and Malcolm then cried Marsh Harrier and
a female Western Marsh Harrier flew from the left and dropped between us and
Mallard Hide. A Eurasian Oystercatcher
then flew over and after seeing the Western Marsh Harrier again as it flew
towards Brown’s Island we found another Eurasian Oystercatcher on Lagoon One.
Black-tailed Skimmer
A visit to the 360 Hide on Lagoon Five produced a Common Redshank and
another Eurasian Oystercatcher and there were a pair of Common Shelduck
escorting a single young bird. There was
also a couple of Little Grebes and a Red Kite flew over before we set off for
Lagoon Four after receiving a WhatsApp message from Steve regarding a Little
Tern on the lagoon. As we left the hide
we saw a Mute Swan escorting eight cygnets on Lagoon Eight.
After passing the centre we heard a Common Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a
Eurasian Treecreeper and a Red Kite flew over the large meadow.
Red Kite
Another Common Chiffchaff was heard just before we left the Summer Trail
and made our way to Sandpiper Hide on Lagoon Four. There was no sign of the Little Tern, but I
did count thirty-four Common Terns and there were six Yellow-legged Gulls
resting amongst a group of Great Black-backed Gulls. As we continued scanning we found two Common
Ringed Plovers and two Common Redshanks, one of which was an immature. There was also a Little Egret and at least nine
Eurasian Oystercatcher and two Little Grebes were a surprise on this lagoon. As I scanned island six I found the Little
Tern resting amongst the rocks and managed to get the others onto as it was
harassed by a Black-headed Gull. I then
found a Common Greenshank and David picked up a Western Yellow Wagtail on
island four. I then found a Ruff, that Steve
had also reported, but it was flushed by a Northern Lapwing and flew towards island
eight and out of sight.
There was a report that the water level had dropped on Lagoon Three and
that several waders were present and so we made our way to Shoveler Hide. When we reached the hide, Steve was just
leaving and indicated that there were still several waders. We soon found two Greenshank and a
Black-tailed Godwit but there was no sign of the reported Ruff. There was a Common Shelduck on the nearest
island and three Little Egrets were feeding in the pool to the left of the
hide. I then found a female Red-crested
Pochard and there was a Tufted Duck escorting a brood of six. There was also a Mute Swan with five cygnets
on the island and we could hear at least one Eurasian Reed Warbler
singing. I saw a bird trying to feed on
the blanket weed and when it landed on the island could see that it was a
Western Yellow Wagtail but different to the one seen on Lagoon Four. David then found a drake Northern Pintail
that was moulting into eclipse plumage and then the Ruff appeared as did a
female Common Pochard with a brood of seven.
Malcolm and I stayed to photograph the Ruff and found a Common Redshank.
Black-tailed Godwit
Common Greenshank
Common Greenshank
Common Greenshank
Common Greenshanks
Ruff
Yellow Wagtail
Another Red Kite was observed and as we walked back we heard two more
Common Chiffchaff and a Blackcap before getting back to the car park and having
lunch.
Southern Hawker
After lunch we went into the centre to view Lagoon One where there was a
pair of Mute Swan escorting five cygnets, a Common Pochard and two Common
Terns. Two Red Kites were observed over
the meadows below Lax Hill and Steve picked up a Eurasian Sparrowhawk to the
left of Lax Hill. There was suddenly
quite a bit of disturbance on the lagoon, but we couldn’t find the cause but
when it happened on a second occasion I picked up an adult Peregrine, which
then flew off towards the South Arm.
Steve then picked up a Eurasian Hobby hunting low over the back of the lagoon,
but David and I left shortly afterwards for Lyndon.
We went down to Teal Hide where we found a single Common Tern and two
Yellow-legged Gulls before walking to Wader Scrape Hide where we had a Little
Egret, two adult and two juvenile Western Ospreys and there was a Sedge Warbler
singing and displaying in front of the hide and before we made our way back
there was a Red Kite to the north.
A Common Kestrel was observed as we approached the top of Wardley Hill
but we saw very little else before arriving back at David’s.
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