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Birding and Nature – Eye Brook Reservoir, Stoke Dry, November 2019
This was a typical, murky, overcast November morning: bird-watching at ‘the sharp end!’ However, the rewards were worth attending the Stamford U3A Birding and Nature groups’ monthly meeting. Eight intrepid naturalists assembled at the bottom of the hill, below Stoke Dry church: and stopped at the car park.
From this vantage point, time was spent: telescopes and binoculars at the ready. Winter wildfowl (many from the far north), and in smart new winter/ breeding plumage, included: flocks of Wigeon, Teal, Tufted Duck, Coot, Mallard; stunning looking male Pintail, small group of Goldeneye (males and females), a hand-full of Gadwall, and Pochard, were logged in the note books.
The group then turned around, and viewed the bird-feeders, which were hanging on the large tree. Coal tits, Blue and Great Tits were busy feeding on the seeds, and below, on the grass, Chaffinches fed on the spilt grains. A Great Spotted Woodpecker frequently flew in to a nearby tree, giving the observers good views: it then flew away; showing its diagnostic undulating profile.
Suddenly, everyone turned back to the reservoir, as a loud ‘honking’ hit the air waves, and a massive flock of Canada Geese flew along in formation, towards the bridge end. The group then moved on in convoy a short way, and stopped, to view the large flocks of wintering Lapwings and Golden Plover. A ‘sharp-eyed’ member trained her telescope on to the shallows, and spotted two Snipe, and one Redshank. One Little Egret fed along the shore-line. Then we witnessed another amazing winter scene, when a Red Kite flew low over the water, ‘spooking’ the flocks, and a fantastic flight of the Lapwings and Golden Plover filled the sky, superb!
Further along the road, near the bridge end, suddenly approx 150 Fieldfare exploded from the trees, and flew over us, and on to the farm fields; their super loud calls breaking the silence.
Finally, the last stop was at the bridge. Some interesting behaviour was noted, when four Dunnocks called incessantly from the scrub below: a few minutes later, the cause of this commotion was identified, as a Fox emerged from the scrub, and made off in to cover.
The U3A group then made a short journey, and had a welcome pub-lunch at Don Paddy’s Restaurant, in the market-place at Uppingham.
Philip Rudkin
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