Fowlmere

Quiet again!

Therfield and around

A quick walk around whilst waiting for Sam to start football. Pasque flowers mostly over. A Red Kite was seen being mobbed by a Carrion Crow, the first Whitethroat of the year was found, and this Kestrel. A quick scan of the fields later, and a brief visit to Fowlmere produced little.

Wheatear

A quick drive around the Fowlmere Road area looking for Dotterel None, but a good looking male Wheatear was found just north of Thriplow.

Fowlmere

No new migrants, but a female Marsh Harrier. The year’s first Speckled Wood was seen in Cambridge earlier.

Fowlmere, Therfield Heath, and Foxton

Had time for a bit of birding before other commitments in the morning, so went to Fowlmere. En-route the year's first Swallows were sitting on wires at the edge of Foxton village. At Fowlmere, a Reed Warbler was heard, and there were two Lesser Whitethroats. This Robin was captured nest-building.

I then had a bit of time to kill at Therfield after dropping Sam off before his football started, so I checked out the Pasque Flowers. Not as numerous as last year, but some nice individuals.

In the evening, it was just about warm enough to eat outside, and the first two House Martins of the year were seen. With Michelle, we took an after dinner stroll to Foxton Woods and the Fowlmere Road barn. A Willow Warbler was calling from Foxton Woods, and a pair of Grey Partridges were seen. The Blackcap was still singing in the garden at dusk, and a/the Great Tit pair are going in and out of the apple tree hole.

 

Wheatear

Got a call to say there were two Wheatears at Foxton’s usual migration hotspot(!) Managed to find this one on top of the barn roof.

Planned a good visit to Fowlmere, but things got in the way so turned out to be a very quick whizz around. A Sedge Warbler was heard singing, and the first Green-veined White seen.

Spring

Still no Hirrundines, but the first young of the year: Eleven Mallard ducklings. Lapwing pair on the mere look like they may be on a nest too. Not much else to shout about, though excellent views of a Stoat.

Spring Migrants

No birding today, but a fall of spring migrants in the garden! A Chiffchaff heard occasionally, and a Blackcap that heroically kept going from dawn until it roosted at dusk.

Baikal Teal Dip

Went with Tom to see the Baikal Teal that had apparently been present at Fen Drayton for, what would have been three weeks today. Unfortunately it had decided to move on! Still, a pleasant hour spent with Tom and managed to get the year's first Willow Warbler whilst there.

Fowlmere

Still not a lot. First Blackcap seen (a singing male). Five Snipe. The male Shoveller. Three pairs of Lapwings.