Out to Wicken Fen this morning, dry but cold.
Good numbers of
Chiffchaff and Cetti calling from across the area.
Large flock of Fieldfare along Harrison's Drove.
Wildfowl included good number of Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Mallard and Gadwall.
Three Marsh Harrier including one male.
Otherwise quite quiet.
Tuesday 25th March
A Day of volunteering, checking nest boxes and carrying out water tests.
Three Short-eared Owl in the usual location but no sign of the Barn Owl. Good numbers of Avocet across the site and three or four very noisy Oystercatcher.
Increased number of active boxes with one at N3 and another at N4, both Tree Sparrow.
A male and female Garganey showing well and at least eleven Great White Egret across the site.
Whooper numbers way down so will not be long till they are all gone.
Wednesday 26th March
Out to Burwell Fen this afternoon to walk the bank in hope of Garganey. It's been a while since I've been out to the fen in the late afternoon and it was certainly a most pleasant day, still and while the sun was still up, warm.
A couple of Great White and Little Egret on the pools and a small flock of Pochard still present. No Wigeon to be seen anywhere. Two Barn Owl were quartering the fen but no Harrier present.
Good numbers of Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler.
Thursday 27th March
Up early to a glorious morning. However, by the time I got out to Cock-up Bridge it had turned misty and cold. Walked up Harrison's Drove.
A large flock of Fieldfare was present, moving from tree to tree. Chiffchaff, Cetti's and Wren continue to be very vocal.
A Bittern was booming from the reedbed at the top of the Drove as were a couple of Water Rail. Turning left at the top of the Drove and headed along the river to view Adventurer's Fen which produced two Pochard on one of the pools. A male March Harrier was calling and then being mobbed by a couple of crows.
Good views over Burwell Fen, especially the new works area, produced twenty Little Egret and two Great White Egret. The missing Wigeon from yesterday were present on these new pools.
Friday 28th March
Went to Ixworth after visiting the gym this afternoon. Weather very pleasant with little wind and warming up. Walked down to the lake and back.
Chiffchaff calling but not in the numbers that I expected. A couple of Song Thrush were singing by the stream and a Green Woodpecker was calling. There was a number of Skylark were singing above the fields.
Saturday 29th March
Stayed local this morning and walked the short Lode River walk behind the station.
A pair of Kestrel were displaying and copulating over by the horse field. Further on a Grey Heron stood mopping in the field and a Buzzard was circling high above the fields.
Other than that little else, certainly no other summer visitors.
