Fowlmere

A Buzzard was the only bird of note during an evening stroll around a sunny Fowlmere.

Swifts

Three Swifts over the garden.

Ashwell

No sign of the reported Dotterel. It was apparently flushed by a Buzzard just before myself and Sam arrived; we probably saw the culprit over the same spot. Six Grey Partridges were seen, and a Yellow Wagtail heard.

Wood Warbler

A Wood Warbler was found today in Brocket Wood near Welwyn. I had to wait until early evening until I could go, but eventually made it there with the children. It looked like I’d missed out (apparently everyone else apart from the finder did – both before and after.) However, the bird was heard, and with a little bit of encouragement, was eventually seen well.

The Bluebells were spectacular too!

Fowlmere

A Blackbird singing in the garden woke me early so I was at Fowlmere for 6am. Should have stayed in bed! Sedge Warblers had obviously arrived in numbers over the previous days, and the first Lesser Whitethroat was heard.

Shepreth L-moor

Two Grey Partridges at Shepreth L-moor.

Common Local Birds

The Buzzard (pair?) seems to be always visible from the train near Little Shelford.

Blackcaps seem to be everywhere, even in the centre of Cambridge.

The “House Sparrow bush” along Station Road is now down to three or four birds from a maximum of about thirty that suddenly rose in late winter; presumably (and hopefully) they’re busy nesting.

A Corn Bunting sings each morning from wires in the field between the house and the station; several singers are as usual also along Fowlmere Road.

Blackcaps and Buzzards

Three Blackcaps singing in the Botanical Gardens, Cambridge, and one in my garden! A Buzzard at Fowlmere - found by Sam - was the only bird of note there, adding to the one seen from the train near Little Shelford on my way home from Cambridge.

A Speckled Wood was seen in the garden.

Shepreth L-moor and Fowlmere

A pair of Lesser Whitethroats plus a single singing male were at Shepreth. In an equally brief visit to Fowlmere with Tom, not a lot was seen, though the first Whitethroat was heard.

The first Orange Tip was seen in the garden.

Minsmere and around

A cloudless, sunny day, but with a strong and very cold North-easterly wind blowing off the sea. The first Mediterranean Gull was seen from the car in flight just outside of Yoxford. This was the first of six birds seen; all adults.

Not much was seen until reaching the coast, when I found a pristine White Wagtail on the sea wall.

The scrape held a good number of Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits amongst the usual Ruffs, Dunlins, Avocets, and Ringed Plover. Later a couple Knot and a single Grey Plover were seen. Other birds included a few Pintails, Common Terns, Sandwich Terns, and a single Arctic Tern.

I took a long walk south, passing Sizewell Power Station. Not a lot was seen for my efforts, just a single Wheatear and a Little Egret.

I finally took a walk around to the inland hides, but not a lot was seen either. A couple more Egrets, and the year’s first Whitethroat was heard. Other heard-onlys were a Bearded Tit and Cetti’s Warblers (a total of six were heard during the day.) Marsh Harriers were of course ever present, bringing the day’s total to about five.

Leaving my parent’s house later that evening, a Little Owl was seen just north of Worlingworth.

Fowlmere

An evening walk in the rain produced the year’s first sighting of  Willow Warbler and the first Reed Warbler (heard only).

Hirrundines

Swallows and House Martins around the garden tonight.

Ouse Fen and Fowlmere

Ouse Fen:
Marsh Harrier – pair. Male nest building.
Shelduck – pair.

Fowlmere:
Yellow-Necked Mouse – told by size.
Small White
Wheatear
Snipe x 4
Mallard – with three young.
Marsh Harrier – female.

Buzzards, Merlin, and Amwell

Went to Amwell in the afternoon with Tom. Around the Herts. border area we saw six Buzzards, including four in the air together just south of Flint Cross.

At Barley we had excellent and prolonged views of a Merlin in flight. It circled to gain height before heading off west. A Swallow was also seen there.

So far so good, but Amwell slightly disappointing. A pair of Ringed Plovers and Redshanks, a single Little Ringed Plover, and several Lapwings was about it for waders. There were large flocks of hirrundines, mainly Sand Martins but also a few House Martins and Swallows. A Grey Wagtail was seen as well as a Cuckoo heading north. Sedge Warblers and two Cetti’s Warblers were heard.

Fowlmere

Went for a lunchtime walk around Fowlmere with Tom. Conditions overcast, wind from the west:

Swallow x 2
Kingfisher pair nesting
Linnet pair.
Sedge Warbler heard.
Yellow Wagtail? possibly heard.

Fowlmere

Nice weather but no birds. Two pairs of Teal was the highlight.

Fowlmere

After yesterday’s ‘excitement’ it was very quiet. Two Snipe were heard at dusk but despite staying until nightfall in perfectly calm spring conditions, no Long-eared Owls again, though a Grey Partridge was heard.

50th Bird for Garden!

Fowlmere was sunny but cool during a late morning walk. Two late Fieldfares were noted along the Guilden Brook before a Wheatear was found, a new bird for me here. A couple of Blackcaps were also heard and several Brimstones and probable Peacocks were on the wing.

From Fowlmere I went to Therfield Heath to see if there were any Wheatears there. Unfortunately none were found, but a Buzzard and Swallow were seen along with a couple of Peacock butterflies.

The big surprise for the day however happened late afternoon, whilst sitting in the garden enjoying a beer late afternoon: A fly-over ring-tail Hen Harrier.

Botanic Gardens

Strolling through the Botanic Gardens in Cambridge at lunchtime, over ten Brimstones were noted, as well as two each of Small Tortoiseshells and Large Whites.