An Afternoon at Rutland Water - 24th November, 2023

Largely due to the situation at home, I have not been able to get to Rutland Water as much as I would have liked to this year. However, on this day, the weather was forecast to be sunny, if a little chilly, and the situation at home was relatively stable.

I managed to get away late morning and took my usual cross-country 'owling route' with no expectations of seeing an owl, and this turned out to be the case. It's makes me sad to reflect on past travels on this route when, occasionally, the out and back journey would result in Little Owl sightings just reaching double figures, over the 17 Little Owl nest sites that I passed. Virtually every one of these sites has decayed to the point that they are no longer habitable. 

By one of my old sites, however, I was lucky enough to spot two distant Red Kites, one of which came a little closer to the point that I had stopped at.

Red Kite (Milvus milvus) - Skeg Hill

I pulled into my usual picnic spot for a late lunch. This is a location where at one time, while sitting in my car, I could monitor three of those Little Owl sites.

Nothing more of interest was seen before I arrived at Rutland Water - again, this route used to yield good sightings of farmland birds, and I have noted a worrying decline in this aspect too.

Having parked in the Visitor Centre car park at the Egleton side of Rutland Water, I checked in by Tree Sparrow Hide to sort out my camera settings, just finding a Blue Tit as a subject.

Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) - from Tree Sparrow Hide

I had made up my mind, as my daylight time was going to be limited and the best prospects were towards the far end of the trail to the north, I would make my way directly to the northern end of the reserve and work my way back.

As I ascended the ramp to Plover Hide, which overlooks Lagoon 4, I was closely observed by some sheep. Here's one of them.

Hebridean Sheep (Ovis aries) - by Plover Hide

I had Plover Hide to myself, and found plenty to entertain me although most was rather distant, and the direction of the sun was unfavourable.

Most impressive from this location was a line of a few hundred Golden Plover, interspersed with a few Lapwing. The first image, below, shows a part of the line with the lens at 400mm.The second image is a heavily cropped image of a smaller section of the same group.

Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) - from Plover Hide

Much closer, and on the edge of an island opposite the hide, were some Wigeon which were resting, and a male came drifting by.

Wigeon (Mareca penelope) - from Plover Hide

Wigeon (Mareca penelope) (male) - from Plover Hide

Unfortunately distant, I spotted a pair of Pintail. I'd have loved to get a closer shot of the handsome male of the species.

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) (male + female) - from Plover Hide

A Lapwing was slowly moving around on the island in front of the hide.

Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) -from Plover Hide

A drake Shoveler drifted into view.

Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) (male) - from Plover Hide

I now felt that it was time to move on. Bittern Hide was next on the list. By the access track to the hide I found a few Shaggy Ink-cap fungi.

Shaggy Ink-cap (Coprinus comatus) - near Bittern Hide

There were no birds visible in front of Bittern Hide (which overlooks Lagoon 3), where I found myself alone once more, and I was on the verge of giving up when a smallish bird of prey flashed by and headed into some distant trees. By the time I found it in the viewfinder and took a few shots, it was far too distant to ID. As it had come from the direction of Shoveler Hide (which also overlooks Lagoon 3, but with a much broader outlook), I hurried there to see if anyone had spotted it and could ID it for me. I was immediately told it was a Peregrine. Here's the best that I could muster - not good enough for an ID shot, but what is visible fits Peregrine.

 

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) - from Bittern Hide

I spent a while in Shoveler Hide, which was almost full with people, as there were birds to be seen, although nothing of great note, and most being beyond the useful range of my lens or sitting on unattractive artificial structures. Here are a few birds that I did photograph.

Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) (male) - from Shoveler Hide

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) - from Shoveler Hide

Gadwall (Mareca strepera) (male) - from Shoveler Hide

Keen to see more of the reserve before dusk, I called in at the empty Buzzard Hide (also overlooking Lagoon 3, but with a very narrow field of view) and found little in view except a close-by Cormorant.

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) - from Buzzard Hide

I decided not to spend time here, and popped over to Smew Hide (Lagoon 2), only to find the view was directly into the bright low sun, and seeing what was out there was virtually impossible, so left again without hesitation.

