Week commencing 4th May 2025

 Thursday 8th May

Cold morning at Burwell Fen. Lots of grey clouds and a nip in the wind. The whole area was quiet with very little moving around. It was good to see a number of Swift over the main lagoon and reed bed. Little Egret were there in good numbers across the site and a single Great White Egret was present.

A Fox was keeping a keen eye on us as we walked back to the car park where a Corn Bunting was singing.

Full sightings list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S234483892

Fox checking us out!

Friday 9th May

Warm and very pleasant morning. Walked down to the river behind the railway station and on crossing the bridge was pleased to hear a Grasshopper Warbler reeling from the scrubby bit. I haven't heard it for a week or so and had thought that it had moved off, so it was good to hear it. 

Swift have now put in an appearance but not in great numbers and Swallow seem very thin on the ground. Cetti's, Sedge, Chiffchaff and Blackcap were all present and vocal.

Full sightings list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S234869107

Week commencing 28th April

 Monday 28th

Parked at Cock Up and walked the central path across Burwell Fen. Weather glorious, warm and still. 

Plenty of Sedge and Reed Warbler calling as well as Chiffchaff and Blackcap.

On the new pool (we do need to get a name for this pool) was a single Greenshank along with two Redshank. On the way back a female Garganey was visible.

On the main pool there was a pair of Garganey along with four Little Egret and a single Shelduck.

At least three Cuckoo calling and three female Marsh Harrier over the reeds.

One Swallow over the bridge but no House Martin. 

Full sightings list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S230377243

Tuesday 29th

At work checking the nest boxes. Things are moving along nicely with a number of nests containing eggs. 

Common Sandpiper (3) on the main lagoon and Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit very vocal and active. 

Wednesday 30th

Out to Wicken Fen this evening, parking at The Visitor's Centre. It was a beautiful evening, warm and still and surprisingly very few people around.

Walked to Adventure's Fen to check out the pools. A good number of Little Egret feeding and further birds throughout the walk. The usual wildfowl were present and Grey Heron were also on the pools.

Throughout the walk Cuckoo, Sedge, Reed and Cetti's Warbler kept up a constant sound background. Blackcap and Chiffchaff were also vocal.

As I started up Harrison's Drove a Bittern flew over towards Burwell Fen. Further up the Drove at least two other Bittern were booming from different locations.

At the top of the Drove four Marsh Harrier were coming into the fen preparing for roosting. As the sun set I was pleased to spot two Hobby crossing the river and disappearing into the trees. These were the first for the summer for me.

Full sightings list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S231326482

Thursday 1st May

Swift return to over the house today. First heard at 11.00am. At least nine birds.

It's wonderful to hear them back. I always feel that summer has officially started when I hear them for the first time back. Here's to a good summer!

Week commencing 20th April 2025

 Sunday 20th

Evening walk along The Lode at Soham with Annie. Grasshopper Warbler still reeling in the corner by The Cut.

Cetti's Warbler and Whitethroat present and a Buzzard was being harassed by crows.

Full sightings list:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S227543136

Monday 21st

Walked along The Lode to the house and then to Scampers returning across the Common. Nothing new around.

Full sightings list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S227754242

Tuesday 22nd

Day checking bird boxes at work. Good to see that things are becoming more active with more boxes showing signs of occupation and three with eggs. 

Cuckoo calling when I arrived in the car park and it was good to hear the near constant call of Sedge Warbler bringing the reed beds alive again. Swallow has returned and two pairs have started to rebuild last year's nest. No House Martin as yet.

Wednesday 23rd

Was planning to go to Burwell Fen but even leaving after 9.30 the by-pass was at a halt from the Shades onwards. The Fordham Road continues to be closed and so beginning to feel trapped. Given the traffic I headed to Barway but with little to see and report.

