A blue-winged teal was still being reported around the RSPB sites near Boston so we formed a plan to visit and see them as it would be a life tick for both Kev (@kev07713) and I. Corncrakes were also being reported at Welney, calling frequently so we decided to divert to these enroute and see if we could connect with these first.
We arrived at the advertised location at Welney and jumped out the car, crossing the road from the layby to a gate facing into the field, and where the corncrakes were reported. It took only a couple of. minutes and we heard a call to our left and soon after from our right. We watched and waited with at least another two birds joining in the regular chorus, one of the birds sounding relatively close. We just could never see the birds as they were obscured by the grass and wild meadow flowers in which they were living - I suppose why they picked this area. As we waited, we had flythroughs by a peregrine and a kingfisher, and a great white egret dropped into the pool ahead. With a lot to do we couldn't spend all morning here (in hope of a sighting) so eventually we moved on, stopping for breakfast on the way.
We decided that as we were in the area that we'd go and see the two dotterel at Choseley Dry Barns - neither of us is likely to go to Scotland for these this year and so we couldn't rely on connecting with one around home base. We arrived and jumped out the car with another couple of birders departing as we'd approached, leaving us as the only people there. I scanned with my bins, but it wasn't until Kev located the birds with his scope that I could pick them out - once I was on them it was simple enough to locate them, but proper views were only possible with a scope. With the heat haze and distance, it was impossible to get a photo of any description but with the scope and a phone camera Kev was able to capture us a record shot - one of the two birds present. A couple arrived and asked if they could view through Kev's scope as they only had bins - once Kev was finished with his digiscoping he obliged, although one of them seemed to struggle to pick up the bird even when positioned dead centre of the image.
Within ten minutes, two minibuses turned up and parked, releasing a couple of dozen birders from an RSPB group to join us. They enquired as to where the birds were and so we put them all on it and decided that enough was enough and we'd make for RSPB Freiston Shore where the blue-winged teal had reported just minutes before.
We'd ended up a bit further east than originally planned and so it was lunchtime before we arrived in the car park, taking the last space. We popped on our boots. and when passing some birders coming the other way, we confirmed if the bird was still there and we were heading in the right direction. It was and we were.
After a walk along a well-trodden path, we came to the screen overlooking at pool and where the blue-winged teal had been reported. We had been expecting it to be quite busy but there were only half a dozen people there and we could squeeze in easily - we were immediately on the bird. It was sleeping on the opposite bank and had apparently been like that for the last couple of hours. From time to time, it would flick it's head but not stay awake long enough to allow for a photograph.
In front there were a couple of areas where the pool was shallow enough to allow a scrape to form and on these were a couple of little ringed plover, black-headed gulls, several shelduck, an oystercatcher and at one point a single avocet. Far to our right in another pool, gargeney could be seen. Skylarks regularly rose and fell as they do this time of year. Hirundines fed around us.
After an hour or so the teal woke up and started to stretch, eventually walking to the edge of the pool and preening. I managed a few record shots but waited in the hope we would see it in the water. After another ten minutes or so it dropped into the water, swam about five metres, and climbed back out - just for us. We'd waited and been successful in observing the duck though at distance. It was time to move on for some lunch and a coffee - we decided this would be best achieved at RSPB Frampton Marsh (and not far from where we were). As we reached the car a couple of birds dropped in close, a swallow and a little egret - I could resist taking some photos.
After a roll and sausage and a slice of cake we ventured out onto the reserve and the 360° Hide. We hoped to find a little stint here but having scanned through the birds a number of times, we couldn't find one. The other birders said they hadn't seen one either. There were groups of dunlins, ruff and a single spoonbill (the spoonbill asleep on a distant shore). Quite a few avocets were also feeding or sitting on nests.
Nice though it was, we decided to have a walk down towards the sea wall in case anything else could be found before we made for home. Avocets continued to dominate the bird species, including chicks scurrying around after their parents, but a dozen or so common terns also appeared and took turns to go off fishing. A pair of stonechats were feeding along the sea wall and as we finished watching them a cuckoo flew past, luckily for us landing on a post between the sea wall and the main part of the reserve. I edged back along the footpath and took a couple of photos which flushed the bird, but it landed only ten posts further away and we could still get good views.
Time was now our enemy and we pushed on - we'd opted for a full circuit and time was now short - but we were here and what is the point if you don't have a look about! Kev picked out a rather dashing ruff in his summer finery, and then we saw another pale male alongside a group of females feeding away frantically. A reed warbler wanted to get in on the action and hopped into view right in front of us, calling.
We returned to the car, had a quick drink and set off home - another cracking day out.
The following day my wife apparently had a tennis match and I was left at a loose end. I decided to drop down into Berkshire and try to connect with a nightingale. Kev had already seen some on a weekday trip out and so I flew solo. I had good intel on likely sights and arriving at the first, I was not to be disappointed - singing nightingales are not inconspicuous! It took about 20 minutes or so to get eyes on the bird I had in my sights but it obliged and stayed in view as I took some photos. A result, and a beautiful walk in the sun.
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