Wheatear & Rockit

A misty start to the day meant I had no chance of seeing the 6am pass of the Space Station and it took some time to burn off so our visit to the pond this morning was a struggle but not unproductive.

A different male Wheatear was on farborough bank and a Rock Pipit appeared briefly on toft bank before being flushed by walkers reappearing later in toft bay. 4 Gadwall, Water Rail, Chiffchaff, Treecreeper, 4 Long-tailed Tit in toft shallows while toft bay had 6 Reed Bunting with Bob finding a further 12 elsewhere so a good number present today. Slight improvement in conditions on the way back resulted in the Great-northern Diver being seen off biggen bay heading towards the valve tower and both Smew and Long-tailed Duck were flighty landing in toft bay briefly before being flushed by fishing boats and returning to the centre of the reservoir again. Only one Snipe on the scrape.

My first opportunity for a steam train special this year when LMS Class 5MT 4-6-0s nos 44871 and 45231 hauling the Buxton Spa Express from Ealing Broadway to Buxton will pass over the Harringworth Viaduct before passing Rutland Water on Saturday 15^th March. Should go over around 9 45/50am. Not seen a double header over this location before so looking forward to it. Key times as it runs through the midlands are.

	Bedford	a 08:04
		d 08:07
	Sharnbrook Jn	08:19
	Wellingborough	08:42
	Kettering	a 08:54	water
		d 09:27
	Corby	09:39
	Oakham	10:02
	Melton Mowbray	a 10:15
		d 10:18
	Syston E Jn	10:29
	Loughborough	10:41