Merlin

A (probable) male Merlin was seen just outside Foxton on the way to Fowlmere. At the reserve itself, little was seen, though Snowdrops were out and a couple of Buzzards were noted as well as three Golden Plover low over the reserve.

Fowlmere

A very very wet day. Shepreth early morning in heavy rain produced nothing. Later, the rain eventually eased a bit and a Barn Owl was seen at Fowlmere.

Garden Bird Watch and Barn Owl

A wet day, with nothing at all of note at either Shepreth L-moor or Fowlmere until a Barn Owl showed itself to within a few feet of myself on the fields south of Fowlmere.

Earlier in the afternoon, Tom, Sam, and myself did the Garden Birdwatch, with Tom doing most of the work…

Shepreth tick and two tick Fowlmere day!

A frosty early morning was spent at Shepreth L-moor, the first bird seen being a flyover immature Mute Swan, a new bird for the site! It was quiet after that, so I headed for Fowlmere. Here, the small flock of Teals and Mallards also held a single male Gadwall, but little else was noted until I left the hide and heard a Bearded Tit. However, it could not be seen, and apart from a flock of about fifteen Siskin, little else seemed to be about.

Returning in the evening however, a Bittern was seen in flight and a couple of minutes later the Bearded Tit was heard and glimpsed. Two ticks in a couple of minutes!

Buzzard and Barn Owl

A Buzzard was perched in a tree just outside Cambridge, seen from the train this morning. A Barn Owl was at Fowlmere.

Shepreth L-moor and Fowlmere

Took the first visit of the year to Shepreth L-moor. Not a lot seen apart from a single Snipe and year-tick Greenfinches which are always ubiquitous at this site. Fowlmere held even less.

Snowy Owl

Eventually got around to seeing the Snowy Owl at Zennor, Corwall. An  enjoyable morning wandering around the moors with Tom, Cris Freddi, John Murray, and Marcus Kohler attempting to get better views, which we occasionally did, though never great. Also seen were a Peregrine and a ring-tail Hen Harrier, several hundred Golden Plovers, and a few Dunlin, and a Raven.

After a quick Cornish Pasty on the Hayle, we headed to Radipole for the Hooded Merganser. A nice bird, but would be surprised if it ever gets accepted. Four Mediterranean Gulls were also seen, two each of first and second winters.

Fowlmere

Went to Fowlmere with Tom, late afternoon. A good couple of hours! Another glimpse of last week’s Otter (seen by Tom in exactly the same spot as I saw it.) A Peregrine was seen catching a Wood Pigeon (unfortunately the kill was just out of sight) and a Barn Owl was also noted.

Blackbirds, Woodcocks, and Tawny Owls

Freezing fog all day with the occasional light snow fall. Twenty-two Blackbirds were on the lawn feeding mostly on leftover windfall apples. They were joined by the occasional Song Thrush and small Redwing flock (never before recorded actually on the lawn.)

Fowlmere at dusk produced two Woodcocks and two Tawny Owls (one seen.)

Kingfisher

A bizarre sighting of a Kingfisher flying along Trumpington Road, near the Botanical Gardens, Cambridge. Presumably looking for some unfrozen water.

Otter

Took first visit of year to Fowlmere, a couple of hours before dusk, to start the attempt on last year’s slightly disappointing 95. Somewhat surprisingly the first bird was a Mistle Thrush. Later highlights were Buzzard and then Tawny Owl.

However, by far the best sighting was of an Otter, watched for several minutes in the stream on the west of the reserve. It eventually saw me and after standing motionless darted off into the reed-bed.

Other birds for the day: Mallard, Teal, Pheasant, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Moorhen, Water Rail, Wood Pigeon, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard), Wren, Dunnock (heard), Robin, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Great Tit (heard), Long-tailed Tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bulfinch, Reed Bunting.

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eventually, after much chaos and many false alarms I saw the adult Glaucous-winged Gull at Saltholme, Cleveland. A pre-dawn start produced Barn Owl and at first light, a first winter Glaucous Gull flying around the tip. Two Pink-footed Geese were seen amongst Greylag Geese. A possible Iceland Gull (third winter) was also seen near to the Glaucous-winged; however, this may have been a hybrid or even a leucistic Herring Gull.

Buckenham, Horsey, and Lakenheath

With the family, starting at Buckenham, where twelve Bean Geese were seen with about forty White-fronted Geese, two Egyptian Geese, and six Marsh Harriers.

On to Horsey and Waxham as the Cranes were apparently showing, but despite much searching they could not be seen, around three-hundred Pink-footed Geese being the only birds of note.

On the way home we called in to Lakenheath, where the long staying Great Grey Shrike was seen. A Green Sandpiper and a couple of Barn Owls were also noted whilst watching the very large Starling roost.

Dunwich and Minsmere

In Suffolk for the new year, with the first bird seen been a pair of Blackbirds. A late start, beginning at Westleton, where 25 Bewick’s Swans were seen (three juvenile.) Nearby at Dunwich Cliffs, a Red-throated Diver was found close inshore.

I then walked north from Dunwich beach north towards Walberswick, for about a mile north of the beech carpark. A single Twite was found with two Meadow Pipits as well as two Marsh Harriers (one male) and four Little Egrets.

Late afternoon at Minsmere, at least seven Marsh Harriers were seen, as well as a flock of Bewick’s Swans flying in to roost (presumably the earlier flock.) Cetti’s Warblers and Bearded Tits were also heard and the Starlings put on a nice display.

In addition, the following were also noted: Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, Pheasant, Water Rail (heard), Grey Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Collared Dove, Wood Pigeon, Green Woodpecker, Skylark, Wren (heard), Dunnock, Robin, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Crow, Chaffinch, Bulfinch, Goldfinch, and Reed Bunting.