Full sightings list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S228421405

Thursday 24th

Out this evening to Burwell Fen.  A calm and lovely time to walk the bank. Initially there didn't seem to be a great deal around, however on scanning the reeds to the left of the main pool, I was pleased to see a Bittern. It disappeared for a short time but reappeared further along the reed edge. It's ponderous gait was interesting to watch. Usually I only see them flying over so it was good to watch it for at least ten minutes.

Bittern

Moving along the path that crosses to the old barn area, I spotted a pair of Garganey amongst the increasing foliage covering the water.

Garganey 

A Greenshank was on the new pools near the cattle pen. It was silhouetted by the setting sun which made an interesting photo.

Full sightings list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S228962406

Friday 25th

Walk along the river this  morning produced five Sedge Warbler, a Little Egret flying over and very little else of interest other than the usual stuff!!

Full sightings list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S229101264

Back to the fens

 Thursday 17th April

Back to the fens after a couple of weeks walking and birdwatching in Spain.

Took a walk along my local patch along The Lode behind the railway station and was pleased to hear a Grasshopper Warbler reeling from the scrub. Located it in the bushes near The Cut and was able to watch and record it. Got a clear view of it's tail vibrating as it called. Not seen or heard here last year, but was in 2022 on this exact same date.

Also present were at least three Whitethroat and four Sedge Warbler.

Chiffchaff and Blackcap also present and singing.

Full sightings list at: https://ebird.org/checklist52215

Friday 18th April

With the footpath across Burwell Fen now reopened having been closed for the peat restoration work, I parked at Cock-up and headed out towards the old barns area. I was keen to see if the new pool that was formed by the bund held anything of interest, having a good numbers of Little and Great White Egret but nothing today.

Arriving at the old barn area I was pleased to see a male Ring Ouzel feeding close to the path. It remained in the area allowing me to take a number of photos.

Ring Ouzel

Ring Ouzel

Ring Ouzel

This was the highlight of the walk with the exception of increasing number of Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler. No Swallow as yet. 

Full sightings list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S226557390

Week commencing 30th March 2025

Sunday 30th March

Out to Burwell in the evening to walk the bank. A really pleasant evening as the sun was setting.

Three Great White Egret present and nineteen Little Egret. Four Water Rail were calling from various locations and one was seen flying across one of the small pools.

Good numbers of wildfowl including a hundred and nine Shoveler. 

A Bittern was booming for a short while.

Full sighting list at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S221902816

Wednesday 2nd April

Bright but breezy morning out at Burwell Fen this morning. Arrived a bit later than normal due to the chaos of trying to get out of Soham caused by road closures!

Apparent that wildfowl numbers are dropping and that other than Chiffchaff and Blackcap, we're still awaiting the return of the summer migrants. 

Of interest were five Egyptian Goose at Pout's Hall and nesting Canada Goose on the Tern raft at the same location.

Pleased to hear that the footpath across Burwell Fen will be reopening on the 3rd April.

Full sightings at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S222421237

Thursday 3rd April

Walk along the Lode this morning. Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing and two Canada and Greylag Goose flew over.

Full sightings at:https://ebird.org/checklist/S222596483

Tomorrow we depart for Cadiz for a few days then I'm off to Extremadura for a week of birding and walking.

Week commencing:24th March

Out to Wicken Fen this morning, dry but cold. Good numbers of Chiffchaff and Cetti calling from across the area. 

Large flock of Fieldfare along Harrison's Drove.

Wildfowl included good number of Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Mallard and Gadwall. 

Three Marsh Harrier including one male.

Otherwise quite quiet.

Full sightings list at :https://ebird.org/checklist/S220433756

Tuesday 25th March

A Day of volunteering,  checking nest boxes and carrying out water tests.

Three Short-eared Owl in the usual location but no sign of the Barn Owl. Good numbers of Avocet across the site and three or four very noisy Oystercatcher. 

Increased number of active boxes with one at N3 and another at N4, both Tree Sparrow.

A male and female Garganey showing well and at least eleven Great White Egret across the site.

Whooper numbers way down so will not be long till they are all gone.

