Friday, 31 October 2025

RSPB Ouse Washes and Harrison's Drove, Wicken Fen

 Thursday 30th October

Trip out to the RSPB reserve at Ouse Fen, Manea on a lovely autumnal morning. I had a quick visit last Tuesday and headed south to the first hide. Although there was water on the Washes there was little about. This time I got there just after 9am and headed North. All the hides had pools in front of them and all were holding a variety of birds.

Good numbers of Whooper Swan were on the various pools with larger numbers out on the fields.

Whooper Swan

Greylag and Canada Goose were present in high numbers. It was good to see a flock of a hundred plus Pink-footed Goose (107) and a good number of Barnacle Goose (69). A Black Swan was also present.

Black Swan and Canada Goose

On the pool  in front of Cadbury Hide were a number of Pintail. Other wildfowl present across the reserve in large numbers were Teal (485) and Wigeon (237).

Pintail, Wigeon and Canada Goose

What was of greatest interest was the number of Marsh Harrier present with at least nine showing well. Some of these were tagged as follows:

1: Yellow AT tags: both wings
1: Green HH Tag:
1: Green Z4 tag:

Tagged Marsh Harrier

Also of interest was the high number of Egyptian Goose (17) were feeding across the fields. Common Crane were feeding on the fields totaling fifty-three.

Common Crane

Cattle Egret (6) were a first for me on this site showing the increased range of these birds. A large flock of Fieldfare (96) were in the trees bordering the river with a few Redwing mixed in.



 
Friday 31st October
A grey, breezy day saw us out to Wicken Fen. Parked at Cock-up Bridge and walked up Harrison's Drove.
A few Fieldfare were on the far side by Burwell Lode. Cetti's Warbler were being vocal and a Kestrel was hunting over the fields.
Fieldfare

A single Red Kite passed over as did a Jay, a bird that I don't often see here. Very little for an hour and a half!



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