At Crake Hide, which gives views onto the narrow north-west end of Lagoon 4, I found one other person in attendance. There were good views of Cormorants on the far bank opposite the hide and a Great White Egret a little further away on the far bank. 

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) - from Crake Hide

Great White Egret (Ardea alba) - from Crake Hide

At one point, the egret flew and joined the Cormorants.

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and Great White Egret (Ardea alba) - from Crake Hide

I spent some very pleasant time chatting with my companion, but when a third person arrived it was my cue to depart as there were still other hides I wished to visit before I departed.

My visit to Sandpiper Hide on Lagoon 4 was a very quick one as everything was very distant, and the light was failing fast. Nothing was photographed from here.

It was now time to start making my way back to the car park, calliing in at three hides as I did so.

I cannot remember whether it was at Osprey Hide or Grebe Hide that I photographed this Moorhen.

Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) - Rutland Water, Egleton side

The last hide visited before returning to my car was Redshank Hide. The main item of interest here was a Great White Egret.

Great White Egret (Ardea alba) - from Redshank Hide

My final shots were of a gull that flew past. I am not sure what the ID of this gull was, and neither ObsIdentify nor Merlin can help with its ID. Germán, in Spain, has now advised that this is a juvenile Great Black-backed Gull, which ties in with one of the suggestions from ObsIdentify.

probable Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) (juvenile) - from Redshank Hide

Having got back to the car, I had a short errand to run in Hambleton before heading home, by a faster route, rather than the countrified one, as darkness rolled in. 

It had been a highly enjoyable afternoon out, even though nothing particularly exciting had been seen.

 

If all goes according to plan, my next post will cover the second half of November, which included four short trips out, as well as some garden observations.

In the meantime, please take good care of yourselves and Nature. Thank you for dropping by - - - Richard

Anglian Adventures, Day 2 - 15th June, 2023

My previous blog post, (which you can find here: - https://peglerbirding.blogspot.com/2023/06/anglian-adventures-day-1-14th-june-2023.html) stated that the previous evening I had set my alarm for 05.00 so that I could return to Strumpshaw Fen for a pre-breakfast visit in the hope of photographing a Barn Owl. I now find, looking at my notes, that this was not that day! All will be revealed at a later date.

Thursday, 15th June                    Hickling Broad ; Trimingham ; Wheatfen ; Strumpshaw Fen

Having had a relatively long day the previous day, I had set the alarm for 06.45. A quick trip to the M&S Foodstore to get some cold milk to have with the cereal and dried fruit that I'd brought with me for breakfast, and some items for a picnic lunch set me up for the day.

I had been told that Norfolk Wildlife Trust's Hickling Broad was a great place for Swallowtail butterfly and, as I'd never been there before, that is where I went, arriving at about 08.15. The Visitor Centre was not open, but some of the staff (volunteers?) were on site, and gave me some pointers as to where I might go to find things. I was also told that the Swallowtails were late this year and a bit thin on the ground.

I set off down the track that I was told led to the Raptor Roost. To check the settings of my camera, I took quick shot of a Goldfinch.

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) - Hickling Broad

I was soon passing by some promising-looking wetland habitat on my right.

Wetland - NWT Hickling Broad

I was on one of the viewing platforms and starting to spot a few interesting birds. There were two  Great White Egret in the distance, one of which was a male in breeding condition with a dark bill.

Great White Egret (Ardea alba) - Hickling Broad

I'd just photographed the egrets when a couple came from the opposite direction and asked if I'd spotted the Black-winged Stilts that were in the distance. I hadn't and, as I have only ever once seen this species, and that was in Morrocco, I was somewhat excited! I did manage some distant record shots.

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) - Hickling Broad

The viewing platform had a notice which stated that only two people should be on it at any one time and, as this couple had so kindly shown me the stilts and they were both eager to get more views, I vacated the platform and headed further down the trail, taking a few photos as I went.

Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) - Hickling Broad

Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma najas) (female) - Hickling Broad

I thought that I reached the end of the trail, with no Raptor Viewpoint having been seen, so turned back. I subsequently found that I should have turned left at the end and continued a while.

More birds were spotted on the way back to my starting point, although the stilts were no longer there.

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) - Hickling Broad

Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) - Hickling Broad

The Visitor Centre was still not open by the time I returned, so I headed into a different area of the reserve without the benefit of a site-map in my hand. I took the trail that passes Cadbury Hide, finding the occasional dragonfly along the way.

Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) (female) - Hickling Broad

Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) (male) - Hickling Broad

Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) (female) - Hickling Broad

As I approached the junction where the short trail to Secker's Hide departs to the left, I spotted a dragonfly whose behaviour led me to believe that it was looking for somewhere to settle. It must have been ten or fifteen minutes before it did so, but the wait was worthwhile. It was an immature male Hairy Dragonfly.

Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense) (immature Male) - Hickling Broad

I then went along into Secker's Hide, where I found a few people watching a Swallowtail on Thistles. Before I could train my camera on it, it flew to a rather more distant thistle. I attempted a few shots here which really came to nothing, but also took some video, which is a little better.

In spite of being told that it would soon be back in front of the hide, it had still not returned after about half an hour. However, the people that had alerted me to the stilts earlier were in Secker's Hide, and informed me that they'd seen Bee-eaters at Trimingham, and I made my mind up to see if I could find them.

Having left the hide, I found a few more dragonflies, including my first Ruddy Darter of the year, and a Black-tailed Skimmer against a dark background, before I took a long circuitous walk along the woodland trail, which is described informal seasonal path, back to the Visitor Centre.

Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) (female) - Hickiling Broad

Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) (female) - Hickling Broad

Back at the Visitor Centre, I paid my dues, returned to my car, and set off for Trimingham, arriving at about noon. In need of some refreshment, I had a quick picnic lunch before heading over to the designated viewpoint. 

I had only seen Bee-eaters in UK six years ago, when there were several of them at a site quite close to my home, so this was a really exciting opportunity for me. This Trimingham site was first seen to be used by Bee-eaters last year, and two chicks were raised. This year, was the first ever time this species has been recorded returning a site in UK. On arrival, I saw two of the birds up on wires at quite a distance. They didn't come any closer, so I only got record shots.

Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) - Trimingham

The nest site, which was in an old quarry, was visible from a position only a few metres from where I'd been viewing the birds on the wires. This location was, however, even further away. This is what the site looked like in a photo with my lens at its full 400mm stretch - there is a bird in the centre of the frame!

Trimingham Quarry

So here's the bird via a very heavy crop of the image.

Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) - Trimingham

Sadly, I have recently learned that the nest has failed, with Stoats being seen nearby and suspected of having predated the nestlings. However, that report also stated that the birds were being seen performing courtship behaviour again and it was hoped that they'd try for a second brood.

On my previous visit to Norfolk I'd been told of a highly recommended nature reserve - Wheatfen, managed by the Ted Ellis Trust. Wheatfen is literally directly over the River Yare from Strumpshaw Fen, so 70 metres as the crow flies, but 13 miles (21 km) by road! I set off for there, arriving at around 13.40.

Having parked my car and had a quick chat with the person manning the information centre there, I headed into the reserve. I soon found a bunch of flowers that had been put there, presumably to attract Swallowtail butterflies, but a Brimstone was making use of them.

Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) (male) - Wheatfen

A bit further on, a heron was in a field beside the reserve.

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) - Wheatfen

A bright blue-green, but quite small, beetle caught my eye. I hope that I've got the ID correct!

beetle (Phyllobius pomaceus) - Wheatfen

I was on site for all but an hour before I saw my first dragonfly! But, as I got nearer to the River Yare, things took a major turn for the better. It seems that Wheatfen is a real hot-spot for Scarce Chaser.

The first image, below, shows a reasonably fresh male on which you can just detect the faint smokey patches on the wing-tips as exhibited by some males. The second image shows a mature male with the wear on the middle abdomen segments bearing witness to a good number of mating encounters.