Full listing at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S220704107

Wednesday 26th March

Out to Burwell Fen this afternoon to walk the bank in hope of Garganey. It's been a while since I've been out to the fen in the late afternoon and it was certainly a most pleasant day, still and while the sun was still up, warm.

A couple of Great White and Little Egret on the pools and a small flock of Pochard still present. No Wigeon to be seen anywhere. Two Barn Owl were quartering the fen but no Harrier present.

Good numbers of Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler.

Full sightings list at: eBird check: https://ebird.org/checklist/S220950967

Thursday 27th March

Up early to a glorious morning. However, by the time I got out to Cock-up Bridge it had turned misty and cold. Walked up Harrison's Drove. 

A large flock of Fieldfare was present, moving from tree to tree. Chiffchaff, Cetti's and Wren continue to be very vocal.

A Bittern was booming from the reedbed at the top of the Drove as were a couple of Water Rail. Turning left at the top of the Drove and headed along the river to view Adventurer's Fen which produced two Pochard on one of the pools. A male March Harrier was calling and then being mobbed by a couple of crows. 

Good views over Burwell Fen, especially the new works area, produced twenty Little Egret and two Great White Egret. The missing Wigeon from yesterday were present on these new pools.

Full sighting list at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S221049565 and https://ebird.org/checklist/S221040767

Friday 28th March

Went to Ixworth after visiting the gym this afternoon. Weather very pleasant with little wind and warming up. Walked down to the lake and back.

Chiffchaff calling but not in the numbers that I expected. A couple of Song Thrush were singing by the stream and a Green Woodpecker was calling. There was a number of Skylark were singing above the fields.

Full sighting list at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S221321109

Saturday 29th March

Stayed local this morning and walked the short Lode River walk behind the station. 

A pair of Kestrel were displaying and copulating over by the horse field. Further on a Grey Heron stood mopping in the field and a Buzzard was circling high above the fields.

Other than that little else, certainly no other summer visitors.

Full sightings list at:https://ebird.org/checklist/S221454092

Spring is coming to the Fens: 19th March 2025

 An early start this morning. On arriving at the car park I could hear a Curlew calling from somewhere on the flooded fields but couldn't locate it.

Good to hear Skylark in full song. Good number of wildfowl on the tree pool including three Pintail (2 males). There was also a good number of Little Grebe here and in the Pouts Hall pool. This pool also had good number of waterfowl and Black-headed Gull. There was also twelve Tufted Duck. 

Pintail with Wigeon and Teal (digiscope)

Thirty or so Fieldfare were present along the Burwell Lode and Cetti and Chiffchaff were calling from various locations.

The new pools created by the work being carried out for carbon capture held seven Little Egret and one Great White Egret. An additional Great White dropped in later.

Stonechat and Linnet were showing well as did a Red Kite.

 Marsh Harriers were visible on a number of occasions. 

Complete check list at:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S219367859

Cormorant 

Thursday 20th March

A glorious spring morning, bright and warming up nicely. A trip to the dentist gave the ideal excuse to drop into Cavenham Heath to see what was about. 

A couple of Stone-curlew could just be picked out on the newly scrapped area on the far side. Only managed a rather doggy record shot through the heat haze of the spring morning. Other than that rather quiet with just Chiffchaff being the most vocal bird around and the occasional Stonechat putting in an appearance. 

Friday 21st March

Walk with Annie from home to Drayton Meadows to check the bird boxes. Plenty of Chiffchaff calling in the College Woods along with Blue and Great Tit.

Of the ten boxes I put up in Drayton Meadow two are showing signs of activity, either roosting or exploration.

Saturday 21st March

Short walk along the Lode behind the station this morning. Plenty of Chiffchaff calling along with a Cetti's Warbler. 

4th October 2024

Returned to Burwell Fen having been away walking in the Picos De Europa. We did a number of walks and enjoyed a great deal of spectacular landscape. The weather was good with just one day of constant rain, and was great for walking. There was a lot of steep climbs and sharp descents but the great joy was walking through woodlands and meadows.

The bird life was good with lots of Griffon Vultures, Booted Eagles and the greatest pleasure was sitting on the terrace with a beer watching two Golden Eagles circle over head. The next morning to top it was a Wryneck in the garden opposite. A new addition to my list was a resident Middle Spotted Woodpecker in the woods in front of the cottage we were staying in.

View from the cottage over Lon in the evening

Alpine Chough

Panoramic view from the top of Fuente De

Back to Burwell Fen and sadly little to report! Two Stonechat along the side of the path and a small flock of nine Ruff on the flooded area. A small flock of Swallows passed through, will these be the last of the summer?

 

Week commencing 18th August 2024

Sunday 18th 

Reports of a range of waders and a good number of Graganey on Saturday resulted in a visit to Burwell Fen this morning. Sadly only one Green Sandpiper and no Garganey.

Plenty of Little Egret (51) and a single Hobby but other than the usual wildfowl, little else.

Full list at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S191893537

Time passes......

Can't believe it's been almost a year since I last posted and no excuse for not doing so. So a quick recap over the last year. 

26th Sept to 7th October: A cruise around the Baltic produced a new addition to my list a White-tailed Eagle at Plon on the 4th October 2023.

May 2024 saw us on a walking holiday in El Hero in the Canaries. This was another trip organised by Inntravel and saw us walking from one hotel to another while our bags were transported for us. El Hero is the smallest island and gets very little tourist traffic, which made it a really great location. The walking was challenging with some very stiff and steep descents off the volcanic ridge, always at the end of the day!

The trip produced 4 new species to my list:

2nd May: Canary Island Chiffchaff: seen and heard most days

                Canary Island Chaffinch

                Bolle's Pigeon

3rd May: Barbary Partridge

The walk on this day took us through some wonderful high meadows and it was great to hear Quail calling from a number of locations and to see Stone Curlew nesting in the fields.

4th May: African Blue Tit

8th-9th May: We spent two days at the Parador to rest and recover! The hotel is on the sea front and so I was able to sit on the balcony in the evening and count Cory Shearwater as they returned to their breeding grounds. We also heard them calling as the sun set.

Berthelot's Pipit

End of May saw us in Donegal for a family holiday. Nothing new but good to cover the old patch. On the return journey I spotted a Great Skua harassing a Gannet and a good number of Manx Shearwater, Kittiwake and Common Tern.

Early May produced reports of a Nightingale along Mereside in Soham and I finally caught up with it on the 12th May.

Reports of a Purple Heron at Burwell Fen proved to be a one off but in searching for it I came across two Black-winged Stilt.

A trip to Cleyspy on the 1st August for a new pair of binoculars (a break from Nikon resulting in an excellent pair of Swarovski 8x42) ended in a trip to Cley on Sea. A good number of Spoonbill and Cattle Egret were present, along with a couple of Wood Sandpiper.

Wood Sandpiper

 

Week commencing 28th August

 Tuesday 29th

Working at Welney all day. Boxes checked and now all empty. Two House Martin nests still with young.

Two Wood and a single Green Sandpiper at Friend's Hide along with a Ringed Plover. 

From the Main Hide thirteenth Ruff, a single Black-tailed Godwit and a Snipe. Plenty of Greylag.

Thursday 31st

Out to Burwell this morning. Good opportunity to test new lens for the fieldscope but it would have been nice to use it on birds rather than cattle!

Very little to see, only ten species record the highlight being a Little Grebe.

Week commencing 14th August

Monday 14th 09.20-10.25

Scattered showers at Burwell Fen this morning gave way to a brief period of sunshine. Nothing on the bridge pool but two Little Egret feeding in the ditch by the big tree.

It was good to see some water further up, near to Pout's Hall. This held further Little Egret (5), Green Sandpiper (2) and Yellow Wagtail (3).

A flock of nine Swift crossed the fen heading south and a large flock of House Martin with Swallow mixed in hunting over the reeds.

