April already...... what have I been doing?

Two posts in January and that's it! What have I been doing! Well not only enjoying early retirement but plenty of jobs to be done around the house and so on! I have been out and about birding but with little to report. January passed without anything much exciting other than a Great Grey Shrike at Santon Warren on the 15th.

The fens remained quiet, this, I think, was due to us not having any real harsh weather. Numbers of ducks were generally smaller than last year and some species very scarce!

February passed quietly with little to show form a number of visits to Burwell and Baker's Fen. A Coal Tit  was a new species for the Sidings Patch on the 12th along with the only Chiffchaff seen this winter. A Mistle Thrush set up territory in the back garden which was a welcome addition to the garden tick list.

Workshop rebuilding seemed to dominate March but was able to get a number of visits to the Fens in. However not much improvement  in terms of numbers or unusual species.

End of March saw us off on a family trip to Donegal! At last something different to see and a different environment to bird in. Have been visiting this area for more years than I'd like to admit too and in all that time I've never seen another birdwatcher, so I always have the area to myself. A number of trips to Mullaghderg produced good numbers of Long Tailed Duck and Black Guillemot. Eider ducks were present as were Razorbill and Black and Red Throated Diver. Two Sandwich Tern but in a very brief appearance as did a couple of passing Raven.

Black Guillemot displaying

Carrackfinn produced a good number of Stonechat (7), Curlew(27) and Golden Plover (60) and three Red-breasted Merganser. Sand Martins were also present but as yet no Wheatear. Sadly, for the second year running no Chough to be found anywhere in the area and once again, despite numerous tales of sightings, no Golden Eagle to be found!

Back to the Fens and two rather tubby dogs after a week in kennels. Chiffchaff calling along the sidings with at least three different birds marking out their area. A trip this morining to Baker's Fen produce a very nice pair of Garganey on the flooded field behind Charlie's hide. Shelduck present as were Oystercatcher and Redshank.