Renhold Manx

This is an image taken by St Tiggywinkles staff of the Renhold Manx Shearwater found on 13th September. It was released at the coast a week later.

Spoonbill & Black Tern - Stewartby Lake

The photographs were taken by Neil Wright this afternoon at Stewartby Lake.

Spoonbill over MVCP

A very poor record shot of the Spoonbill flying over the far side of the Pillinge taken from outside the visitors centre, but one that I was very pleased to get the chance to take. Much, much better photos taken at Stewartby Lake by Neil Wright to follow. Photo by Martin Green.

Will this wind....?

Every year we get wind in the autumn (actually, I get wind all the time, but that’s another matter), and every year I go out looking for any stray seabirds that might have been blown inland by it. A bit silly when you think about it – if I really wanted to see seabirds I could go to the coast and see thousands of them. But no, I have to go and look for them in Leicestershire and Rutland.

So last week when it had been windy for a day or two, I went to Rutland Water and Eyebrook Res in the hope of finding seabirds. I saw a few bits and pieces – 7 Knot at Eyebrook (the equal fifth biggest flock ever in the county!!!) a Black Tern, an Arctic Tern, a couple of Turnstones and loads of Yellow Wagtails (is anywhere else in the country getting exceptional numbers at the moment, or is it just Rutland Water?). But no seabirds.

This isn’t actually that surprising – in all the years I’ve been going out in autumnal winds looking for inland seabirds (at least 25), I’ve only ever found a few – Sabine’s Gull and Little Auk at Rutland Water (the former on a day when it wasn’t even particularly windy) an Arctic Skua at Swithland Res, a couple of Great Skuas and a few Grey Phalaropes. I’ve seen all the other ‘regulars’ over the years – Fulmar, Gannet, Leach’s Petrel and Manx Shearwater, but not personally found any of them.

Of course the day after I went out last week there was a Manx Shearwater at Eyebrook. Arse. Granted, it was ‘well fucked’ to quote the beast, and predictably found dead the next morning, but a Manx Shearwater nonetheless.

But there is still hope – the forecast for the next few days is for even stronger winds. I shall be out looking from Tuesday/Wednesday onwards I think.

Wryneck

Wryneck in a Tebworth garden, 10th September 2011.  This bird was originally seen for fiften minutes on the 8th, before being seen again for around an hour on 10th.  Many thanks go to the householder for letting me take a peek at this wonderful bird.

Spoonbill

Spoonbill, Quest pit, 10th September 2011.

Black Terns & Ruff - MVCP

Two digiscoped images of the Ruff on the Pillinge this afternoon. My 157th species photographed on the country park. These were taken using a Canon S95 camera attached to a Nikon ED50 scope.

A couple of photos of the three Black Terns on Stewartby Lake this afternoon. They were unusually obliging and made many close fly-pasts of the visitors centre bank.

And, finally a video of one of the Black Terns. Photos and video by Martin Green.