From March to May, a brief history of my birding days!

Once again my aim to keep a regular block has fallen foul of other things and other jobs, so a brief (we will see) summary of the happenings since last posting.

March saw a year first with Goldeneye at Welney. High levels of water always seem to attract then but sadly they are always distant.

Burwell Fen continues to be very quiet. I'm not too sure what has happened to this area but it does seem to be getting quieter and quieter in terms of interesting birds coming through. One day I must sit down and look through all my records to see if there has been a significant change.

Little Owl, Burwell Fen

Male Pintail, Burwell Fen

The opening of the railway station has allowed access to the Lode and that area. Sadly due to short-sightedness the public crossing at Spencer Drove has been closed. So the hope of circular walks have been dashed and we are again doing out and backs.

On the 13th March I had a garden first with a Tawny Owl calling from the spruce tree. Two days later I had this years first with a Chiffchaff while working at Welney. A visit to Tubney Fen on the 16th saw an flock of 300+ Golden Plover. On the 25th I had three year first at Burwell Fen with a single male Garganey, an early booming Bittern and more surprising an early Swallow.

The start of April saw us on a family trip to Donegal. We had rented a very nice house above the pier at Dunmore, Carrickfinn. We drove over so was able to take telescope etc along with full set of waterproof which were needed. We had every type of weather that you could think off but really enjoyed being over with The Girls but it did feel strange not having any family to visit other than placing flowers on Mum and Dad's grave.

On the 4th April while drinking coffee and looking over the Annagry Estuary I spotted two Sandwich Tern moving up the estuary. The numbers built up during the week peaking at 15. 

Sandwich Tern (Annagry Estuary) with Oystercatcher

There were also good numbers of Brent Goose feeding down by the airport.These were around all week. 

Brent Goose, Annagry Estuary

On the 6th found six Sand Martin hawking over the little lake at Carrackfinn. Also found a Greenshank feeding near the mussel beds along with Oystercatcher and Redshank. At Mullaghderg I found a single Shag and three Chough.

A nice group of Sanderling (42) were present at Annagry Estuary. 

Sanderling and Sandwich Tern, Annagry Estuary

We had had a night of strong wind so checked out Mullaghderg Bay to see what might have been taking shelter. Good to find a over 23 Long-tailed Duck and good numbers of Black Guillemot. 

Long-tailed Duck, Mullaghderg Bay

Razorbill, Mullaghderg

It was good to find three Razerbill in the bay by the monument. On the grass by the monument was a single male Wheatear, the only one I saw all week!

The next bay Mullaghderg still held the Long-tailed Duck and Black Guillemot and these were joined by a couple of Great Northern Diver.

On the 9th spotted a couple of Raven passing over the house at Dunmore. Later in the day two Mistle Thrush were in the trees by the house.

Skylark, Carrackfinn

The journey home on the 10th proved to be a much better opportunity for sea watching. Just outside Belfast Lough had the first of five Manx Shearwater skimming the waves and pulling the characteristic climb. Sadly try as I might was unable to get a descent photo! Good numbers of Guillemot and Gannet as we crossed and as we came into the lough for docking a Golden Eagle gave distant views.

Returning home meant back to the local patches. On the 13th I recorded the first Whitethroat along the Lode. The next day I had a Willow Warbler and Blackcap singing in the garden. On the 17th along the Lode I had Reed and Sedge Warbler and most pleasing the return of the Grasshopper Warbler. 

Grasshopper Warbler, Soham Lode, Cambs

This is still present but does not seem to be reeling as often.

On the 18th had another early arrival with a Cuckoo calling at Burwell Fen. Work at Welney on the 19th produced four more year firsts with Spoonbill, Greenshank (England first as other one was in Ireland!), Little Ringed Plover (2) and House Martin.

Spoonbill, Welney WWT

Debbie was riding on the 23rd so we were off to Common Acre Lane, Littleport. On the way spotted a single Hobby.

Went to Devil's Dyke on the 25th and located a single female Ring Ouzel and a Garden Warbler. 

Female Ring Ouzel, Devil's Dyke, Cambs

On the 27th walked to Wicken and had a couple of Bullfinch in Tit alley. 

May started well with a Ruddy Shelduck and a single Red Kite were at Welney. 

Ruddy Shelduck, (a distant recording shot!), Welney WWT

The next day a single Common Tern was present at Burwell Fen. The next day located two Arctic Tern at Shropshire Reservoir.

D and D continue their walk/hobble along the Norfolk Coastal Path so I spent some time birding at Waxham and Winterton. This produced a couple of Turnstone at Waxham.

Turnstone, Waxham

While giving the hedge a light trim on the 9th I spotted a single Swift overhead. On the 10th was at work at Welney and was pleased to hear a Corncrake calling from nearby the Corncrake release pens. This was a first for me at Welney. 

Sedge Warbler, Welney WWT

I've been searching for Lesser Whitethroat for a while but without luck. This changed on the walk to Wicken on the 18th with one calling along Tit Alley. The next day I was at Mayday Farm and located a Tree Pipit  and a female Wheatear that was on the roof of the transmitter building.

Saw my first Yellow Wagtail at Burwell Fen on the 20th. 

My nestbox survey at Welney had a slight hiccup but thankfully we are back on track. Number of boxes in use are down but at least there are three boxes being used by Tree Sparrow. At home the use of boxes is also down. The Sparrow Hotel has had only two nests this year as opposed to nine last year. The Sparrow terraces have gone unoccupied! The swift boxes have gone unnoticed except for one occupied by a Starling that reared two.

Sadly the Robin nest in the ivy on the old apple tree was raided and the nestlings scattered around the veg patch. The Blackbird abandoned a nest with fours eggs in that it had built by the house. I found a Wren nest by the rose arch. At the moment it contains at least six nestlings!

Wren nestling