Fowlmere

Went with Sam. Jack Snipe. That’s it!

Cambridge Botanic Gardens
29 March 2012 13:19 - 13:38
Sunny 17C 7N
Mallard, Moorhen (heard), Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit (heard), Long-tailed Tit, Robin (heard), Dunnock (heard), Chaffinch (heard), Brimstone

Fowlmere
29 March 2012 18:22 - 19:22
Sunny 15C 7N
Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Teal, Mallard, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Water Rail (heard), Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Jack Snipe, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Cetti's Warbler (heard), Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff (heard), Blackcap (heard), Blackbird (heard), Robin (heard), Dunnock (heard), Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch (heard), Linnet, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting

Fowlmere

Went late afternoon to try to get the Jack Snipe that I had been told about. No luck, but got the year’s first Sand Martin.

Fowlmere
25 March 2012 17:48 - 19:27
Clear 6C 5E
Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Teal, Mallard, Grey Heron, Little Grebe, Water Rail (heard), Moorhen, Lapwing, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Skylark (heard), Sand Martin, Cetti's Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Wren (heard), Blackbird, Fieldfare, Robin (heard), Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting

Fowlmere

Not  lot to get excited about. Took an okay picture of a Grey Heron.

Fowlmere
24 March 2012 10:01 - 11:42
Clear 17C 4NW
Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Teal, Mallard, Grey Partridge, Pheasant, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Snipe (heard), Black-headed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Green Woodpecker (heard), Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard), Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Skylark, Cetti's Warbler (heard), Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Wren, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting, Small Tortoiseshell

Botanic Gardens

Botanic Gardens in Cambridge during a lunch break to do some photography. Brimstone seen, and a Peacock in the garden later that afternoon.

Cambridge Botanic Gardens
23 March 2012 12:56 - 17:26
Clear 18C 1S
Mallard, Moorhen, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Jackdaw, Blue Tit (heard), Great Tit, Wren (heard), Blackbird, Robin (heard), Chaffinch, Brimstone

 

 

Botanic Gardens

First butterflies of the year: Two Small Tortoishells in tandem. Daffodils looked nice too.

Cambridge Botanic Gardens
21 March 2012 13:49 - 14:19
Patchy cloud 14C 4NE
Mallard, Moorhen, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow (heard), Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Wren (heard), Blackbird, Robin (heard), Chaffinch, Small Tortoiseshell

Owls etc.

After a football match at Burwell, I went with Sam to the nearby fen area around Reach, Burwell, and Upware area to look for Short-eared Owl. Proved to be an excellent hour or so, seeing five in total, as well as a Little Owl. Also seen was a male Marsh Harrier, and the Upware bridge, eight Little Grebes (four pairs) and two Little Egrets.

Fowlmere
18 March 2012 12:31 - 13:41
Medium level cloud 8C 10N
Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Barn Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard), Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Skylark, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Wren (heard), Blackbird (heard), Fieldfare, Redwing, Robin (heard), Dunnock (heard), Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting

Upware
18 March 2012 16:00 - 17:20
Mostly clear 8C 5W
Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Red-legged Partridge, Grey Partridge, Pheasant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Little Grebe, Marsh Harrier, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Little Owl, Short-eared Owl, Green Woodpecker (heard), Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush (heard), Robin (heard), House Sparrow, Chaffinch (heard), Yellowhammer

Therfield Heath

Went for a walk with Sam after his football training nearby in order to check for early Wheatears. None seen, and only a few Pasque Flowers in flower.

Therfield
17 March 2012 12:06 - 12:58
Rain. 8C 9SW
Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Skylark, Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Robin, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch

Fowlmere

A pre-work visit to Fowlmere first thing, and a good one. Two singing Chiffchaffs on the way to the hide, and a female Wigeon on the mere when I arrived. But best was just after I left when I got a call to say that two Shelducks had flown in (a Fowlmere mega). Just made it back in time before they flew off.

