A real Kingfisher fest this morning at Low Barns with five seen.
On approaching the reserve entrance Swallow 50+ were strung along the length of two loops in the telephone wires beside the road.
The barrier was still down at 8:30am so I made use of the lay-by. I wasn't too hopeful of what I'd find as it was still pretty dismal first thing. It was fine but the trees were still dripping from overnight rain.
Just Coot and Moorhen on the pond by the footbridge but the trees prior to West Pastures Hide (several new finger boards around the reserve) held several young Treecreeper, Wren and flocks of Long-tailed Tit and Willow Warbler.
On entering the hide the pond was pretty quiet with just Mallard, Coot, Moorhen and a pair of Mute Swan. However I'd just sat down when a juvenile Kingfisher flew from the far corner by the bullrush to the small bush on the island in front of the hide. It just sat there a while before several times flying up to hover 20' over the water for 20-30 seconds at a time before returning to the bush. A few minutes later and another two appeared chasing each other around the pond. It wasn't long before all three were circling the pond landing every few minutes on the reedmace or bushes by the old hide site.
A Green Woodpecker flew into the trees by the bullrush but didn't hang around for long. An amazing spectacle followed as Greylag Goose 350-400 appeared in waves from the west circling the pond. Some landed on Marston Lake but most headed back west.
Moving on a single Hooded Crow hybrid was sat on West Pasture just prior to the reed bed. Two more Kingfisher were sat on the wooden hand rail of the boardwalk. Willow Warbler and Whitethroat were in the bushes at the end of the boardwalk. Several Pied Wagtail were on the grass by the path.
By the larch trees another flock of 12-15 Willow Warbler a few Chaffinch and 3-4 Bullfinch. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the top of a tree.
I walked up as far as the weir/ford but the river was well in flood - probably why so many Kingfisher were on the ponds. No birds at all on the river.
Another Great Spotted Woodpecker seen en-route to the South Hide. From the hide - Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Cormorant, Tufted Duck.
Pretty quiet the rest of the way around the Lake apart from a Little Grebe from the hide screen at the west end and a Green Woodpecker calling from very close but impossible to spot. On reaching the visitor centre a family of Song Thrush were rooting around the edges of the path.
By then the sun was breaking through so I headed back to West Pastures Hide. As I entered a Kingfisher was sat right in front of the hide. An adult female this time. Another birder was present and we sat chatting for over an hour during which time it never shifted from the perch. Only twice it dived into the water but didn't catch anything. Possibly just soaking up the sun. Another one was on the wooden pole over the weir to the left and another was in the corner by the bullrushes.
Not a great number of species seen but what I saw put on a good show.
Butterflies - Small White, Comma, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell.
Dragonflies - Common Darter, Black-tailed Skimmer, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue Tailed Damselfly, Small Red Damselfly.
BTW the winter feeding station is to be rebuilt properly with a new fence/screen. Apparently the barn is coming down for the car park to be extended.
Anyone planning on a visit the next few weeks will have to approach from the Bishop Auckland/Howden-le-Wear side as the road between Low Barns and Witton-le-Wear is closed for roadworks from 4th August for 12 weeks!
Photos: 1.&2. Kingfisher - 3. Little Grebe - 4. Hooded Crow - 5. Great Crested Grebe
