Week commencing 22nd March

 Monday 22nd

A lovely morning out at Burwell Fen this morning. Very mild and spring like with lots of Skylark on the wing and singing and Lapwing displaying over the fields.

The usual gaggle of Greylag coming and going from the fields along with a few Canada Goose.

A small flock of five Whooper Swan were on the large pool towards the top. Highly likely that they were from the flock that has been on the fields by Chain Causeway.

A nice collection of Cormorant were loafing on the research pen posts and were joined by a single Common Gull.

Number of species recorded: 39

Tuesday 23rd

While walking the dogs this morning (7.40) on Angle Common I heard a Cetti's Warbler calling from near the cattle creep. This was the first time I've every heard on in this area. While out this afternoon in the same location the Cett's was calling further along the railway line towards the industrial estate.

A New area species.

The day spent working at Welney. Water levels are quickly going down so the spring migration might be interesting. at least four Cattle Egret present and a single Great Egret. 

Cattle Egret: one of four present

Lots of Pintail on the main reserve as well as the usual wildfowl. Whooper Swan numbers on the fields are down with family groups moving off during the day. The reserve will soon be empty of our winter visitors.

Lots of Redshank busy calling as were Oystercatchers. Dunlin also present.

Number of species recorded: 60

Wednesday 24th

A rather cold morning with brief period of light rain. Parked at Cock Up Bridge and walked the perimeter of Adventurer's Fen. Lots of Cetti's Wabler calling and a couple giving brief views. Also very vocal were Chiffchaff with at least seven birds calling at different locations. Marsh Harrier were showing well with at least four female and 2 male on the wing. 

Two Common Crane were visible from Harrison's Drove. One quickly disappeared down into the tall vegetation while the other spent sometime preening before moving off.

Number of species seen: 38

Thursday 25th

Back to Burwell Fen and how quickly it has emptied out. Individual species of wildfowl numbers have fallen and Shoveler is now the dominant species. Little Grebe are more obvious and calling throughout. 

A Crane dropped in to Adventure's Fen so its likely to be one of the birds possibly breeding there. A Dunlin was on the pool by the bridge with a Redshank.  Other than that fairly quiet morning.

Number of species recorded: 39

Week commencing 15th March

 Monday 15th March

Cold, blustery morning so decided to stick to the cycle path rather than up on the bank. A small flock of Fieldfare passed over and a large flock (100+) of Starling were moving around.

A couple of Little Egret were in the flooded fields near the path.

Little Egret

Greylag were also present.

Greylag

Good number of Wigeon and Teal were moving around the pools and a female Marsh Harrier was causing a disturbance over the reed bed.

A couple of Brown Hare were near the path.

Brown Hare

Number of species recorded: 35

Tuesday 16th

Day spent at Welney carrying out a number of tasks. Water levels slowly dropping but still a hell of a lot on the main area. Lady Fen is attracting lots of birds including Avocet, Dunlin, Oystercatcher and a good number of Skylark. Good numbers of Whopper Swan still present.

Number of species recorded: 52

Wednesday 17th

Popped over to Earith to see if I could see the Glossy Ibis. Weather not great with heavy rain but the three Glossy Ibis were clearly visible on the far side of the flooded field.

Moved of to Chain corner. Still very blustery but was able to locate a Great White Egret on the far side. Lots of Wigeon and Tufted Duck present.

At Sutton Gault, three Great White Egret were present as were two Ruff.

At Pymoor a small flock of Whooper Swan (18), were in a field near to the road.

Thursday 18th

Back out to Burwell Fen. Again cold and blustery but good to hear a Chiffchaff singing if somewhat half-heartedly. A flock of 37 Fieldfare passed over heading coast bound. The usual wildfowl were present including a good number of Wigeon and at least five Little Grebe showing well.

Friday 19th

A really nice spring morning. Having walked the dogs locally I set out for a return visit to Cavenham Heath. Plenty of Tits moving through the tree tops with Coal Tit showing well. Lots of nest building activity amongst the Rooks and Jackdaws.

