Fowlmere

A quick walk to the hide with Sam on a very windy evening produced six Teal and a pair of Gadwall.

Fowlmere

A very neat looking adult male Merlin was the undoubted highlight as it flew low across the mere this evening. The Cetti’s Warbler was heard of course.

Red Kites in Cambridge

During a quick lunchtime stroll I saw two Red Kites and  Buzzard together in the air from the Botanic Gardens. Red Kite is new for the Botanic Garden list!

Fowlmere held three Blackcaps and six Teal.

Baltic Gull

Started the day at Fowlmere. Very quiet, just the Cetti’s Warbler heard. I then went with Tom to the Nene Washes to try for Water Pipit, a bird that Tom has yet to see. No luck, just a Red Kite. Then late afternoon we drove once more to Lackford Lakes in hope of seeing the Baltic Gull (Larus fuscus fuscus.) On the way we saw a female-type Marsh Harrier from the A14 at Fen Ditton, but more importantly got news that the bird was present.

I took some notes and took a record-shot photograph (much better ones can be seen on BirdGuides) and Tom drew a quick sketch.

About twenty-five Sand Martins flew over as we left just before dusk.

Fowlmere

A couple of hours mid-morning:

Peregrine
Cetti’s Warbler x 2 heard
Lapwing – pair.
Linnet – probably about sixty. Several flocks, one containing twenty-one birds.

Fowlmere

Very quiet. Cetti’s Warbler heard.

Fowlmere

A very speedy walk around early morning. The two Cetti’s Warblers heard, and at least six Chiffchaffs.

Spring Dip

Started the day early at Shepreth L-moor. Not much, just two pairs of Yellowhammers seen in all too brief walk around.

Late afternoon I went with Tom to Lackford Lakes to look for the probable Baltic Gull (Larus fuscus fuscus) that had been present there for a couple of weeks. I had heard that it had been there last night, but when we got there it soon became apparent that the report was erroneous. Saw a few good birds whilst there though: A Stone Curlew, short glimpses of three Tree Sparrows before they flew, ten Goosanders and a Peregrine that put all the gulls up.

Local birding

Started at Fowlmere at midday. Very little, just a Cetti’s Warbler heard and three Chiffchaffs.

Then, after working in the garden I spent a couple of hours searching Therfield Heath for Wheatears. None were seen, but a Red Kite was a good find. Four Buzzards were also seen as well as a couple of Partridges (probably Red-legged.)

I then dropped into Fowlmere but again, very quiet so drove around Chrishill Grange looking for a reported Short-eared Owl. No luck, just seven Red-legged Partridges.

Fowlmere

A very spring-like early morning…

Cetti’s Warbler x 2 (one heard only.)
Blackbird – the partial albino.
Redpoll x 2
Siskin x 2
Grey Partridge

Fowlmere

A Chiffchaff seen in the reed-bed, and the Cetti’s Warbler seen well.

Fowlmere

A grey misty day, but not a bad lunchtime stroll albeit with no migrants:

Buzzard x 3
Snipe x 2
Cetti’s Warbler – heard.
Redpoll x 2
Grey Partridge
Redwing x 15-20
Linnet x 5

Barn Owls

A pair of Barn Owls were along Fowlmere Road just outside Foxton in the evening. Fowlmere at dusk held nothing; a Rat was the most notable sighting.

Amwell and Fowlmere

At midday I took Sam to a football match in Puckeridge, noting two Grey Partridges and Buzzards on the way. After the game we continued to Amwell where we both had great views of four Bearded Tits including three males. Also seen were three Redshanks and four Buzzards, as well as several Goldeneye.

On return I took Tom to Fowlmere, but we didn’t really see a lot.

Fowlmere

Two visits. The first at dawn for an hour which produced a Treecreeper pair inspecting nest holes by the hut, and four Redpolls, whilst a revisit late afternoon added a Mealy Redpoll. A herd of over fifty Fallow Deer were also seen (only three white individuals out of at least four, so more were around elsewhere.)

Fowlmere

Five Teal (two male). That’s all folks!

Ashwell and Amwell

With Sam having a football match at Ashwell, I dropped him off early and drove around the area looking for birds. Seven Buzzards seen, with six in the air together.

Late afternoon with Tom, I went to Amwell, seeing three more Buzzards on the way. Amwell was quiet, but did have eight Smew (including two drakes), several Goldeneye, and four Little Egrets. I also had tantalising views of what were probably the two Ravens returning to their roost. A would-be Amwell tick.

Fowlmere

Very spring like this morning. Cetti’s Warbler singing loudly and five Buzzards in the air together.

Fowlmere

Buzzard! That’s all folks.

Fowlmere

Very brief visit at dusk. About fifty Starlings was about it.