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.