Anything for the weekend sir?... No Orchids,but some nice Butterflies and a Pec Sandpiper! 20th July 2008.


Pectoral Sandpiper Manton Bridge RW.

Pec Sand again.

Red Knot and a few Black tailed Godwits
at Eyebrook Reservoir.


On the Saturday, I drove over to Norfolk to look for Creeping Ladies Tresses (Goodyera repens) at Holkham/Wells woods, but after checking the woods for over four hours I admitted defeat as I couldn't find any orchids in the surrounding conifer plantations. The only notable bird sighting I had in the woods was of a couple of Crossbills.

The Sunday I stayed local and did some birding in Leicestershire and Butterfly spotting at Fermyn Woods in Northamptonshire with John in the morning.
Highlights we had at Fermyn included Purple Emperor, White Admiral, Purple Hairstreak and probably the best of the bunch a Silver-washed Fritillary flying along the rides.
Bird sightings around the woods included a few Red Kites and three fly-over Crossbills.

On returning to Leicester I received a text message from Andy Mackay that there was a Pectoral Sandpiper in Manton Bay, Rutland Water.
So after a bit of lunch I drove over to Rutland Water. Reaching Manton Bridge the Pec Sand was showing well on the shoreline just right of the bridge. I took a few record digishots of the Sandpiper, and also noted a 2nd Summer Yellow-legged Gull resting not to far from the Sandpiper.
Other waders in the bay included Greenshank, 10+ Dunlins and four Common Sandpipers.
Driving back to Leicester via Eyebrook Reservoir I stopped at the inflow end and saw a good mix of waders feeding on the shoreline.
Notable birds included a nice looking Red Knot feeding with a group thirteen Black-tailed Godwits, a single Golden Plover hiding in the masses of Lapwings and five Dunlins constantly feeding on the near shoreline.

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