Pitsford, Eyebrook and Summer Leys

On Saturday the 25th we set out to go and have a look at Pitsford Reservoir to see if we could find any migrants, after paying for a permit we set out for the Nature Reserve and were promptly buzzed by a Spitfire and 3 trainer aircraft flying over our heads, in formation.

Our first wader was a single Dunlin amongst the Wigeon and Lapwing which abounded around the shores of the reservoir. Walking from the first hide to the Bird Club Hide we disturbed a sizeable flock of Tree Sparrows which proceeded to flit from shrub to shrub, stopping to groom themselves or feed on the fruits and seeds available.







There were quite large numbers of Wigeon, Teal, Great Crested Grebe and Black-headed Gulls, with smaller numbers of Gadwall, Shoveler, Little Grebe and Cormorants and a couple of Black-tailed Godwit.
We went to Eyebrook next but apart from wonderful views of Lapwing flying overhead, Ringed Plover, Dunlin and ducks galore there was no sign of anything special.

From there we went to the South Shore of Rutland Water to have lunch before making our way south again to Summer Leys.

There the highlights were a smart Greenshank on the scrape and Common Buzzards and Red Kites returning to their roosts.