Going in the Right Direction

Earlier today I visited Brascote Pits and while I was there I met up with local birder Dave Taylor. Dave reminded me that there have been records of Bee Orchids at the site in previous years, so we decided to check out the area where we thought they might be. Dave spotted the first and then I quickly spotted another two. The weather wasn't really that good, so Dave took a quick record shot of one and I vowed to return later in the day as the weather was supposed to improve.  Birds seen included a single Redshank, a pair of Gadwall and several LRP's.

The weather did improve, so I went out this evening and photographed the orchid and I checked out three Little Owl sites: at the first there was no sign of the owls; at the second one of the adults was perched on the weather vane above the barn and at the last an adult flew into to what I suspected was the nest and a juvenile appeared at the entrance. This was my first view of a juvenile this year.

Please Stop This Thing Spinning 

Bee Orchid, Brascote Pits

Footnote: 13 Bee Orchids were located at Brascote Pits on June 24th 2012

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More Hiding From The Owls

Brascote Pits

While I was away in Scotland I missed a Bar-tailed Godwit at Brascote Pits, which was a site first. This is a great bird for my corner of Leicestershire, however, I do like to see all of the good birds myself if I can, so it hurts to have missed this one. I am still gathering supporting information on it (listen to me getting all important), as I will need to add it to the local area list. That is when I finally decide on the boundaries of my local listing area. 


I have now seen a photograph of the Barwit and found out that it was there for a week.

With this in mind I set out this morning to even the score with an excellent find for myself. I didn't manage it, but there were a few good birds there today including:

2 Shelduck

2 Grey Partridge

3 Ringed Plovers

3 Dunlin

4 Oystercatcher

2 Common Tern

1 Little Owl

20+ Swift

30+ Swallow

The mega will have to wait until tomorrow I guess.