Sedge Warbler, Titchwell
Poplar Hawk Moth, Titchwell
Large Emerald Moth, Titchwell
Tree Pipit (awful shot) at Dersingham Bog
Dersingham Bog in the evening light
Ospreys at Manton Bay
Small Skipper, Rutland Water
Ringlet, Rutland Water
Small Tortoiseshell, Rutland Water
Gatekeeper, Rutland Waterxxxxx
Last week I was working away nr Oakham – the annual get together of my colleagues from around the country. I was tied up with training courses and dinners and stuff so birding was pretty much off the agenda. Nonetheless a family of Green Woodpeckers flitting around the grounds kept everyone entertained and a Barn Owl hunted around the grounds in the evenings. On Friday after work I nipped over to Manton Bay (Rutland Water) to have a look at the Ospreys. When I arrived the pair were perched together near the nest which contained two well grown youngsters. The male Osprey soon flew off only to reappear minutes later with a small fish which he promptly devoured despite constant begging from the female. It was very quiet around though – a couple of Common Terns and a couple of hundred Jackdaws mobbing something on the freshwater marsh the only notable sightings. On the insect front the air was filled with Gatekeepers and Ringlets while the first Small Tortoiseshells of the year were out.
Xxxxx
Friday evening I took advantage of being “in the area” to visit Dersingham Bog. I arrived around 8-30pm and began wandering around on a nice and sunny evening. Despite remembering to bring the insect repellent and pouring gallons of it all over me, I still got midged to death! The only other people around were a couple of dog walkers. I soon spotted a Stonechat and then another further round the track. I wandered over to watch the second bird and found there a pair with at least one young bird. A Tree Pipit was singing from a nearby perch and another one was further out in the bog. A Green Woodpecker flew into a nearby tree so I got my scope out to view it. The noise of the tripod banging on the wooden walkway caused a Pheasant to explode out of some heather just a few feet away and nearly gave me a heart attack!
Xxxxx
The Barn Owl box had a female Kestrel perched outside it and a few Muntjac barked from the woods. A Cuckoo was also calling constantly. Eventually three other birders arrived and later a guy catching moths. The latter chap only visits this place once a year – I met him here on exactly the same day last year! Around 9-30ish (still plenty of daylight) four Nightjars began churring. They continued for around ten minutes after which there was silence and nothing for a while. Suddenly a Nightjar flew over the bog and past us around 100 yds away, disappearing up the hillside behind. We then got distracted by a Pine Hawk Moth that had been found. The Nightjar returned, flying right over our heads a short time later. This bird then began a circuit off to the right before settling on top of a telegraph pole and starting to churr again. He was soon joined by a female and they flew off together.
Xxxx
Almost immediately another male landed on a telegraph pole behind us and began churring. This bird flew with 30 feet of us – possible curious – before returning to his pole. Shortly afterwards the light became too dark to see. The other birders had all left by then so I headed off back to my hotel. It was also noticeable that there were no Woodcock here this night unlike my last visit – possible conditions too dry for them? All in all a stunning evening with superb views of Nightjars - thoroughly enjoyed!!!
Xxxx
The next morning, mainly due to insomnia again, I paid a brief dawn visit to Titchwell, a reserve I have never visited before. A photographer and a guy catching moths were the only people present although I later bumped into another birder who was down by the pools. Apparently I missed the Buff-breasted Sandpiper by around 30 minutes. I had an enjoyable if short time there with the following birds seen:
Xxxxx
3 Marsh Harriers
1 Little Tern
66 Avocets
8+ Bearded Tits
37 Black-tailed Godwits
1 Bar-tailed Godwit
2 Spotted Redshanks
5 Dunlin
1 Cetti’s Warbler
2 Little Ringed Plovers
1 Ringed Plover
2 Common Sandpipers
1 Grasshopper Warbler and loads of Sedge and other warblers…..
Xxxxx
Friday evening I took advantage of being “in the area” to visit Dersingham Bog. I arrived around 8-30pm and began wandering around on a nice and sunny evening. Despite remembering to bring the insect repellent and pouring gallons of it all over me, I still got midged to death! The only other people around were a couple of dog walkers. I soon spotted a Stonechat and then another further round the track. I wandered over to watch the second bird and found there a pair with at least one young bird. A Tree Pipit was singing from a nearby perch and another one was further out in the bog. A Green Woodpecker flew into a nearby tree so I got my scope out to view it. The noise of the tripod banging on the wooden walkway caused a Pheasant to explode out of some heather just a few feet away and nearly gave me a heart attack!
Xxxxx
The Barn Owl box had a female Kestrel perched outside it and a few Muntjac barked from the woods. A Cuckoo was also calling constantly. Eventually three other birders arrived and later a guy catching moths. The latter chap only visits this place once a year – I met him here on exactly the same day last year! Around 9-30ish (still plenty of daylight) four Nightjars began churring. They continued for around ten minutes after which there was silence and nothing for a while. Suddenly a Nightjar flew over the bog and past us around 100 yds away, disappearing up the hillside behind. We then got distracted by a Pine Hawk Moth that had been found. The Nightjar returned, flying right over our heads a short time later. This bird then began a circuit off to the right before settling on top of a telegraph pole and starting to churr again. He was soon joined by a female and they flew off together.
Xxxx
Almost immediately another male landed on a telegraph pole behind us and began churring. This bird flew with 30 feet of us – possible curious – before returning to his pole. Shortly afterwards the light became too dark to see. The other birders had all left by then so I headed off back to my hotel. It was also noticeable that there were no Woodcock here this night unlike my last visit – possible conditions too dry for them? All in all a stunning evening with superb views of Nightjars - thoroughly enjoyed!!!
Xxxx
The next morning, mainly due to insomnia again, I paid a brief dawn visit to Titchwell, a reserve I have never visited before. A photographer and a guy catching moths were the only people present although I later bumped into another birder who was down by the pools. Apparently I missed the Buff-breasted Sandpiper by around 30 minutes. I had an enjoyable if short time there with the following birds seen:
Xxxxx
3 Marsh Harriers
1 Little Tern
66 Avocets
8+ Bearded Tits
37 Black-tailed Godwits
1 Bar-tailed Godwit
2 Spotted Redshanks
5 Dunlin
1 Cetti’s Warbler
2 Little Ringed Plovers
1 Ringed Plover
2 Common Sandpipers
1 Grasshopper Warbler and loads of Sedge and other warblers…..
No comments:
Post a Comment