Fowlmere
16 March 2012 07:40 - 08:25
Overcast and misty 11C 11SW
Greylag Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Pheasant (heard), Grey Heron, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit (heard), Skylark (heard), Long-tailed Tit (heard), Chiffchaff, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Robin, Dunnock (heard), Chaffinch, Reed Bunting

Fenland Birds

Went out with Tom late afternoon for Water Pipits at Sutton Gault, and Cranes at Guyhirn. Both took a bit of finding (the Cranes the site rather than the birds). At least one of the former, but more likely four (very difficult to see for sure in the long grass whether the other birds were Water Pipit or Meadow Pipit), and six of the later.

Sutton Gault
11 March 2012 15:54 - 16:52
Clear 16C 6N
Mute Swan, Shelduck, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Little Grebe, Moorhen, Lapwing, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Blackbird (heard), Fieldfare, Pied Wagtail, Water Pipit, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting

Fowlmere

A walk around with Michelle at dusk. A single Hen Harrier (the juvenile I think) was the highlight. The Pied Wagtail count got to at least thirty, and the usual Cetti’s Warbler was heard.

Fowlmere
08 March 2012 17:35 - 18:29
Overcast 6C 10 SW
Canada Goose, Teal, Mallard, Red-legged Partridge (heard), Pheasant (heard), Hen Harrier, Moorhen, Coot, Woodpigeon, Green Woodpecker, Magpie, Jay (heard), Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit (heard), Cetti's Warbler (heard), Wren (heard), Starling, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Robin, Dunnock (heard), Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting

Fowlmere

A good evening, with the long-staying adult female Hen Harrier being joined by a juvenile bird. The juvenile was more active than the female though the female did leave her roost for about ten minutes when the two could be seen side by side (they tussled at one point), allowing for an excellent comparison.

Also at least nineteen Pied Wagtails roosting, around 250 Starlings, and the Cetti’s Warbler and Tawny Owl heard.

 

Fowlmere
07 March 2012 17:37 - 18:33
Clear 7C 16NW
Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Teal, Mallard, Pheasant, Grey Heron, Little Grebe, Hen Harrier, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Tawny Owl (heard), Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Skylark, Cetti's Warbler (heard), Long-tailed Tit, Wren (heard), Starling, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Robin (heard), Dunnock (heard), Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch (heard), Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting

Stonechat in Foxton

A daytime calling Tawny Owl was the only oddity at Fowlmere this afternoon, though a returning Little Grebe was good to see. Usual Cetti’s Warbler heard, and Barn Owls in nestbox. But on the way home, I found a female Stonechat along Fowlmere Road. Presumably a migrant.

Fowlmere
06 March 2012 14:04 - 15:30
Patchy cloud 7C 5N
Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Teal, Mallard, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl (heard), Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Skylark, Cetti's Warbler (heard), Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Robin, Dunnock (heard), Goldfinch (heard), Reed Bunting

Hooded Merganser

Eventually gave up and went to Kent for the  female Hooded Merganser at Whetsted gravel pits (Five Oak Green) in Kent. Fully winged, un-ringed etc. etc.

Whetsted
04 March 2012 10:36 - 11:40
Heavy rain 8C 10S
Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Cormorant, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Green Woodpecker, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Skylark, Wren (heard), Starling, Blackbird, Robin (heard), House Sparrow, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch (heard), Yellowhammer

Fowlmere

Fowlmere first thing before domestic duties. Four Lapwings were the highlight: One that seemed settled on the mere with a pair from nearby fields mobbing it, followed by another bird from the fields joining in. Cetti’s Warbler heard etc. and the stand-off between Fox and Greylag Geese. A Stoat added to the mammal activity.

Fowlmere
03 March 2012 08:51 - 10:11
Partial cloud 12C 15SSW
Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Teal, Mallard, Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Barn Owl, Kingfisher (heard), Green Woodpecker, Magpie, Jay (heard), Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Cetti's Warbler (heard), Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush (heard), Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail (heard), Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting