Tuesday 21st July
Day spent at Welney checking bird boxes and swallow nests. The few boxes with second broods of House Sparrows have now been empty. Whether we get any further broods we wait and see. The swallows continue to do ok but the number of eggs per nest is down on last year (6 per nest on average in 2025, 4 in 2026.)
Most of the birds sighted were outside the Main Hide. Two Great White Egret were visible as were six Little Egret. Single Green and Common Sandpiper were feeding along the edge and three Ringed Plover, one a juvenile, were on the mud to the left of the hide.
Full sightings list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S375165741
Wednesday 22nd July
A cooler morning saw us out at Burwell Fen. I haven't been as regular as in the past and very little has been reported from here for a while so was unsure what we would find. The far Reach Lode side is now dry and a quick scan only revealed Lapwing. The new pools on the Burwell Lode side were still present and not dry, however other than a single Green Sandpiper and the usual wildfowl were present.The pool towards Pout's Hall was still present, which seems to indicate that water is being added. However there was little on the pool other than two Little Egret.
Heading back to the bridge I heard and then saw a small group of Bearded Tit were flitting through the reeds along with young Reed Warblers.
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| Reed Warbler |
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| Bearded Tit |
Thursday 23rd July
Job to do at work at Welney and then spent some time birdwatching as a visitor! Two Glossy Ibis were on the main pool along with Ruff, Avocet and Common Tern. A Little Ringed Plover appeared and was feeding on the far side.
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| Gloss Ibis |
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| Little Ringed Plover and Common Tern (Bred on my Tern Raft!) |
Down by the junction to Friend's and Lyle Hide I came across young Cuckoo. It was moving around the trees calling in a way I've never heard before. I recorded the call using Merlin but it did not recognise the call as coming from a cuckoo.
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| Cuckoo (Juv) |
Also down there was a very obliging Reed Warbler posing in the reeds with a beak full of insects.
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| Reed Warbler |
Full sightings list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S375350669