Stonechat showing well on the heath and Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker were active throughout. 

A female Marsh Harrier was active over the flooded field, which held Shelduck, Gadwall and a Little Egret.

A pair of Gadwall, first time I've recorded them in this location

No sign of the Stone-curlew but plenty of Skylark in the air and on the ground.

Called in at Isleham Washes on the way home. With plenty of water on they have attracted a good number of Avocet (32) as well as Black headed Gull. A single Redshank and two Oystercatcher. 

A couple of very vocal Egyptian Goose were also present.

A three in one shot: Avocet, Black headed Gull and Redshank

A two in one shot: Egyptian Goose and Shelduck

Week commencing 8th March 2021

 Monday 8th

Schools back today after a long period of home and remote teaching, so this might explain why so many smiling adults were out walking! 

Oystercatcher making there presence felt and a single Snipe flew over calling. Wigeon number declining but good numbers of Gadwall, Shoveler and Pintail. 

A small flock of Fieldfare were heading NE and I assume off to the coast in preparation for the return to the continent.

A single Whooper Swan was on the main body of water as were seven Mute Swan.

Good numbers of  Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipit present and Skylark were increasingly vocal.

Number of species recorded: 40

Tuesday 9th

Day spent working at Welney. Weather was beautiful, warm and still and as the reserve is not yet open it was great to be able to wander from on job to another enjoying the sights and sounds of the empty reserve. 

Avocet were present on the main lagoon. It was the first time I'd seen them this year although I gather they had been around for a week or so. 

Amongst them were a group of eleven Dunlin

and three Oystercatcher. Still plenty of Whooper on the reserve and surrounding fields and a large flock of Barnacle Geese. 

 A few Pochard scattered about and Wigeon present in good numbers. Lots of Tufted Duck on the far side. 

Three Crane were circling and calling and one landed to the left of the main hide allowing good views.

 

Number of species recorded: 46

Wednesday 10th

Report of four Ring Ouzel took us to Baker's Fen in search of them. However, the weather was pretty appalling with rain and strong wind. A circuit of Baker's Fen produced very little other than a pair of Bullfinch.

Number of species observed: 35

Thursday 11th

High winds during the night continued into mid afternoon. Had to go over to Chippenham so went via Cavenham Heath and enjoyed a couple of hours with no one in sight.

Lots of Rook, Carrion Crow and Jackdaw present and Wren very vocal. Blue and Great Tit active in the trees. A couple of Wood Lark could be heard but not located.

The fields by the River Lark have flooded and so it was good to add to my Cavenham List Oystercatcher, Shelduck, a single Cattle Egret, Great White and Little Egret.

Two Stone Curlew were located on the heath. Sadly I hadn't brought my camera and the mobile phone images are of little value! That taught me!

Now this is what I call a Record Shot: 1 Cattle Egret or a white blob!

Another 'Record shot': Spot the Stone-Curlew

Any luck?

Stone Curlew Record shot!

Number of species observed: 30

Friday 12th

Returned to Cavenham Heath along with camera to try and get some photos of the Stone Curlew. Weather was blustery with showers, some heavy. Very little in the wood area but did get a brief view of a Treecreeper. 

The gravel works produced two female Goosander, Tufted Duck, Teal, Mallard and Shelduck. A Dunlin dropped in to the back of the workings. Canada and Greylag Goose were also present.

Goosander, Tufted Duck and Shelduck

Goosander and Tufted Duck

Two Cattle Egret were on the flooded field a long with a number of Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Although calls were heard there was no sign of the Stone-curlew. This might have been due to the pouring rain at the time!

Number of species observed: 44

Thursday 4th March 2021

 A cold and damp morning at Burwell Fen. Heavy rain overnight left slippy conditions under foot. Large number of Greylag on the fields and a flock of thirty-two Whooper Swan on the fields at Headlake Drove.

Two Redshank on the pool over the bridge, along with a couple of Canada Goose and Coot. 

Stuck to the cyclepath in the hope of finding Stonechat but no luck, in fact very little about at all.

Number of species recorded: 30