Complete list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S147212543

Tuesday 15th

Day spent at Welney WWT monitoring nest boxes and Swallow and Martin nests. Two Swallow nest still with young in but very class to departing, will be gone next week. Martin nests now empty with the last two departing from Wigeon House since last week. Plenty of Martins still about in and out of nests. These are likely to be new birds exploring sites for future nesting. I've also observed Sand Martin exploring nests in the last three weeks, can only imagine they are being nosy!

One Tree Sparrow nest still with young in and a last House Sparrow with ready to fledge young.

At least five Marsh Harrier about one with a red wing tag. No sign of any green tagged birds which the BTO rung a few weeks ago.

Two Great White Egret present and both Green and Common Sandpiper, and at least nine Ruff.

Complete list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S147339423

 

It's been a while!

 Goodness! Last post April 11th and nothing since. Very poor of me so a quick catch up and then a promise to keep up the blog. So what's happened since April 11th.

A visit to Cavenham Heath on the 16th April produced three Stone Curlew and a couple of Woodlark. The walk ended at The Guiness Arms for a very pleasant lunch before a stroll back.

The first Whitethroat on the local patch of Soham Lode was recorded on the 17th April.

On the 21st April we arrived in Greece for a 16 day tour of Athens and then the Peloponnese. This was the first time we had undertaken a driving tour rather than a central base with plenty of walking. Athens was interesting but not a place that I would like to return to. It did provide me with a Monk Parakeet which was a new tick. 

Monk Parakeet

Golden Oriole were vocal but hard to spot, unlike Hoopee which were also present in the parks.

Our stay at the Mazarakis Guesthouse Environs, Lakonia produced the first couple of Red-rumped Swallow. A visit to Mystras produced a fine Blue Rock Thrush with a lizard and beetle in its beak.

Blue Rock Thrush

Arriving at Monemvasia produced another lifer with a Western Rock Nuthatch calling from behind the apartment. They were present throughout the time we were there, calling and darting around the cliff face.

Western Rock Nuthatch

This location also produced an Eleonora's Falcon, another first, hunting along the cliff face. Sadly I was unable to get a photo!

While travelling to Cape Tainaro, Greece's most southernly point, came across a flock of 23 Bee-eater, a good number of Alpine Swift and at least two Short-toed Eagle. Lunch by a charming harbour produced a single Audouin's Gull.

Cape Tainaro produced at least three Black-eared Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Whinchat, Stonechat and Yellow Wagtail.

Yellow Wagtail

The stay at Kardamyli, produced a good number of Spotted Flycatcher, Sardinian Warbler,  Yellow-legged Gull and Turtle Dove.

Spotted Flycatcher

Sardinian Warbler

Turtle Dove

The 'outflow' at Nafpliou was very productive if somewhat smelly. Large number of Little Stint and Kentish Plover with Curlew Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and Ruff mixed in. Also present were Greater Flamingo, Black-winged Stilt, Gull-billed and White-winged Black Tern. A passing Osprey caused moments of chaos!

Greater Flamingo

Osprey

Kentish Plover and Curlew Sandpiper

White-winged Black Tern

I was able to record a Blue Rock Thrush singing from the cross of a nearby church.  

Another new species and one that I have been after for a while with no luck was Penduline Tit found at Lake Moustous. 

Penduline Tit

A return to the outflow at Nafpliou produced some nice shots of Kentish Plover and Curlew Sandpiper in summer plumage.

Kentish Plover with Little Stint

Curlew Sandpiper

Back home I recorded my first Sedge Warbler on the 5th May at Soham Lode and six Swift over the house on the 6th.

On the 9th May, while working at Welney WWT had three Bittern during the day with two passing the Main Hide together.

Bittern

May 17th was the start of my long delayed trip to Spain for a week of solo birding. Originally planned for November 2022 but delayed due to a bout of Long Covid I was reorganised for February and had to delay due to a Val's passing. So it was good to get out again and I had planned a split trip to Extramedura and then up to the Sierra de Gredos for a few days in the mountains.

