New year birding 2020
With my sister planning to visit for a couple of days as is becoming a new year custom we decided to make visits to both Welney and Rutland to see how many birds we could start the year's list with.
Although only the main hide was open at Welney we were able to see a number of species including tree sparrow and whooper swans which I dont often see elsewehere.
The water level was the highest I had seen it which meant the warden had to wade along in front of the hide rather than walk on the shingle when he did his 1230 swan feed although this was rather more a duck feed with the dozen or so swans far outnumbered by large numbers of pochard and mallard together with a few tufted ducks.
We took advantage of the free 'hare walk' around Lady Fen which produced sightings of half a dozen hares, some roe deer and the highlight for me - a couple of short eared owls. We learnt quite a bit about the habits of hares to make 'forms' in the tussocks of grass with the grass providing shelter behind them. I didnt know that once born, the leverets were spaced out in the fields by their mothers and only visited for 12 minutes per day!
The following morning we left home early when it was hardly light and also raining wondering if we had made the right decision to go to Rutland Water so early but as it turned out, the rain stopped and after a dull cloudy morning, there were blue skies in the afternoon.
Our first stop was at the North Arm where we saw egrets, various ducks and the rare Slavonian and black necked grebe and a local residents garden bird feeders provided views of a coal tit and marsh tit amongst the other small birds.
The Reserve Centre was next stop and we were able to spot female smews, a snipe swimming, shovelers, egrets, curlew, heron and a couple of goosanders to add our lists.
We only visited a few hides but did see a rare yellow legged gull to add to our list and had closer views of the curlew and little egret and a bullfinch appeared in a bush at the entrance to the path to the hides,
On the way home we went via the Lyndon Centre to look at the bird feeders and saw a possible unconfirmed willow tit and Egyptian geese which are often found there taking advantage of the seed dropping to the floor beneath. I think this took my start of the year total to about 68.
Although only the main hide was open at Welney we were able to see a number of species including tree sparrow and whooper swans which I dont often see elsewehere.
The water level was the highest I had seen it which meant the warden had to wade along in front of the hide rather than walk on the shingle when he did his 1230 swan feed although this was rather more a duck feed with the dozen or so swans far outnumbered by large numbers of pochard and mallard together with a few tufted ducks.
We took advantage of the free 'hare walk' around Lady Fen which produced sightings of half a dozen hares, some roe deer and the highlight for me - a couple of short eared owls. We learnt quite a bit about the habits of hares to make 'forms' in the tussocks of grass with the grass providing shelter behind them. I didnt know that once born, the leverets were spaced out in the fields by their mothers and only visited for 12 minutes per day!
Whooper swan
Pochard
Mallards resting on bank
Mallard
Whooper Swans
Swan/duck feed
Flooded footpath
Tree Sparrow
Hare's Form
Short eared owl
The following morning we left home early when it was hardly light and also raining wondering if we had made the right decision to go to Rutland Water so early but as it turned out, the rain stopped and after a dull cloudy morning, there were blue skies in the afternoon.
Our first stop was at the North Arm where we saw egrets, various ducks and the rare Slavonian and black necked grebe and a local residents garden bird feeders provided views of a coal tit and marsh tit amongst the other small birds.
The Reserve Centre was next stop and we were able to spot female smews, a snipe swimming, shovelers, egrets, curlew, heron and a couple of goosanders to add our lists.
We only visited a few hides but did see a rare yellow legged gull to add to our list and had closer views of the curlew and little egret and a bullfinch appeared in a bush at the entrance to the path to the hides,
On the way home we went via the Lyndon Centre to look at the bird feeders and saw a possible unconfirmed willow tit and Egyptian geese which are often found there taking advantage of the seed dropping to the floor beneath. I think this took my start of the year total to about 68.
Great Crested Grebe
Grey squirrel enjoying the feast beneath the bird feeders
Great White Egret
Female Smew
Canada Geese
Great White Egret with sun from behind
Curlew
Yellow legged gull pruningand flying.
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