Unbelievable! A couple of days after our hottest day ever, there we were at Thornton Reservoir in jumpers, fleeces and coats!! That just started to warm up as we walked the last stretch towards the dam. Several Sand Martins were skimming over the water as we set off, later joined by a Swallow or two … Read more

Family commitments meant that June’s outing to the Lyndon Reserve of Rutland Water was made in the afternoon. We made our way along the top path to the Shallow Water hide admiring the wild flower meadows en route, in particular the fine display of Common Spotted Orchids. The female Osprey was showing well at the … Read more

Titchmarsh Local Nature Reserve has always been a good spot to see a Cuckoo or two but not this time! OK, we did hear one but we couldn’t catch sight of it. This state of affairs was repeated with most of the warblers. They were all in full song and there were plenty of them … Read more

Thursday 19th – Titchmarsh Local Nature Reserve. Meet in the car park in Aldwincle (top right corner of map below) for 10:00. Two ways to get there, via Corby and A6116 towards Thrapston, turn L after Lowick OR via A14 J12 (for Thrapston) then A6116 towards Corby, turn R after Islip. 30 mins either way … Read more

A glorious day for our trip this month to Burbage Common and Woods, somewhere we hadn’t been to since 2011! The place was not exactly alive with birds but we did get excellent views of a Nuthatch, seemingly quite unconcerned by our presence, toing and froing to its nest in a hole up a tree. … Read more

A lovely day, but owing to the previous day’s heavy rain an exceedingly muddy one, as we carefully picked our way around Ravensthorpe Reservoir. So much time was spent looking down rather than up but even so there wasn’t a great many birds around. A Pied Wagtail at the car park, two Reed Bunting and … Read more

Sandwiched between storms Dudley and Eunice, somehow we managed a good morning’s birding at Sywell Country Park! In the shelter of the car park some Goldfinch, Siskin and Treecreepers were spotted in one of the tall trees. Once out in the open by the reservoir we felt the full force of the wind but despite … Read more

Leaving the car park at East Carlton Country Park several Redwing were grazing on the adjoining grassy area. Taking the top path we became aware of a flock of little birds at the top of a large oak tree; the light was not in our favour (too sunny!) but eventually they were identified as Siskin, … Read more

For mid December, we were thankful for a mild, windless if cloudy day for our visit to the dam end of Pitsford Water. As we made our way to the dam via the woods we listened to the winter songs of many Robins. On reaching the dam a Song Thrush was spotted at the top … Read more

On arrival at Summer Leys on a gorgeous September morning we were somewhat dismayed to see heavy plant busy re-profiling some of the reserve. This obviously meant there was much less to see than we might have expected. However, a Little Egret, Grey Heron and Great White Egret all on the scrape gave us the … Read more