Covered much of the same locations around Monfrague and Caceres as in previous years and wondered at the vast expansion of solar parks! There seemed to be a drop in Roller numbers in certain areas where lines had been removed! 

Roller on the line!

The evening walks at Torrejon el Rubio proved useful with a number of Red-necked Nightjar calling. Also had a possible Wryneck calling brieflybut unable to locate. On the last night however I was somewhat disturbed to find a group out using high powered lamps to see the birds. I can only think that for a nocturnal bird this must have bee distressing.

I did a nice walk from Villarreal de San Carlos to a spectacular view point. During the walk spotted the big three vulture species of Griffon, Egyptian and Black. Plenty of Golden Oriole singing from different locations but only the briefest glimpse of a male as it flitted through the trees. 

A fly over of five Pin-tailed Sandgrouse at The Stone Cross was great but sadly the photo was just a blur! Thankfully the Short-toed Eagle shot was at least a bit better!

Short-toed Eagle

While in the area a male and female Montagu's Harrier were quartering the area along with a distant Golden Eagle.

On Sunday 21st I moved the the Seirra de Gredos and a few nights spoiling myself at the first ever Parrador. My room gave wonderful views over the mountains and I was spoilt with food food in a great location. 

A rather strenuous from the Platforma de Gredos produced Booted and Short-toed Eagle as well as Black Kite and Raven. 

Ortolan Bunting were present throughout, singing from the rocks along with Rock Bunting, Northern Wheatear, Black Redstart and surprisingly for such a mountainous area, Woodlark! But the highlight were two or three very tame and obliging Bluethroat another lifer.

Ortolan Bunting

Northern Wheatear

Bluethroat

Black Redstart

While in this area I added another new tick to my list with a singing Western Bonelli's Warbler.

 A trip to a recommended Wetland area at Laguna de El Oso proved to be a bit of a disappointment as the area was dry! However it did give me a passing Golden Eagle, Melodoius Warbler and Black-eared Wheatear.

Returning to Soham at the end of May to catch up with summer visitors and work at Welney WWT monitoring birdboxes.

Spring is coming but are the birds?

Tuesday 11th April 

It's been a while since I ventured out to Burwell Fen. A combination of the after effects of covid and decorating the house has made it a challenge to get out and about.

This morning Annie and I walked the bank up to Pout's Hall. The water levels are still high with little of the mud to attract the waders and sure enough other than Lapwing none were present. In fact numbers of wildfowl were down, sadly no Garganey, and the highlight was a brief drop in by a Common Crane before it moved off over Tubney Fen.

Common Crane

By the car park were two very vocal Grey Partridge and a Corn Bunting calling as well.

Grey Partridge

Water is returning to Burwell Fen

Although my blog may not reflect it, I have visited Burwell Fen on a number of occasions since September. The fen is usually flooded starting in early November and it was good to see that this seems to have started for this year. On the 31st it was dry and on returning on the 4th small pools had started to emerge. 

Today (6th) these pools had increased, the ditch around the willow had begun to flood and more importantly the birds had begun to return.  Today there were good numbers of Wigeon with a Teal and Mallard mixed in. Large numbers of Lapwing were moving around the fen and Golden Plover were on the wing.

The largest flock of Fieldfare (50 approx) were present on Sedge Fen with Redwing, Goldfich and Chaffinch mixed in.

It's great to see the return of water and to look forward to this winter's influx.

Golden Plover passing over head: 417 by my count

Monday 7th November

Another grey day with showers but good to see the continued expansion of coverage of water across the fen. The far side pool is attracting good numbers of Greylag and Wigeon. 

Over a thousand Golden Plover were passing overhead on fairly constant flights. 

September 3rd Update

 Once again my plan to keep up to date has failed and it has been a while since I posted anything of worth. My only excuse is that I have had little to say. 

