The bright sunshine and lack of wind plus my wife's encouragement lured me out for a birding trip early this afternoon (Sun). Hoveringham Gravel Pits near Southwell, Notts, suggested themselves as the target venue as both Great White Egret and Red-necked Grebe are being reported from there daily, the latter bird being faithful to Railway Pit.
Having checked the apparent width of Railway Pit from web maps, I optimistically took only binoculars, as a comparatively recent (Dec 09) Hernia Op excludes the 'scope on every solo trip where there could be a long walk (ouch!)......the Apex GPs Great-northern Diver on 15 March taught me a lesson.
Further to Murphy's Law, my first stop was at the Hoveringham /New Workings SW end of the Pits where a birding couple informed me that the RN Grebe was showing well at the other NE end (Thurgaton Station/Level Crossing end), but fortunately one could drive there in only a few minutes.
10 minutes later, I was enjoying reasonably good views of the RN Grebe (c 70m away with x10 binoculars) with a Leicestershire birder, who kindly let me check the bird a few times through his 'scope. If he's reading this report, and I strongly recommended that he logged onto the 'excellent' LBC website, then, "Thanks, Steven!"
The RN Grebe showed few signs of any moult from winter to summer plumage and was very reminiscent of the Langold bird I saw on 11 March.
A bonus appeared in the shapes of 3 Common Buzzards circling over the Thurgaton Station end of the Pit before drifting away. (The Great White Egret was not seen).
The RN Grebe was still showing well when I left the Pit at 3.30pm.
Regards,
Freddy
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