Welland Valley and back

Hello

We meandered towards the north of the county today, taking advantage of more winter sunshine before the next wet front.  Despite our efforts it was a quiet day with little out of the ordinary.

The first birding session was around East Carlton at the south end of the Welland Valley and we strolled around the rough area off Wire Lane and also the country park.  Good numbers of common birds were present in this area, particularly thrushes and woodland birds.  A dozen Siskins fed in the alders with half a dozen Lesser Redpolls by the ponds in the country park.

It seems that much of the flooding in the Welland Valley had subsided but there were good numbers of Lapwings and Common Gulls and Fieldfares on the wet fields.  Near to Gretton they were joined by about five hundred Golden Plover.  A little further north near Harringworth, a pair of Shelduck added to the mix.

Wakerley Wood and adjacent areas remained stubbornly quiet for birds, the best being a pair of Raven and two Woodcock and half a dozen Siskins.

Next was Blatherwycke Lake where a first for me was watching a Hare swim the width of the lake, and fast too!  Birds of interest included a 'redhead' Goosander, a Barnacle Goose, eleven Mandarin Ducks and singles of Siskin and Brambling.

Fermyn Wood Country Park was our last venue but despite plenty of scanning and walking around the site, we couldn't find anything of note.

Regards

Neil M

 

Welland Valley

from Cottingham Hill

 

 

Goldcrest - which had

just consumed a long-legged

insect!