Last trip to Rutland for a while.

I made my last trip to Rutland water for a while as I am moving at the end of the week.
I will miss Rutland as it is a great place even when you see nothing the walk is worth the visit.

While walking along the path to smew hide I thought I seen a Hobby over the wooded area and sure enough he appeared but the sun was not in a great position (well I wasn't) but still managed a few shots.

Other than the Hobby the usual birds were about, although I'm pretty sure I seen a Garden warbler I heard it first and thought it was a black cap until it flew into large bush and It was not a black cap!! 

Up on Lax hill a pair of Hares were showing really well, always nice to just sit and watch them go about there business.  

Broad billed sandpiper at Frampton.

I headed to Frampton for a walk and upon arrival I could see quite a few people up on the sea wall, I headed there as something was drawing attention.
Turns out a Broad billed sandpiper was mixed in with the large ring plover and dunlin flock.

It never really came close, well for photos anyway but was superb via a scope.

Being quite new to birding I would have most likely overlooked this with out a scope, its something I must invest in soon.

Amongst the flock were also a Temmincks stint, Little stint and curlew sandpipers giving me 4 ticks for the year and 2 lifers making it a worth while trip.

Minsmere, Lakenheath and Frampton.

I headed out early to Minsmere on Thursday as I had not been for nearly a year.
Turned out to be a glorious day with high temperatures and little wind.

Upon arrival the sand martins were in full swing feeding over the area and returning to the sand wall.

A bittern made a very brief hop before dropping into the reeds and not showing again. They could be heard booming during the rest of the day.

Along the sea wall plenty of stonechat's were busy feeding the young providing good views.

A few linnet were also about with one female collecting nesting material from a dead rabbit in  the form of fur.

Common tern are in good numbers and busy heading out to sea and returning with food.

Three little tern were present but never came close and remained on the spit.

Quite a few waders about including turnstone, dunlin, redshank, avocet and sanderling.

A pair of kittiwakes were on the main pool and showing well from the hide.

Up to 4 marsh harriers were also out over the reed beds, along with a few buzzards.

Reed and sedge warblers are in good numbers along the reed beds.

On the way back I called into Lakenheath Fen 30 mins before the centre closed, so decided to do one lap of the main area as this was the first time I had visited.

Bitterns are here in abundance with at least 4 separate heard booming but I still only managed a quick glimpse. 

Cuckoo are also in abundance with 4 separate birds seen but always in a high tree, until a pair flew past calling.

The marsh harrier showed well but with the heat haze it made getting a picture tricky and also the reeds are quite high along the path.

Lakenheath is a great place, at one point a bittern was booming, cetti's calling, cuckoo calling the marsh harrier was up and a kingfisher flew past I did not know where to look or photograph.

  

Spotted Flycatcher and Glossy Ibis.

Called into Marshside this afternoon just as the rain came down very heavy. Reports of a Glossy Ibis had been around so had to go for a look with it being so close.

I was not disappointed it was found within minutes and showing well despite the rain and dull conditions. ( it was superb sunshine 10 mins before I got there)

Quite a few Wheatear around the old sand works and what looked to be a Rock pipit but I was to far away to 100% id and lost it around a mound of sand.

On the way back to the car I got a surprise as Spotted flycatcher appeared from a bush It was a little far away so grabbed a few record shots, just as well because a dog walker appeared over the sand mounds with 2 dogs running lose and bye bye flycatcher.

Marshside and Lunt Meadows.

I headed to Martin mere for a look around this morning but I think every school in the North west had booked a trip today. After a few hours and nothing out of the ordinary I headed to Marshside in serch of Wheatear.

I was not disappointed as around 30+ are present on the old sand works next to the car park and showing well. The only problem was the heat haze again. Still managed a few shots.

After Marshside I headed along to Lunt meadows for the rest of the day, a few people were about and reported an Osprey over that actually dived for a fish and was successful before moving off in the Formby direction. A Peregrine was also seen over head.

The  highlight of the afternoon was spotted by Tony in the form of a superb male Whinchat that was showing well on and off and coming within 30 ft at times. This was a lifer for me so was really happy I went to Lunt this afternoon. 

Even after I went back to the car for a cup of tea and retuned 30 mins later with Mark, It was located within a few minutes hanging around the very same area.

Another high point of the day was finally getting a good shot a a Sedge warbler, these little things have eluded me for a year with only half covered by bramble shots being the norm.

Titchwell Marsh and Rutland Water.

I took a trip to Titchwell marsh in the week as the weather looked like it was set for a nice day.
Probably a bit to nice as the heat haze made getting photographs quite tricky.

Upon arrival a pair of Marsh harriers were busy collecting nesting material and look to be building in front of Fen hide all be it some distance away.

While walking down the path to the beach a Cuckoo flew over calling giving superb views, so much I forgot I had a camera. Just glad to get my first for the year.

When I got to the beach I headed left and walked about a mile along the coast just to see if anything would turn up. Plenty of Oystercatcher's, Cormorants then something caught my eye on a post in the distance. A peregrine falcon was quite happy sitting on the post he let me get quite close but I did not want to get any closer.

While heading back for a cup of tea a Grasshopper Warbler was perched up on some brambles calling, It was at some distance and with the heat haze there was no chance of a photo, still a superb little bird to watch.

Just a shame about the heat haze but still had a superb days birding.


Rutland Water

Early this morning I called into Rutland water as four Whimbrel had been seen over the past few days, unfortunately my luck was out and I could not locate them anywhere. I did however stumble across a common sandpiper.

The Ospreys are showing quite well with what looks like two nesting pairs on the reserve one at Lyndon the other at Whitwell.

Plenty of Woodpeckers around this morning I seen three Great crested and two Green. The green lucky for me landed on the fence post not to far away.

Lots of Grebes around this morning including a pair of Little grebes, who kept getting harassed by a pair of coots. 

I watched this Great crested grebe catch four fish in under ten minutes and then had to let them all go as they were to big to swallow. 

 

Bempton Cliffs.

I decided to head to Bempton Cliff's on Sunday as the weather looked good, I was going to leave at 04:00 but woke at 02:00 so decided to set of early.

I arrived at sunrise and was greeted by a Barn Owl all be it at a distance.

Shortly after a Fox ran past behind be and I missed the opportunity for a photo.

The cliffs are quite alive now with the Gannets busy collecting nesting materials. The wind was very low today and the birds kept well below the cliff tops making getting a photo tricky. 

Razorbills are around in what seems good numbers with huge rafts out at sea.

The same go's for the Guillemots with plenty around and busy flying back and forth to the cliff ledges.

In far fewer numbers are the Puffins and at times quite tricky to pick out.

Kittiwakes are also in good numbers and a great bird to watch soaring around the cliffs before what seems finding the most awkward ledge to land and build a nest on.

Every now and then a Fulmar would turn up mixed among the Kittiwakes but always seemed to stay well below the cliff tops.

Their was a few other species about today with Linnets showing quite well along the nature trail path.

I hope to get back again soon for another day hopefully in the very near future.

Below is a few more images from the day.