Common Shrew

One in living room this morning!

Swifts

All gone from Foxton. Last saw three from the pub on Friday night.

Cley and Salthouse

Took Michelle for her annual day-out in Holt. Arrived latter than planned so we started with lunch rather than brunch. Then I left her to shop and went to Cley for a few hours. Very  quiet. A couple of Spoonbills and Grayling butterflies were the best I could muster. On the sea I’d been hoping for a few Skuas, but a single Common Scoter was the best I could find.

 

After eating at the cheap-and-cheerful but very good sea-food restaurant at Salthouse we took a walk for an hour. Here I watched something I’d never seen before: A couple of Peregrines hunting out at sea as a team chased and killed a small unidentified wader. Felt quiet sorry for the victim. It survived the attack for several minutes but, being out at sea had nowhere to run  too. The successful catcher flew inland with the prey and with the other bird following. Possibly a pair feeding young? I lost them in the strong sun so couldn’t see exactly how far they went.

Cley
06 August 2016 14:01 - 17:15
Sunny 23C 10W
Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Shoveler, Common Scoter, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Spoonbill, Marsh Harrier, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew Sandpiper, Redshank, Little Tern, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Bearded Tit, Skylark, Swallow, House Martin, Starling, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Grey Seal, Common Blue, Comma, Grayling

Salthouse
06 August 2016 19:00 - 20:10
Sunny 20C 7W
Greylag Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Peregrine, Avocet, Lapwing, Redshank, Sandwich Tern, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Grey Seal

Swifts

Just two, maybe three Swifts this evening. First Migrant Hawkers in the Botanic Gardens earlier.

Cambridge Botanic Gardens
04 August 2016 13:30 - 13:59
Overcast 22C 14W
Mallard, Moorhen (heard), Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Blue Tit (heard), Wren (heard), Robin (heard), Chaffinch (heard), Migrant Hawker

Fowlmere

First visit for a while. Not missed much. A couple of new dragonflies for the year there: Southern Hawker and a high flying Common Darter.

Tufted Duck with her seven offspring.

Still a few Swifts around the house.

Fowlmere
03 August 2016 17:42 - 19:10
Patchy cloud 19C 15SW
Mute Swan, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pheasant, Moorhen, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Turtle Dove, Swift, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Goldcrest (heard), Blue Tit (heard), Great Tit (heard), Swallow, Chiffchaff, Wren (heard), Blackbird (heard), Song Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Bullfinch, Corn Bunting, Large White, Meadow Brown, Southern Hawker, Common Darter

Swifts and Blackbird

Still over 50 Swifts flying around tonight. Blackbird still with young (I think). Botanic Gardens very quiet in the rain.

Cambridge Botanic Gardens
02 August 2016 14:48 - 16:17
Light rain 21C 11WSW
Mallard, Moorhen, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blackbird (heard), Chaffinch (heard), Goldfinch, Meadow Brown

Purple Swamphen

Was awoken at 5am by the lone female Blackbird going crazy in the garden. Rushed out fearing the worse, but all OK. As I was awake, I decided to head for Minsmere for the Purple Swamphen that was reported yesterday but which I couldn’t get to. Arrived at 7am, had a quick look, and was on my way in under an hour. Would have loved to spent the morning there as it was a beautiful day, but had things to do.

Poor photo taken. I reckon this one might have a chance. Spanish grounds very dry apparently and (presumed) vagrants have been found in several places in France, all the way close to the Channel. Right subspecies obviously helps!

Minsmere
01 August 2016 07:10 - 08:00
Sunny 19C 11SW
Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Little Egret, Water Rail, Moorhen, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Bearded Tit, Sand Martin, Swallow, Cetti's Warbler (heard), Reed Warbler, Chaffinch, Grey Squirrel, Canada Goose, Purple Swamphen

Edit (03/08/2016): Good article from Birdguides.