The summer has been hot and long, with record temperatures and no rain of any worth. The Spoonbill were still present on the 29th along with 47 Little Egret. There was also a number of Green Sandpiper and a single Greenshank.

Very little of interest until August 22nd when there was a single Whinchat by the Traveller's Camp.

A couple of Whinchat have been present for the last couple of days behind the railway station at Soham. This was a new species for this location along with a Wheatear on the 28th.

Whinchat

Monday 20th June

After a period of hot weather it was nice to have a cooler morning for a visit to Burwell Fen. A Corn Bunting was calling from its usual place by the car park. The lower pond by the bridge held very little, however the Tree Pool was occupied by twenty-nine Little Egret as well as three Little Grebe and the usual wildfowl.

Towards the upper pool were two Spoonbill. Sadly too far away for a descent photo but did get a couple of 'record' shots.

Spoonbill

Spoonbill

On the pool were another twenty-five Little Egret, six Cormorant and a single Common Tern. Another tern was on the nesting platform at Pout's Hall Lake.

Still a couple of Cuckoo showing and calling as were plenty of Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warbler.

Sedge Warbler

Week commencing Monday 13th June

Having recently been feeling under the weather with a hacking cough and sore throat (not Covid) I haven't been venturing far from home, However now feeling better we had a reasonably early visit to Burwell Fen. The pools are still holding a fair amount of water but I think that if we do get a really hot spell they will soon dry out and if baked hard will not be attractive to any early returning waders. We shall just have to wait and see.

Plenty of Little Egret around and a few Mallard and Gadwall. Greylag numbers remain high. A Cuckoo was very vocal and it was good to see and hear a Corn Bunting by the car park.

Corn Bunting

Cats!

Each spring for the last few years I settle down to record the nest sites in my garden. The results from these observations I put into the BTO Nesting Neighbours website. 

Throughout the garden I have a number of bird boxes including open fronted, Blue and Great Tit and a large number of Sparrow boxes. Some are used year in year out but others have remained empty since the day they were put up.

Due to the nature of the garden and the fixing points for nest boxes mine cover a range of points of the compass and heights. All I can say is that birds haven't read the book and many have nested in boxes facing in directions that are not 'appropriate'. 

Each year brings its own rewards. This year things have been very quiet. The sparrow boxes have only had a couple of occupants as opposed to last year when they were crowded. The Blue Tit returned to the box on the garage and was able to raise one clutch so far as opposed to last year when they all died in the box. 

The Blackbird continue to build nests in the various bushes around the garden but this year have abandoned the two that I have located but one pair has been successful.

This year the Robin nested in the ivy on the old apple tree and were doing well until the 5th May when I noticed that the nest had been destroyed and after a search of the area I found three dead chicks. Initially I thought this was due to squirrels but now I'm more inclined to cat!

By the entrance to the pond area a Wren had built a beautiful domed nest and settled in to rear its young. I set up one of my wildlife cameras and settled back to watch its progress.

All was going well and between the 28th April and the 29th May I recorded 77 visits to the nest made by the parents and using the endiscope on the 21st was able to capture the young in the nest.

Returning from a trip Up North I checked the nest and found it empty. Hoping that the camera had caught their departure I ploughed through the clips adding the information to Nesting Neighbours. Sadly my hope was soon dashed!

At 22 19 on the 28th the camera recorded a cat climbing in through the ivy to the nest! After over 30 minutes of inspecting the nest it moved off. 

I quickly checked the recordings for that morning and was relieved to see the wren feeding from the early hours onwards.

However all was not well as the recordings for that evening showed. The damned cat returned at 23.00 and this time plundered the nest killing all the young and scaring off the parents.

It was with a great deal of sadness to see one of the parents return later to check on the nest and realise all was lost.

I don't like cats and this has reinforced my dislike even more. They are killers with no regard. Why people should want such a creature living with them then putting them out during the night to reap havoc on other creatures is beyond me.

Keep cats indoors! Put a great big bell around their neck and keep them out of my garden!

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