Week commencing 12th April

 Monday 12th 

Snow! Woke up to a covering this morning, although cold it was gloriously clear and bright. We headed out to Burwell Fen to walk the lower part and back along the central path. Plenty of Reed Bunting calling and Skylark singing. 

A few Wigeon still on the pools and lots of Shoveler and Teal. A Common Crane was calling from Adventurer's Fen but was not visible. A Kingfisher was by the Cock Up Bridge and I was able to get a couple of nice shots of it.

At the Old Barn location was a male Wheatear, possibly the same one from last week. 

Crossing the central path proved fruitful with a male and female Garganey present.

Number of species recorded: 41

https://ebird.org/checklist/S85411828

Tuesday 13th

At Welney all day. The site is now open to the public except the hides remain closed due to inadequate ventilation! Obviously whoever thought that one up has never sat in a Welney hide with the wind whistling around you. Anyway as I was out on Bank Farm and Lady Fen for most of the early morning it made little difference!

Good to see a solitary Sedge Warbler as I approached the centre after doing the water levels check. Shortly afterwards a single Swallow passed over, another one was seen later on in the day. A third summer visitor was a couple of Reed Warbler down by Lyle.

The Crane continue to be present and were thermalling over the reserve. 

Plenty of Black-tailed Godwit moving around the reserve.

A Whooper Swan flew over the bank that had the strangest neck shape. Normally they hold their heads straight out but this one was held high giving the neck an S shape. Could this be a victim of lead poisoning? 

Number of Species recorded: 51

https://ebird.org/checklist/S85471964

Corn Bunting: Bank Farm: Welney

Wednesday 14th

Highlight of today's visit to Burwell Fen was a singing Whitethroat, the first for this year. It was calling from the big tree by the gate at the start of the bank walk but proved very difficult to actually spot being very skulking.

Still a few Wigeon about and good to watch three Marsh Harrier thermalling. Other than that fairly quiet!

Number of species recorded: 44

https://ebird.org/checklist/S85605917

Thursday 15th

Up early and out to Cock-Up bridge with Annie to walk the Adventurers/Baker's Fen circular. Too far for Max so he was left at home!

A pair of Little Owl were on the log pile in the field by the car park, but trying to get a face on shot again proved difficult!

A single Barn Owl was also out hunting.

Lots of Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Cetti's calling from various locations and at least three Willow Warbler at the top of Harrison's Drove, a first for this year.

A Bittern took of from the side of the top reed bed, too quick for a photo sadly, and flew over towards Baker's Fen. Another was booming close by. Bearded Tit could be heard moving around the reedbed but did not show themselves.

A single Crane flew in from the Sedge Fen direction and landed in the top field where it spent time feeding. No sign of the second bird anywhere.

Swallow are now arriving with three along the drove road. 

Number of species recorded: 52

https://ebird.org/checklist/S85605915

Moorhen: Burwell Lode

Friday 16th

Took the morning off dog walking (well truthfully I took the dogs out for a shorter walk locally) so that I could head out alone for a bit of intensive birdwatching. 

However, the fog was still quite dense when  I arrived out Iseham Washes, so viewing the far side was a challenge. A single Barnacle Goose was present along with six Mute Swan and a number of Greylag.

At least twelve Snipe and fourteen Avocet were present along with two Little Ringed Plover as well two Oystercatcher. No sign of the Little Gull that was there yesterday. 

Number of species recorded: 25

https://ebird.org/checklist/S85634897

From Isleham, headed over to Cavenham Heath to find it empty of walkers and other birdwatchers! Had the place to myself for at least and hour and a half!

Lots of Great and Blue Tit moving around, many carrying food for young. Four Jay were moving through the canopy like a gang of noisy teenagers!

Came across two Cuckoo in a distant tree and managed to get a couple of descent shots. When looking through these on the computer I noticed the one of them had a very large, juicy looking black caterpillar in its beak.

Cuckoo with caterpillar

The Stone-curlew were calling throughout but were not showing. Large numbers of Sand Martin were over the quarry along with a number of Swallow.

Number of species recorded: 46

https://ebird.org/checklist/S85637369