Stiffkey

Camping at Stiffkey a.k.a. Foxton on sea. Managed to escape for a couple of hours and walked down to Stiffkey Fen where I found a couple of Spoonbills and a Little Tern.

Stiffkey
23 June 2012 10:06 - 11:46
Patchy cloud 18C 25WNW
Mute Swan, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Cormorant, Little Egret, Spoonbill, Sparrowhawk, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Little Tern, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Swift, Jackdaw, Blue Tit (heard), Great Tit, Skylark, Swallow, House Martin, Cetti's Warbler (heard), Chiffchaff (heard), Blackcap (heard), Whitethroat (heard), Wren (heard), Starling, Blackbird, Robin (heard), House Sparrow, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Yellowhammer (heard), Reed Bunting, Banded Demoiselle, Common Seal, Grey Seal

Little Egret and Swifts

Spent about an hour on and off in the garden at dusk checking on the Swifts. Hopefully good news as this e-mail details…

As I suspected, according to BWP, Swifts mate for life and often return to the same site. If one bird dies out of breeding season, the other bird may return to the site and try to attract a new mate (even if survivor is a female apparently). I’m guessing this is what happened last year as there was only one bird. Presumably the same bird is back for (at least) its 7^th year and has hopefully attracted a mate. I’m fairly sure there are two birds in there though the single bird could have sneaked out and back in again. I’ll keep an eye on them. – Toby

Whilst waiting, a Little Egret flew over, probably on its way to roost at the pool at Wimbush Manor in Shepreth where they’ve been seen a few times. It was certainly heading that way. New for the garden, and indeed for Foxton! Collecting a lots of mosquito bites was the downside.

The Botanic Gardens at lunchtime held the usual suspects as well as a not so usual Pheasant.

Cambridge Botanic Gardens
20 June 2012 13:29 - 13:59
Patchy cloud 21C 7E
Mallard, Pheasant (heard), Moorhen, Woodpigeon, Swift, Blue Tit (heard), Blackcap (heard), Blackbird, Robin, Chaffinch (heard)

Little Bittern!

The Little Bittern was re-found at Stocker’s Lake and my fifteen year wait was over. Some nice views (digiscoped a poor snap). Like the other night, a few Common Terns were seen also.

 

 

 

Edit (18/06/2012): A video on Birdforum.tv

Little Bittern Dip

Dipped the Little Bittern at Stocker’s Lake, just like the last Herts one fifteen years ago. Nice views of a Barn Owl whilst waiting as well as a few Common Terns.

Fowlmere

A few bits and bobs at Fowlmere in the sun including a couple of Common Lizards basking on the broadwalk.

Fowlmere
10 June 2012 11:46 - 13:32
Patchy cloud 18C 5SE
Greylag Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Grey Partridge, Pheasant (heard), Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Woodpigeon, Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Magpie (heard), Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit (heard), Cetti's Warbler (heard), Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler (heard), Lesser Whitethroat (heard), Sedge Warbler (heard), Reed Warbler, Treecreeper (heard), Blackbird, Song Thrush (heard), Robin (heard), Chaffinch, Linnet, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting, Large White, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Rabbit, Southern Marsh-orchid, Viviparous Lizard

Bank Vole and Blackbird

One trapped in next doors garage. Looked half starved but fed all day and released later.

Unfortunately my good work was undone later when I disturbed a Blackbird nest whilst clearing the roof of Ivy. The female had left the undiscovered nest a good twenty minutes before. I put the nest back as soon as I could and covered it with Ivy and the female began sitting again. Hopefully the eggs didn’t get cold. Time will tell.

Smooth Snake

Smooth Snake at Arne. One just caught by the Warden.

Birds included a couple of Spoonbills, and a Tree Pipit. Too cold for Sand Lizards but five species of Dragonfly were out.

Arne
02 June 2012 13:39 - 16:51
Mostly overcast with some sunny periods 17C 17W
Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Little Egret, Spoonbill, Buzzard, Kestrel, Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Swift, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit (heard), Swallow, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff (heard), Blackcap (heard), Garden Warbler (heard), Whitethroat (heard), Nuthatch, Blackbird, Robin, Stonechat, Dunnock, Tree Pipit, Chaffinch, Linnet (heard), Peacock, Speckled Wood, Azure Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly, Hairy Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Rabbit, Rabbit, Grey Seal, Sika Deer, Sika Deer, Smooth Snake

Durlston, and Studland

Bee Orchids and Adonis Blues at Studland, but too late for Early Spider Orchid and too early for Lulworth Skipper. Dartford Warblers at Studland, but too cold for Sand Lizards.

Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Guillemots, and Shags noted around the coast.