Week commencing 30th August

Monday 30th

Bank holiday so spent the day stripping and treating the front door. No birding for me!

Tuesday 31st

Day spent at Welney cleaning up after the Swallows! A Little Stint was present on the main lagoon along with a Little Ringed Plover as its companion.

Little Stint

Little Stint

A couple of Great White Egret at Friend's and at least seventeen Common Crane on Bank Farm. Good number of Ruff and Snipe also at Friend's.

Wednesday 1st September

First day of Autumn and boy does it feel and look like it. Cold, grey drizzle meet us at Burwell Fen. Sadly the poor weather had not brought in anything of interest, although a Bittern did fly the length of the fen, but sadly on the far side.

Three Snipe feeding on the Tree Pool along with a single Green Sandpiper. Lots of Greylag around and good numbers of wildfowl including Teal and Gadwall.

Snipe

One positive aspect to the day was my return to the Sunflower Cafe at Fordham Nursery for breakfast. I'd missed my Wednesday treat so it was great to call in again after ages of being away.

Thursday 2nd

Called in at the new entrance to the RSPB Ouse Fen complex (Lockspit's Mere). The area is pretty much in development and it will be interesting to see how it develops. Currently there are a number of meres and scrub area. The plan is to flood further areas and develop a more wetland habitat. It's location at the end of the Washes and as a start to the main Ouse Fen Complex makes it a potential excellent area to add to a days good birding.

Having said all that very little around other than Tufted Duck, Goldfinch and a single ping from a Bearded Tit.

Tufted Duck

Goldfinch

https://ebird.org/checklist/S94064308

Friday 3rd

It's been  a while that I've visited Cavenham Heath but as I was going to Chippenham I decided to head across to the Heath for a long awaited visit.

Within a short while was able to locate nineteen Stone-curlew loafing in the heather. Birds were calling from further down the heath but was unable to find them.

Stone-Curlew

Stone- Curlew

It was good to see a good number of Stonechat as they seem to have disappeared from Burwell Fen at the moment.

Stonechat

Came across a rather angry Adder just as I was leaving. It's been a while since I've seen one mainly due to always looking up than down!

Adder

Adder

https://ebird.org/checklist/S94103977

Sunday 5th

D and D continue their walk of the North Norfolk Coastal Path  so having dropped them off for thier next section I headed back to Kelling for a few hours birdwatching. 

Highlight of the day was at least three Whinchat (Juv) that showed well along the fence near the Muckleburgh collection. A single Whitethroat was also hanging out with them.

Whinchat

Whitethroat

Also present were a number of Stonechat.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S94358387