Main pit spit
The dreary weekend weather enabled me to clean car inside and out for spring campaign
A very wet Bank Holiday Monday
After a great days birding on Friday at Rutland, Saturday was a disaster at the pits. Cold, damp and not a migrant or wader in sight. Even the regular birds weren't there & considering I arrived very early the only explanation could have been that there was an overnight predator.
Sunday was a new day and I was determined to bag a Wheatear or a passing Osprey. Pophills was quiet but not surprising given the rising water levels. There was a singing Chiffchaff again by the A46 bridge. The growing flashes where the main bund used to stand hadn't attracted anything other than two Canada Geese.
The main pit improved with a new male Oystercatcher trying to catch the eye of the breeding female. Eventually the regular pair chased off the new arrival. The only other wader was a Green Sandpiper, it's unusual that the breeding LRP's haven't returned as yet. The Mute Swan pair have set up a new residence following last years fox predation. Best of the rest was 3 Shelduck, 43 Shoveler, 8 Gadwall, 45 Tufted Duck, 85 Teal, 4 Stock Dove and a Sparrowhawk. I trudged every where looking for Wheatears but there was nothing other than Skylarks and Brown Hares.
I was heading towards home when a text landed "Osprey over garden NOW. If anyone is at Pits its heading that way" from Ann & Noel. A sharp hand brake turn and it was back through Dunnington where the Osprey came into view but very high getting mobbed by local Buzzards & Gulls. It looked to have left heading west so I tried Abbots Salford incase it can gone there. Just I got to the bridge Ann & Noel had it again higher over the garden. I headed back to the pits but no sign. The Squire picked up the Osprey around noon over the main pit getting harassed again then going towards Abbots Salford.
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