A few of the team had arranged to try to catch up with the roaming Caspian Tern in North Lincolnshire on Sunday morning, when a text came in offering two places to go to see a European Roller at Icklingham in Suffolk. After a bit of sorting out and as two of the team needed to see the bird, we decided on Suffolk. We arranged to meet firstly in Huddersfield and then onto Wombwell near Barnsley with Kevin C, Dave W, Rob D at 6am. Heading down the A1 a Great White Egret was seen, then onto the A14 & A11 then A1101 a bit of mist soon went as we arrived at the bird, which was sat on wires at 75 yards distance, near to where a Roman villa used to stand! The bird flew a few sorties catching mainly flying insects then beetles, worms etc and pleasing an adoring crowd with its striking colours! A Green Woodpecker showed really well sat on a fence just further up the field. We met Steve K at the Roller area, who told us about the tornado that he had witnessed in Suffolk earlier this week.
At Lackford Lakes N.R. we went to see an immature Glossy Ibis that had been around since the 4th of June. After a short walk we sat in a hide and enjoyed good views of the bird as it fed on the margins of the small pool. Also here: - Hobby, Common Tern, Egyptian Goose and lots of wildfowl in heavy moult, nice small reserve run by Suffolk Nature Trust.
We pressed on to Cavenham Heath, to hopefully find Stone Curlew, only a couple of miles from Icklingham, but as the road was very poor had a walk followed. As we got onto a bridge over the River Lark, birders could be seen watching something. We headed back to the car and went in the opposite end of the heath. We met some birders and they sent us right to were a single Stone Curlew was sat/incubating, the bird did not move very much as we watched it for 30 minutes, nice to see though. A Woodlark was heard then it promptly landed on wires above our heads and sang some more for us, that was special! Masses of crows in the area entertained us as another Hobby spooked them into the air.
As time was getting on a bit we decided to try Idle Valley nature reserve near Lound in Nottinghamshire. During the drive north, up the A1, something unusual happened, Dave W who had driven all the way, up till now, had to vacate the drivers seat as I had failed to keep him fully awake with all my stories! Rob D & Kevin C wanted to see Red Crested Pochard for their year list and a couple were soon found also in eclipse plumage. An unseasonal Whooper Swan and lots of Banded Demoiselle damselflies were seen to end a long day. We reached Wombwell by 6-15pm and back to Rochdale by 8pm. Many thanks to Dave W for the invite and his driving, we must do it again sometime.
