Glossy Ibis at Deeping Lakes, 22/10/2023

When I got there around 14:00, the bird was on the East Pit at Deeping Lakes and was busy preening. After about half an hour it went back to feeding on the banks of the River Welland adjacent to the reserve.

The Bittern had been reported showing again in front of the reedbeds at the back of the East Pit, but wasn't there whilst I was around. Lots of Wigeon, Shoveler and Gadwall today, also a number of Snipe feeding amongst the flooded vegetation. Always difficult to know how mant there are. You see perhaps 3-4 and then something like a Marsh Harrier comes over and 12-15 go up! A Kingfisher was around the East Pit again - perching in the edges of the reedbeds. Always nice to see.

2 Red-crested Pochard again on The Lake. These both seem to be males. I is in immaculate plumage, the other is much scruffier and is either a juvenile or is still partially in eclipse.

Travel: 24.9 miles, 5KWh, 100%PV.

Eldernell, Nene Washes, 21/10/2023

Bird watching from Eldernell car park on the Nene Washes on the afternoon of 21/10/2023. Quite overcast a moderate breeze and, after a rather wet day yesterday, with some large puddles in the fields.

14 Cranes in fields a bit east of The Decoy. These included a family party with a juvenile and a bigger group of 6 which flew in about 15:45 and flew off west when disturned by a farmer getting in his cows.

Plenty of bird of prey activity with 3-4 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzards, 3 Kites and 4-5 Kestrels. The only owl I saw was the Tawny Owl in its usual tree hole in Lord's Holt.

Not many wildfowl about: small numbers of Mallard and Shoveller flying about, plus 1 skein of Canada Geese and a couple of skeins of Greylags. Lots of Shoveller and Wigeon, a few Gadwall and a handful of Tufty and Pochard on Eldernell Pit. At one point a large and rather distant flock of Lapwing, Golden Plover and Starling were put up by a female Marsh Harrier.

Cetti's Warbler singing. 3 Roe Deer on the banks of the Nene.

Travel: 26.6 miles, 5KWh, 100% PV.

Glossy Ibis, Deeping High Bank, 18/10/2023

Glosssy Ibis on the banks of the River Welland just east of Crowland on 18/10/2023. This bird was first reported yesterday and roosted behind Deeping Lakes last night. It apparently left the roost at 07:45 this morning and flew eastwards along the Welland. When I was there at around 11:00, a fair number of Peterborough's local birders were lined up along the roadside!

Travel: 27.1 miles, 5KWh, 100% PV

Pectoral Sandpiper at Rectory Pit, Etton 16/10/2023

 

A Pectoral Sandpiper with a Ruff at Recory Pit, Etton - one of the Maxey-Eton complex of gravel pits. According to postings on the local WhatsApp group, this bird arrived around 12:30 and left at 15:52 when it flew off high to the WSW. I got there about 13:30. Whilst I was there, a couple of workmen were doing something to the pipes to the pump in one corner of the pit and the two birds moved to the far end of the pit, but didn't seem to be bothered otherwise. There were no other birds at all on this quite small pit which has lots of small, gravel islands.

Travel: 26.6 miles, 5KWh, 100% PV