Fowlmere

 

Got a message to say there were four Waxwings at Fowlmere. Went with Sam who is keen to see some. No sign, and nobody looking. Lots of berries though, hence lots of  Redwings…

Fowlmere

Not a bad few hours (a couple in the morning and then another at dusk.) Mere still frozen but looked pretty…

Lots of small birds moving (Meadow Pipits, Corn Buntings, Reed Buntings) followed by a sighting of several raptors. First was a couple of Buzzards from the hide. Then, whilst watching a Kestrel I noticed a very large female Sparrowhawk, followed immediately by a swooping Peregrine at top speed (lost to view so don’t know what it was after.)

A Woodcock was seen in the evening.

Grey Squirrel

Spent most of the day inside working. This Grey Squirrel was very bold, pinching bird seed right next to me.

A very quick walk around Fowlmere shortly before dark produced a flyover Merlin. Probably a female (on size) but silhouetted in the fog.

Fowlmere & Shepreth L-moor

Bugger all. A few Goldcrests at both sites and eight Wrens going to roost in a nestbox below the Mere hide. Interesting patterns in the ice though…

House Crow

Cobh, Cork, with Cris Freddi for the long staying House Crow. Took an hour or so to find but good views in the end. Then spent the next several hours trying to get to Tacumshin for the Northern Harrier. We were told not to attempt it, and should have taken the advice as the snow drove us back when we had completed most of the journey. Several hours later we were back in Cork dipping a Ring-necked Duck before downing a couple of Guinness and heading home. An expensive probable non-tick, particularly as O2 charged me £20 for accessing 7mb of data and Ryan Air charged me €40 for replacing a lost boarding pass!

Grey Partridges

A total of twenty-one Grey Partridges seen whilst driving around. Eight near to Fowlmere RSPB, and thirteen along the Foxton-Fowlmere Road.

Went for a walk to look at tracks in the snow and skate on the ice with Sam and dusk. Usual good number of Redwings and Fieldfares.

Fowlmere

A male Merlin was the highlight. Lots of Thrushes, particularly Redwings. This Long-tailed Tit isn’t a Waxwing either.