Saturday 1st November 2025
Annie and I decided to have the day out walking along the Ouse Washes to see what was about. First stop was Sutton Gault and walked towards Earith and The Gullet. Only one field showed signs of flooding and had a small flock of Black-headed Gull loafing around. Nearby was a flock of seven Whooper Swans, two adults and five juvenile along with a couple of Mute Swan.
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| Whooper Swan |
Full sighting list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S282281058
We then moved on to the Coveney Byall Fen Reservoir, part of the Ouse Washes. The pool is in a dip so initially you see very little but once on the edge you were me with the sight of hundreds of Wigeon sitting on the banks or in the water. Amongst them were a number of Pintail, Shovelers and Tufted Duck. There was also a good number of Cormorant present.
Full sightings list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S282297339
We then headed for Oxlode crossing the area that I will have to cover for the swan count coming up shortly. If today's trip showed anything it will be that I wont have to do much counting! Not a swan in the area.
Arrived at Oxlode and parked down by the hide. Was a bit surprised to see a Cattle Egret wandering in the field behind the house. Turned out to be eleven in total.
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| Cattle Egret |
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| Cattle Egret |
Very little to see across the RSPB Ouse Washes from this side of the bank so moved further along the bank towards the railway bridge. Three Common Crane were feeding in the fields and the Barnacle Goose were still mixed in with the Canada Goose. Two Buzzard and a Red Kite flew over and Whooper Swan moving back and forth.
Full sightings list:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S282303772
