Cossington Meadows 8th May 2008

Hi all, yesterday evening was a good time to be down at Cossington Meadows, as at around 6.00pm I had an Osprey flying over Plover meadow being mobbed by a number of birds. The Osprey slowly drifted south towards Cossington South/Wanlip North GPs, and was noted to briefly hover over the pits trying to catch a fish! (This sighting was a local patch tick for yours truly).
Following this sighting, ten minutes later while scanning the Plover meadow, I found a summer-plumaged Wood Sandpiper feeding at the muddy edges.
Other sightings on Plover meadow included the usual waders, and up to five recently hatched Lapwing chicks.
In conclusion, this was probably the best half an hour of birding down Cossington Meadows I've had for a couple years, and continues the Soar Valley excellent run of form of turning up unusual birds!

Temminck's Stint: 6 May 2008

The Temminck's Stint was still showing well on and off this evening. Also four Oystercatcher on the scrape, they later flew south over Watermead CP South, where are they headed?

Temminck's Stint: Wanlip Meadows

A Temminck's Stint has been dividing its time between the main scrape at Wanlip and the large puddle in the adjacent field since the 4th. Yesterday it was in the presence of a Whimbrel.

It has been reported via the RBA pager this morning at 05.50, however when I visited at 07.00 there was no sign. It can be quite elusive though so i wouldn't take that as gospel.

After yesterday, when six Black Tern were on Watermead South, there were none this morning.

Cossington Meadows: 28 April 2008

Gropper... not reeelin' in the years

Rockin' Robin, Twiddly diddly dee

Did an early morning walk around part of the reserve this morning. All the usual stuff was still around and a couple of new Common Sandpiper on Hobley's Lake. Sadly there was no sign of the Whinchat this morning.

There was a newly arrived Grasshopper Warbler reeling and showing quite well from one of last years favourite spots. Getting any decent photos though was something else!

A pair of Cuckoo were displaying with much bubbling but little squeaking. The Reed Warblers had best get ready. On my way back down the main track the male Cuckoo was showing well in a bare tree but I was too slow off the mark with the camera and only managed a couple of blurred flight shots as it flew off over the Moor. Note to self practice manual focus on flying birds.

Sightings over the last week 21st-23rd April.

Hi all, here is a list of the wildlife sightings I have seen down the Soar Valley in the last few days.
21st April 2008:
Watermead CP South
1 Swift,Common Tern and female Scaup still.

23rd April 2008:
Cossington Meadows LRWT
1 Ringed Plover on the Plover Meadow.
1 Grasshopper Warbler singing on the Lower Moor section, opposite Tern Pool.
Also good numbers of Whitethroats(6+), and Sedge Warblers were singing around the reserve.
Butterfly Sightings:Whilst walking around the reserve I saw at least six Small Tortoiseshells, a couple of Peacocks and a single Brimstone.
Watermead CP South
6 Common Terns, and female Scaup still.

Once Bittern...

Yesterday's Bittern was flushed from the ditch between Tern lake and the upper marsh this morning. It flew towards the river and then was seen several more times in flight before flying towards the reedbed allowing a number of Soar valley listers connected with this reserve first.
Other highlights included 2 Little Egrets,a Redshank and a reeling Grasshopper warbler

Cossington Meadows, Watermead CP South and Birstall Meadows 13th April 2008.

I checked out a couple of Soar Valley sites yesterday. Here is a list of my sightings.

Cossington Meadows LRWT

1 Little Egret, a single Green Sandpiper, two Redshanks and a Curlew were seen in the Hobley Lake area, also small numbers of Willow Warblers, Swallows and Sand Martins recorded in the surrounding area.

{Changing the subject slightly, I received a text message yesterday evening from Ben Croxtall about a Grasshopper Warbler singing and showing well in the Lower Marsh area via Andy Forryan in the morning}.

Watermead CP South

The female Scaup was still showing well again off the car park at Alderton Close early evening, and like Cossington previously small numbers of Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins were recorded in the surrounding area.

Birstall Meadows

I saw a nice summer plumaged Black tailed Godwit,a single Redshank and Curlew,and at least ten Wigeon feeding in the surrounding flooded fields.