Eyebrook, Leicestershire/Rutland, 14/3/99

March is an in between sort of month. The wintering birds are getting ready to depart and the first trickle of spring migrants start to arrive. With a bit of luck and a following, wind, you should connect with both.

Of course, the opposite can just as easily prove true and so it proved in this case. My prediction of good views of Smew proved to be totally wrong as they had departed that week. Bob Titman's assurances that the first Sand Martins would be over the reservoir proved to be equally wide of the mark. By the time we had wandered over to look at an empty tree which I had told everybody was a reliable site for Little Owl, I was beginning to wonder why we had bothered. To be fair though, the Little Owl did come out and give distant views later on while we were busy watching a pair of Sparrowhawks displaying over the wood.

Nevertheless, Eyebrook showed what an excellent place it is for birding with nearly 50 species logged on a casual wander round the edges. Highlights included a pair of Pintails, displaying Goldeneyes - always a treat to watch these, my favourite ducks, jerking their heads back with considerable effort in a usually forlorn attempt to impress a passing female.

Considerable rain in the previous week had filled up the reservoir and their was little suitable habitat for waders with just a couple of Redshanks noted and a few Dunlin, well down from the couple of hundred seen there ten days ago. The thousands of wintering Lapwings and Golden Plovers had also moved on and evidence of further migration was noted with a flock of c500 Fieldfares flying north, very high up. Brian Stone was the only one to pick up a Tree Sparrow calling as it flew over the feeding station.

So we moved on to Deenethorpe to look for Red Kites. I had seen one over the A47 near Wakerley on the journey up and we quickly logged another eight birds including one nosy individual that flew over our heads at a height of no more than 25 feet. Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were also noted but what was notable was the huge increase in the number of Buzzards that have moved into the area over the last couple of years. Sightings in the general area noted at least 16 birds. A Merlin and a Goshawk were also recorded, but not by the main body of the group. Not surprising really. It was that sort of day.

PBC's Eyebrook Trip Report by Gordon Hamlett