Scarce Chaser (Libellula fulva) (male) - Wheatfen

A distant Red-eyed Damselfly was on a lily-pad.

 

Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma najas) (male) - Wheatfen

I'd passed alongside the river and was now heading inward again and shortly reached a point where a track went off to the right to link up with the path that I'd originally come down. I turned onto this track, spotting a couple of people standing on the track further down. I stopped long before I got to them as I'd seen a patrolling Norfolk Hawker, and spent some time trying to get flight photos. I nearly managed one, as you can see in this next shot!

 

Norfolk Hawker (Aeshna isoceles) (male) - Wheatfen

By now, my arms were aching and so I continued to where those two people were. They kindly informed me that, when I first hove into view, they'd been watching a Swallowtail on the bunch of flowers attached to a post just a few metres from them. It had now gone.

 

Norfolk Hawkers were interacting with Scarce Chasers along this stretch, and both were settling from time to time, so I was kept entertained for a while. There  were a couple of Banded Demoiselle too. The first of the Norfolk hawkers, below, seems to have a long string of poo dangling from its rear!

Norfolk Hawker (Aeshna isoceles) (male) - Wheatfen

Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) (male) - Wheatfen

Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) (female) - Wheatfen

Scarce Chaser (Libellula fulva) (male) - Wheatfen

I had not, before, noted how black was the frons of a male Scarce Chaser. I found myself quite surprised by this.

It was now time to be heading back to the car as I needed to think about something to eat that evening. On the way back, at one point, I was loudly warned-off by a pair of Mute Swans who had young cygnets.

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) (cygnets) - Wheatfen

A little further on, I found a pair of Scarce Chaser, busy working on the next generation.

Scarce Chaser (Libellula fulva) (male+female in cop) - Wheatfen

I got back to my car and, while I was setting up the satnav to take me to 'the Scottish restaurant', I noticed a female Scarce Chaser, just in front of the car. She seemed to be in pristine condition and nicely placed - quite unusual for a female of this species!

Scarce Chaser (Libellula fulva) (female) - Wheatfen

You can clearly see the strong smokey marks on the wing-tips. Nearby was an equally obliging male of the species, without any discernable such marks.

Scarce Chaser (Libellula fulva) (male) - Wheatfen

After a quick light meal at 'the Scottish restaurant', as I was now only three miles from Strumpshaw Fen, I made an evening visit there. My main objective was to see if the Norfolk Hawkers were using the same place to roost that I'd observed the previous day.

 

As I left the car park to go into the reserve, I spotted a large beetle on the road. 

 

Lesser Stag Beetle (Dorcus parallelipipedus) - by Strumpshaw Fen

There was no sign of Norfolk Hawkers around the area where I'd seen them roosting the previous day, but I did get some shots of a handsome Banded Demoiselle.

 

Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) (male) -Strumpshaw Fen

I started back to my car, wanting a relatively early night as I'd had a rather tiring day. My gizmo tells me that I walked over 9 miles (14km) that day - much more than I'm used to!

 

As I headed back along the trail, a deer jumped out of the vegetation beside me and headed off through the reeds. I was quite startled, and only managed shots of a disappearing backside. However, when I got to the junction where a trail went off to access the Meadow Trail, the deer was coming out of the reeds onto the path. My original thought that it was a Muntjac - in fact I thought that Muntjac and Chinese Water Deer were one and the same thing, but I now know that this is not the case and this was a Chinese Water Deer - just look at those tusks!

 

Chinese Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis) - Strumpshaw Fen

Although, obviously, not native, it seems that they are considered to be beneficial to the environment on the reserve.

 

I then headed back to the Travelodge, and setting my alarm for 05.00 - or so I thought! - turned in early for a much-needed shut-eye session. Thus ended an absolutely fascinating day.

This has been a rather long post, so thank you for getting this far! My next post, featuring Day 3, should be a little shorter and, hopefully, available in about a week's time.

In the meantime, please take good care of yourselves and Nature.

With my best wishes - - - Richard