Week commencing Monday 23rd August

 Monday 23rd

Out to Burwell Fen in the afternoon to check out the lower pools. No-one around so had the place, once again, to myself. 

The mud area was still attracting a range of waders including Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Common and Green Sandpiper. Plenty of Snipe also present.

Greenshank

Spotted Redshank and Greenshank

Spotted Redshank

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Tuesday 24th

Day at Welney doing various jobs including nest box checks and cattle moving! The Spoonbill family seem to have settled in moving between The Main Hide and Lyle Hide. While on the main hide the young spent a great deal of time chasing the adult and begging for food.

Adult (Left) and two of the three young plus Greenshank

Spoonbill and Greylag

Good numbers of Crane (23) on Lady Fen.

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Thursday 26th

Autumn seems to have arrived early to The Fens. Cold, grey morning with a strong breeze and occasional showers was the order of the day at Burwell Fen this morning. 

The bottom muddy area held very little with just two Green Sandpiper and a  lot of ponies! I do wonder about the impact these horse have on an area. The NT tell us that numbers of species have increased but my records don't seem to hold out the same view! 

The pool next to the area was frequented by a good number of Pied Wagtail and Yellow Wagtail.

Yellow Wagtail (Juv)

Yellow Wagtail

Walked the bank to the top pool. A couple of Ruff and a single Greenshank were present. A Hobby shot through on its way to Tubney Fen.

Ruff

Greenshank

Greenshank

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Saturday 28th

A few hours to kill over Peterborough way so headed to The Nene Washes. First stop Stanground end of the washes. Two Common Crane on the far side and plenty of Grey Heron. A Peregrine crossed the Washes to the far bank.

A few Sand Martin were mixed in with the Swallows and there were five Yellow Wagtail feeding along the bank.

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Moved along to the Coates and found a family group of four Crane.

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A visit to Dogthorpe Star Pit produced very little!

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