Week commencing 21st January

Monday 21st

Weather: 5° (feeling like -2°), Wind 5mph, SW, Cloud 100% clearing to 40% by noon, Visibility 1 mile increasing to 5 miles.

Much of the water at Burwell Fen was iced over so other than a couple of Moorhen there was nothing on the lower half of the flooded area.

A small patch was not frozen on the main flood area and fortunately was near to the bank so much of the waterfowl was closer in than usual. About a hundred Teal and a similar number of Wigeon were present with a good number of Shoveler present and three Shelduck further out on the ice.

Two Short-eared Owl were quartering the far side and both a male and female Marsh Harrier were present.

Number of species seen: 35

Week commencing 7th January

Monday 7th

Weather: 7 degrees C (feel like 4), Wind 10mph, SW, Cloud 79%, Vis 10 miles

First time out since the Christmas period came to an end and very little about. Small group of Golden Plover passed through and a single male Pintail were the outstanding observations of the morning. A single male Stonechat and a solo Egyptian Goose also present. Other than that pretty much the usual fare.

Tuesday 8th

Weather: 6 degrees (feel 2 degrees C), Wind 13 mph, NW, Cloud: 0, Good visibility

Reports of Great Grey Shrike and Smew saw us heading over to The Ouse Fen in the hope of better birding! Sadly neither seen although both were reported. Can only guess that the Smew were seen by the two birder who were inside the fenced off area checking out a pit that's hard to see from the public footpath.

Other than that nothing to report of worth.

Wednesday 9th

Cold: 5 degrees C (feeling like 1 degree), Wind: NNW 13 mph, Cloud: 48% Visibility: 9m

After completing a few jobs at home the dogs and I set out to Baker's Fen. A cold afternoon but really nice for walking.

A few Fieldfare and Redwing along Harrison's Drove and three male Pintail on the pool in front of the hide.

Along Wicken Lode two Woodcock flew from the hedges and over onto Sedge Fen. Coming down Burwell Lode a male Hen Harrier cruised over from Burwell Fen and disappeared into Baker's.

Thursday 10th

Weather: 3 degree (Feel -1), Wind NW, 10mph. Cloud 100%. Visibility 8m

Welney for a course in the morning, Three Bean Goose dropped in with a group of Greylag. Good numbers of Pintail around.

Back after lunch so out with the dogs to Burwell. Usual wildfowl present and at the top end of the fen a good gathering of gulls including thirteen Common Gull, one of which was ringed with a red ring on the left leg.

Week commencing 1st January 2019

Busy with family commitments so haven't spent much time out and about birding until Friday 4th when off to Welney for a day of physical activity to burn off the turkey.

All quiet when I arrived as everyone was over in the Main Hide looking at the Ring-necked Duck (male), that had appeared the night before. It was showing well from the Main Hide, mixed in with the Pochard. By the time I go my camera out it decided to tuck its head away and snooze.

A rather poor record shot of it a little later in the morning when it had moved to one of the spits.

Good numbers of Black-tailed Godwit around but despite watching them while having lunch could not find any that were ringed.

While lunching spotted a Rough-legged Buzzard on the far side being driven off by Carrion Crow and the wandering White Stork in the same area. 

Number of species seen: 49

Review of 2018

So, a New Year, new lists and the possibility of new species....we can live in hope! Little to report over the Christmas period as family and eating took over. Time to reflect on the past year.

Number of species seen overall in the year: 237.

Yearly Species Count 2010 to 2018

So down on 2017 but up on the rest of the years since 2010

Looking at the monthly species count: 2018

Monthly species count 2018

In comparison to 2017

March 2018 saw me birding in Spain for a week whereas it was in May 2017 that I did the first Spanish trip to Extremadura.

The number of Lifers seen in 2018 was 32. The majority while in Canada and Alaska with four in Spain and a single at Burwell Fen and a First at Welney

2017 saw 19 First added to the list with 3 in the UK the rest from Extramadura.

In general, not a bad year but not one to remember for really outstanding birding, especially locally although the trips abroad were very worth while.

Specific to Burwell Fen, I was two species short of last years total of 114, still not reaching 2014 grand total of 120!

Visited and recorded sightings from Burwell Fen on 75 occasions during 2018 as opposed to 66 times in 2017. A product of full retirement. A total of 234 recordings submitted to Bird Journal,Bird and the BTO, which was only 6 more than 2017.

Local Patch

Number of species seen locally  in 2018 were 66. In 2017 it was 67 so down by one! Submitted 51 lists as opposed to 54 in 2017. No life ticks recorded for this location.