Fowlmere

A flock of around twenty-five Siskins was the highlight at a very windy Fowlmere. Earlier in the day, a female-type Marsh Harrier was seen near Fen Drayton whilst driving.

Norfolk

With a good fall of migrants on the north Norfolk coast, myself, Tom, Cris Freddi and John Murray set off early in thick fog, full of expectation. Unfortunately the day didn't live up to it's promise, with no new arrivals and poor views (if any) of some of the birds already there.

Starting at Holkham, myself and John had brief views of the Radde's Warlber that had turned up the day before, but the two people who needed it, Tom and Cris, failed to see it and we eventually gave up. An amazing number of Goldcrests were present (I probably saw over a hundred) but no Yellow-broweds could be found. We did manage good views of two Lesser Whitethroats (new for Tom) and a Garden Warbler, as well as a Hobby. Around five hundred Pink-footed Geese had also arrived.

Next we tried Walsey Hills for Barred and Yellow-browed Warblers, but neither were showing, so after quick views of Egyption Geese on the marshes we headed to West Runton for Blyth's Reed Warbler. However upon arriving we found out that it hadn't been seen since early morning and so we back-tracked to Weybourne. A long walk was needed, but we were rewarded with good views of the Lesser Grey Shrike that was present there.

On the walk back to the car we heard news that the Blyth's Reed Warbler had been relocated, so being a new bird for everyone apart from me, we headed back there. Again, both myself and John saw it (in my case very poorly) but Tom and Cris missed out again.

With time pressing on we headed back west, again stopping at Walsey Hills, were we had good views of a Yellow-browed Warbler. A quick look around Stiffkey produced little aprart from Little Egrets, and so with daylight running out we headed for Titchwell were a juvenile Red-necked Phalarope was seen.


Lesser Grey Shrike by Tom

Fowlemere and around

At Fowlemere:
Siskin x c.10
Snipe
Jay - flock of six birds flying extremely high south-west. Local movement?

Shepreth (village):
Common Buzzard x 3 together with large, presumably female, Sparrowhawk.

Garden:
Willow Warber? Probable, but could have been a Chiffchaff.
Common Buzzard x 4

Mipit

One Meadow Pipit over the garden whilst scanning for HBs filled an embarrassing gap in the garden list. Also three Common Buzzards.

Ouse Fen

On a sunny evening:

Whinchat
Snipe x 25+
Little Ringed Plover x 2
Marsh Harrier - female type.

Hobby

One Hobby at Ferry Meadows around midday. Later, Shepreth L-moor, was completely devoid of any migrants barring six Swallows.

Fen Drayton

An evening stroll around Fen Drayton produced the following:

Common Sandpiper
Pintail x 3
Starling - roost of about 2000.
Black Squirrel x 2, possibly same one.
Red Fox - two together, looked like could be siblings.

Kingfisher

A Kingfisher flew low over the A1(M) just south of Peterborough, avoiding all the speeding traffic and landed safely in bushes on the south-bound side of the carriageway!

Later at Ferry Meadows, a Marsh Tit was seen.

Honey Buzzard

Whilst driving Sam to football at Baldock, a Honey Buzzard was seen flying low eastwards, parallel with the A10. Fortunately there was a parking place and I was able to watch the bird as it turned south-eastwards and flew in to Hertfordshire.

Later in the garden I did a couple of hours sky-watching hoping for more, as there was something of an invasion in to East Anglia. Apart from a promising looking individual that was always drifting away, I failed, but did manage to get six Common Buzzards (may have been the same two individuals), a female Sparrowhawk, and a Hobby.

Ouse Washes and Fen

Headed with Tom to the Ouse washes, partly in hope of seeing one of the huge number of Honey Buzzards coming inland off the Norfolk and Suffolk coasts. Despite seemingly favourable raptor watching conditions, the best we could manage was a distant Buzzard sp. (only two Honeys were reported in Cambridge all day) and a couple of juvenile Marsh Harriers. The water level was very high, and no good for any waders we were hoping to see, seeing instead several hundred Wigeon. There were however huge numbers of dragonflys (mainly Common Darter, Southern Hawker, and a few Brown Hawkers) and Butterflies (massive numbers of Green-veined White and good numbers of Small Tortoishell and Large White, plus a few Red Admirals.)

We moved south a bit to Ouse Fen and saw a couple of Little Egrets, three Green Sandpipers, four each of Little Ringed Plovers and Ringed Plovers.

Hobby and Redstart

Another drive-by Hobby, this one over Grantchester.

Later in the day, found a female-type Redstart at Ferry Meadows, Peterborough.

Hobby

A single Hobby seen whilst driving between Wimpole and Longstowe was more than I could find at Fowlmere after the drive!

Black Terns

Five Black Terns (three adults and two juveniles) at Ferry Meadows Peterborough. Quiet between downpours later at Fowlmere, with a Swift being the only notable bird.