Week commencing Monday 19th October 2020

 Monday 19th October

Out to Burwell Fen this rather grey and cold morning. At least four Kestrel were hunting across fen and a female was sitting on one of the cable posts.

Good numbers of Skylark (15) and Meadow Pipit (32) and increasingly larger flocks of Goldfinch and Starling.

Magpie

A few Wigeon on the pool by the cattle grids along with a single Cormorant. 

Number of species recorded: 24

Tuesday 20th October

Day spent at Welney doing odd jobs about the place. A small drop in the water levels leaving a few more areas dry but sadly very few waders around other than a group of five Curlew that passed over. Not a Black-tailed Godwit in sight.

A very fresh looking male Marsh Harrier was quartering the reserve along with a female. 

The numbers of Pochard slowly increasing along with Wigeon but still the numbers of Whooper Swan not great although reports from other parts of the fen seem to show that there are large numbers about.

Number of species recorded: 48 

Wednesday 21st October

Rain! Absolutely pouring it down so our walk along Harrison's Drove at Burwell was somewhat shorter than planned. Good numbers of Fieldfare with a few Redwing were moving around and lots of Mallard and Wigeon on the wing.

On returning to the car park found the Little Owl on the log pile in the horse field looking rather soggy!

Number of species recorded: 12

Home front

Each autumn for the last few years we've had a Mistle Thrush that takes up residency in the garden for the winter. Having not seen or heard from it yet it was good to see its return this morning.

Thursday 22nd October

Felt the need for some time in the woods so headed up to Grimes Grave, Thetford Forest. A rather showery day for a walk through the woods but I did have some sunny spells that made for a pleasant stroll of just over 1.6 miles.

A first for this year was a number of large of Lesser Redpoll that were constantly moving around the area. Mixed in with them were a number of Goldfinch.

A number of Wren were present, one of which stuck around long enough for a decent photo!

On returning to the car I was greeted by a number of noisy Nuthatch that were working through the trees along with Blue and Great Tit.

Moved on to Santon Warren stopping just over the railway line to check out the area where in previous years I found Great Grey Shrike and Waxwing. None of those today but a very nice female Stonechat was active over the long grass.

Moved on to the St Helen's car park that turned out to be busy with picnickers and horse riders! Checking out the Chaffinches feeding under the beech trees produced a single male Brambling.

Number of species recorded: 27

Friday 23rd October

Cold, grey morning with the threat of rain saw us out at Burwell Fen. The rain has produced a few decent sized pools that, hopefully will attract something! 

The Tree pool held a good number of Teal and Lapwing. More Lapwing were passing over constantly as were very large flocks of Golden Plover that were constantly passing over, calling and tumbling as they went. 

A single Chiffchaff was rather pathetically calling and a Cetti's Warbler but in a brief appearance.

As I was walking back three Buzzard passed over to be joined by a fourth. In the field by the bridge were a nice covey of Grey Partridge.

Number of species recorded: 28
 

 

Week commencing Monday 12th October 2020

 Monday 12th October

Went out this morning to Wicken Fen to walk the area around Little Fen. Along the Wicken Lode Redwing (12) were moving through the trees and a number of Meadow Pipit were moving over head. Three Skylark were undertaking a spell of aerial combat.

Little else was seen until I was walking the far side. A pair of  Stonechat were feeding and Great Tit and Robin were present. A group of 22 Golden Plover was active on and over the field.

Number of species recorded:26

Tuesday 13th October

Day at Welney, initially to carry on with the Boardwalk but sadly the floods have come and that will be it for the winter. Still, plenty of other tasks to do including cleaning out of nest boxes and checking the general facilities.

Beyond The Friend's Hide, by the cattle pens, were seven (possibly eight) Great White Egret and three Cattle Egret. The views were distant but did manage to photo some of them for the record.

A pair of Stonechat appeared, just as I was wondering where they had got too as I hadn't seen them for a while. Both performed well and I was able to capture some good pictures.

Number of species recorded: 48

Wednesday 14th October

A pleasant morning for a walk around the Burwell Triangle. Small groups of Redwing passing over but still no Fieldfare. At least five Cetti's Warbler were being very vocal and a three Greenfinch were mixed in with the Chaffinch.

A single Stonechat (F/J) was up by Pout's Hall and there was a large number of Lapwing with a few Golden Plover around the old research pen.

Number of species recorded: 34

Thursday 15th October

Headed up to Ongar Hill and Admiralty Point, just west of Kings Lynn for a couple of hours on The Wash and its saltmarshes. Journey up took just over an hour and arrived to find I had the place to myself. A short walk from the car park down to the sea wall and the marshes. 

View toward Snettisham across the saltmarshes

An interesting Buzzard was hunting along the bank. Initially thought it might be a Rough-legged but on closer inspection proved not to be. However, it was one of five Buzzards seen.

