Last year, this proved to be an insane day of birding, culminating in finding a summer plumaged Black-Throated Diver and totting up an impressive 103 species! See here.
The forecast was for a scorcher of a day for Saturday 05/05. It was therefore never going to hit the dizzy heights of a year ago, however still promised to be a goodun. This year too, I had company, with Gareth coming along to enjoy the delights of the county.
We started at my local Bucknell Wood, near Silverstone for all the general woodland species. We didn't encounter anything out of the ordinary, although there were a good few Garden Warblers singing their hearts out and there were quite a few early-rising butterflies on what was a very mild and bright morning.
Next was the safe bet of Summer Leys, knowing that it should produce a good amount of species. There wasn't anything too crazy about, however as is usual here in Spring, it was a hive of activity. A couple of very smart summer plumaged Black-Tailed Godwits were about from the Pioneer Hide, as well as a couple LRP, a Shelduck & 1-2 Cuckoos, my first of the year.
Walking around the rest of reserve and around Mary's Lake it was getting really hot, with not a cloud in the sky and the temperature into the 20s. Time had flashed by and it was already lunchtime! Best birds on our walk included distant views of a 1st-summer Little Gull on Gull Island, up to 7 Hobby high overhead, a couple Egyptian Geese and a confiding Wheatear by the Feeding Station.
We hit the A45 once again and travelled further north to the Polebrook area, near Oundle. We had no luck in finding any Nightingales - presumably due to the heat of the day, but we did hear a rather hoarse-sounding Cuckoo! We drove around the local farmland in the optimistic hope of finding some Northants Dotterel. To be honest most fields were heavily vegetated and any that looked vaguely promising were just into Cambridgeshire! In fact the best birds we did see on this drive were some 500m or so into Cambridgeshire as Gareth picked out a singing Corn Bunting and we had some nice views of a few Yellow Wagtails too. A worthwhile stoppage!
We decided, having missed out on Nightingale so far, we would head to Thrapston as I knew there was at least one singing bird there. It was also a great little area for birds and there was always a small chance that the previous day's Wryneck may re-emerge!
Just like everywhere else on the day, Thrapston was alive with warblers, particularly Garden Warblers - presumably there had been quite a push of them overnight.
We passed the sailing club and soon approached the footbridge over the river. We we were soon hearing a Nightingale in full song...fantastic! It sounded like it was the other side of the river, however having crossed the footbridge, we realised it was back on the other side...and what's more, it was sat right on top of a Hawthorn bush. Crikey!
I purposefully made my way back across the bridge, hoping I may get close enough for a decent photo and to actually appreciate one in full view for once! What I didn't anticipate as I slowly crept towards it, is that it didn't move and soon I was stood right under it! The most insane views of a singing Nightingale ever!!
It was nice strolling around in the evening sun here, enjoying another Cuckoo in full voice, as well as some Reed Warblers nest building close to one of the hides. A Common Sandpiper also appeared for a short while too on Aldwinckle Lake. We then departed, again having a quick peek at Summer Leys on the way back, adding a late male Goldeneye and a Black Swan of all things, to the day total which closed at not a terrible, however fairly meagre 83! Still, a great day out in the lovely hot sun, with top company to boot!
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