August 29th 2010

We had planned earlier in the week to visit Eyebrook Reservoir and Rutland Water today so we were chuffed that both Pectorial Sandpiper and Kentish Plover had arrived in recent days and still present. On arrival at Eyebrook the Kentish Plover was showing well but distant at the inflow with no sign of the Pec although it had been seen before we arrived and turned up again when we left. Also present were 10 Ringed Plover, 15 Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher, 6 juv Shelduck, 2 Pintail, 112 Mute Swan, Swift, Blackcap and a chance to meet up with Terry, Mo, Andy and Dave L before moving on to Rutland Water. The Kentish was a British tick for Dave.
At Rutland Water we did well with wader species adding 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, 6 Ruff plus 2 more Ringed Plover and 3 Green Sandpiper to our day list. Duck numbers were touching 2000 with at least 500 Gadwall on one of the lagoons along with 17 Red-crested Pochard and 3 Pintail. Over the main body of water we had distant views of Black Tern, 2 juvenile Little Gull and 40 Common Tern. Also seen were 40+ Egyptian Geese, 6 Little Egret, 2 Turtle Dove, 6 Swift, 300 Sand Martin and Tree Sparrow.
Birds seen of a more exotic nature were Black Swan at Eyebrook and Ruddy Shelduck at Rutland and on the way home we had a Hobby between Corby and Kettering.

Richard