Good numbers of Pink-footed and Brent Goose were moving over the marshes and were a large cloud of Knot.

A field full of Fieldfare (c300) were the first for this winter.

Fieldfare: first of this winter's sightings

Number of species recorded: 28

Friday 16th October

A morning spent on the local patch and maybe the last for the sidings for a long time! The construction of the railway is picking up a pace and they are moving the compound onto the sidings and sealing off that area. They have also fenced off areas on the Lode side of the line and will be felling the trees and bushes shortly. So time to find a new local patch!

Good numbers of Redwing moving along the trees but very little else. Maybe the disturbance is having an impact.

Number of species recorded: 11

 

Week commencing Monday 5th October 2020

Monday 5th October

Burwell Fen: 09.30 to 11.45

 After a rather sedentary weekend where the weather was poor enough to keep us in-doors of most of the time, it was nice to get out to Burwell Fen this morning.

Sadly there was very little of interest about. The rain had only added to a few of the ditches so the remaining fen was dry and empty. We will have to wait until they flood the area at the end of the month before it becomes attractive again to bird-life and birders!

Of interest was a group of eight Swallow passing through. Two Stonechat were by Burwell Lode and a large flock of Golden Plover were with Lapwing feeding on toppings on Sedge Fen.

Number of species recorded: 29

Tuesday 6th

Welney WWT Reserve

Day working at Welney clearing up after the Swallows now that they have left and then getting the basement ready for use during this winter's swan feeds.

Being 'below decks' for most of the day gives you excellent views out onto the main lagoon and total undisturbed viewing...... between sweeping of course! A group of 22 Whooper Swan arrived with a great deal of trumpeting and general hurrah. The behaviour would seem to indicate that they were newly returned. Interestingly they were all adults with none of this year's brood in tow. In fact couldn't see any of this years anywhere on the reserve. I'm sure they will be in soon.

Whooper Swan return to the main lagoon

Good numbers of Black-tailed Godwit at the back of the lagoon with at least four Ruff mixed in with them and 15 Dunlin back and forth. 

Black-tailed Godwit, Wigeon and Lapwing

Ruff (Male)

Wigeon number slowly increasing and a heck of a lot of Teal. Good numbers of Snipe moving about. 

Number of species recorded: 31

Thursday 8th October

Headed over to Snettisham for a couple of hours at The Wash. Very few people around, which was nice and once I cleared the car park area didn't see a soul till I returned. I hadn't been to Snettisham since 7th October 2014 following the gales and high tide which wiped out some of the hides. No problems this time although did get an early soaking.

Wheatear

Good numbers of Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Turnstones feeding along the sea defences wall and thousands of Oystercatcher on the shoreline. The pools held good numbers of Wigeon and Teal and a couple of Great White Egret and seven Little Egret on the pools by the hides. Two Wheatear were located behind the new Knot Hide, speaking of which, why do the RSPB insist on glazing their new hides. Large glass windows, facing into the prevailing wind and rain make for VERY poor viewing and I'm too old to squat on the floor to make use of brush covered photo slots!

Grey Plover (Male)

Grey Plover (Juvenile)

On The Wash were plenty of Shelduck, Curlew and thousands of Knot. It was good to get some close up shots of Grey Plover and good numbers of Golden Plover were passing over along with skeins of Goose.

Number of species recorded: 59

Just a few Oystercatcher

Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher and Knot

Knot

Friday 9th October

Back to covering the local patch this am. Very quiet with little bird movement at all. Robin were singing from a number of places along the sidings and a Bullfinch but couldn't be seen.

Around 10.00am a small group of Redwing were heading west following the railway line. They were very high but calling with a few 'low flyers'.

Number of species recorded: 21

One of the many Robins that have taken up residency along the sidings for the winter.

Landguard Point Reserve

 Thursday 1st October

Took a trip over to Landguard Point Reserve at Felixstowe. Just over an hours run, very straight forward and easy to get too. It was good to try out somewhere different and the location was certainly interesting being right next to the Container Port. Once you got used to the near constant beeping from the cranes etc the site proved to be very interesting and well worth visiting again. With its mixture of shingle spit, hedges and bushes, the area certainly seems attractive for migrant and residents. The historical aspects, with beach defences and fortifications added to the interest.

Groups of Linnet were moving around constantly and a steady stream of Meadow Pipit were passing over as were Swallows. Towards the point I found a single Wheatear that was showing well.

Wheatear

Wheatear

Number of species recorded: 23. Disappointing! Very little moving at sea and little passing through

Mickle Mere

On the way home called in at Mickle Mere near Bury St Edmunds. It was back in April 2012 that I last visited and then found a pleasant and productive area. Sadly no longer so. Hide closed due to Covid and little or no work has taken place to maintain the area and so very little is visible.

Number of species recorded: 6

Great Livermere

Moved on to Great Livermere. Thousands of Mallard present along with the usual Gulls and a Red Kite hunting around the pheasant pens.