House Mouse

What was probably a House Mouse was actively foraging in the open at Foxton Railway station this morning.

Fowlmere

Early afternoon stroll. Quiet, but a few year ticks: Siskin (four), Redpoll (two), and a Cormorant, as well as the Cetti’s Warbler singing.

Fowlmere
28 February 2012 13:27 - 14:58
Overcast 13C 8W
Canada Goose, Teal, Mallard, Pheasant (heard), Cormorant, Water Rail (heard), Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Skylark (heard), Cetti's Warbler (heard), Long-tailed Tit, Wren (heard), Starling, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush (heard), Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Robin (heard), Dunnock, Goldfinch, Siskin, Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer (heard), Reed Bunting

Botanic Gardens

A Grey Wagtail over at lunchtime.

Botanic Gardens

Very spring like with birds singing and displaying, including a pair of Coal Tits.

Cambridge Botanic Gardens
23 February 2012 13:13 - 13:48
Clear 14C 12W
Mallard, Moorhen, Woodpigeon, Goldcrest (heard), Blue Tit, Great Tit (heard), Coal Tit, Blackbird (heard), Robin (heard), Chaffinch (heard), Goldfinch

Fowlmere

A couple of Barn Owls by the nestbox and flying around at dusk, and a couple of year-tick Coots.

Fowlmere
19 February 2012 16:02 - 18:02
Clear 6C 12W
Teal, Mallard, Grey Partridge (heard), Pheasant, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Barn Owl, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard), Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Wren (heard), Blackbird (heard), Fieldfare, Redwing, Robin (heard), Pied Wagtail (heard), Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting

Anglesey Abbey and Fen Drayton

Went to Anglesey Abbey with the family at midday. Snowdrops and Winter Acconites were out. Took a few photos despite not having an appropriate lens with me.

Windy and blustery later, which is never good for Fowlmere, so decided to drive to Fen Drayton for the last few hours before dusk. Usual fare, which included a couple of Cetti’s Warblers heard, a Barn Owl, and a good number (50+) of Goldeneye.

 

At home, the Long-tailed Tit that was tapping on the window, exactly a year ago today, was back doing the same thing!

Fen Drayton
18 February 2012 16:06 - 17:53
Overcast with rain, clearing later 6C 12W
Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Pheasant (heard), Cormorant, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Barn Owl, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard), Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit (heard), Cetti's Warbler (heard), Long-tailed Tit, Wren (heard), Starling, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Robin, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting (heard)

Fowlmere

Days are getting longer so managed my first after work visit of the year. Quite good. A Peregrine at dusk which flew into the Jackdaw and Rook roost, causing quite a stir, as well as a Barn Owl and the Cetti’s Warbler heard.

Fowlmere
17 February 2012 17:00 - 17:59
Overcast 9C 11W
Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Pheasant, Peregrine, Moorhen, Woodpigeon, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl (heard), Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard), Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit (heard), Cetti's Warbler (heard), Treecreeper (heard), Wren (heard), Blackbird (heard), Fieldfare, Song Thrush (heard), Redwing, Robin (heard), Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting

Therfield Heath

Whilst sledging, five Goosanders (all male) were seen to fly over north-west.

Tawny Owl

Two calling to each other very close to garden. Managed to persuade one to fly over. At last!

Fowlmere

Morning visit before beginning work. Lovely walk in the snow, but very quiet. Again, a vey large number of Woodpigeons but little else of note. Did take my camera to fire off a few shots in the snow…

As well as this Fox scaring off a Greylag Goose…

Fowlmere
07 February 2012 10:04 - 11:17
Clear and sunny 1C 4E
Greylag Goose, Teal (heard), Mallard, Kestrel, Water Rail, Moorhen, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Green Woodpecker (heard), Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard), Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wren, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Robin (heard), Dunnock (heard), Chaffinch (heard), Bullfinch, Reed Bunting

Fowlmere

Heavy snow over night. Went to Fowlmere mid-afternoon when the snow had cleared from the roads. A good number of birds, including about forty each of Linnet and Skylark. The highlight however was a Chiffchaff around the Spring hide.

Managed a couple of shots of the snow using my phone.

 

Fowlmere
05 February 2012 15:05 - 16:59
Heavy overnight snow 0C 0SW
Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Teal, Mallard, Red-legged Partridge, Grey Partridge, Pheasant, Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Water Rail, Moorhen, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Green Woodpecker (heard), Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard), Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Skylark, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Wren (heard), Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Robin, Dunnock, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Bullfinch (heard), Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting

Parrot Crossbill

Arrived at Black Down in East Sussex with Tom at first light for the female Parrot Crossbill that had been present all week. One of the first birds we saw, but it was on it’s own and we were not 100% sure of the id. We waited for about half an hour before the flock which included about forty Common Crossbills came to drink; once with the other birds, it’s huge size (could tell it with the naked eye) was obvious, though the bill was slightly smaller than expected. Tom drew a sketch…

Also had a Woodlark whilst waiting.

Back in time for a breakfast before an uneventful bash around Fowlmere at lunchtime, though a flock of over a thousand Wood Pigeon were seen in Foxton whilst driving back, and managed a few shots of some Teal and Mallards on the ice.

  

Black Down
04 February 2012 08:02 - 09:08
Clear -5 10W
Woodpigeon, Goldcrest (heard), Blue Tit (heard), Coal Tit, Woodlark, Blackbird, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Common Crossbill, Parrot Crossbill

Fowlmere
04 February 2012 12:49 - 14:35
Overcast 0C 12W
Teal, Mallard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Common Gull, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Magpie, Jay, Rook, Carrion Crow, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Treecreeper (heard), Wren, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Bullfinch

Fowlmere

Very cold! A flock of sixty-four Fieldfares wouldn’t normally be notable, but with the reduced numbers around since the start of the year, certainly is. Numbers, along with Redwing numbers seem to be on the increase in recent days since the cold spell started.

Also a Barn Owl hunting and a Buzzard, both at dusk.

Fowlmere
02 February 2012 16:34 - 17:29
Clear -1C 5N
Greylag Goose, Mallard (heard), Pheasant (heard), Buzzard, Water Rail (heard), Woodpigeon, Barn Owl, Green Woodpecker, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit (heard), Great Tit (heard), Long-tailed Tit (heard), Wren, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Robin, Dunnock (heard), Chaffinch (heard), Reed Bunting

Botanic Gardens

Several great views of a young (female?) Sparrowhawk hunting in the sun. At one point it nearly caught a small passerine (Robin or Dunnock?) but despite several attempts the prey got away. Feels bitterly cold.

Cambridge Botanic Gardens
01 February 2012 13:16 - 13:40
Sunny with ground frost 2C 12NE
Mallard, Sparrowhawk, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Jay, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Wren (heard), Blackbird (heard), Redwing, Robin (heard), Dunnock (heard), Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch (heard)