Hiding behind a blade of grass

Sandwich Tern at Ferry Meadows CP

I'm having a good spell at the moment, local patch listing-wise. Yesterday, I twitched a male Whinchat, then found my own on the cycle home. This morning I went looking for a Whimbrel and saw five. Then after being gripped by the finding of three Sandwich Terns at Maxey Pits, I found my own at Ferry Meadows on the cycle into work. This is only the second time I have seen the species in the Peterborough area.

Spotted Crake (faint)

Spotted Crake7083 by Weedons World
The Spotted Crake is the repeated single whip call. You can also perhaps hear a Water Rail briefly right at the beginning plus lots of Redshank, Black-headed Gull and the odd larger gull calls, snatches of Sedge Warbler song and the odd Snipe drum (plus wind noise).

More extreme Wheatears

Another Wheatear

Part of "the power of digiscoping" series... I don't think I will get a sharper digiscoped image of a Wheatear!

Wheatear (female) at Swaddywell

More evidence, if it were needed, that digiscoping can be a very powerful technique when photographing relatively close birds. Thanks to Mick Beeson for getting me onto this bird and to Richard Astle for finding the female Ring Ouzel which got me out there in the first place.

Little Tern, Ferry Meadows CP

One of two found by Brian Stone on another of his mega-cycles, this morning. These birds at Overton Lake, Ferry Meadows, represent only the second time I have seen this species in the PBC area.

Little Gull, adult, Ferry Meadows, 25.4.10

One more Ringo

Yellow Wagtails among the cattle

Good week continues

Friday: Ring Ouzel still there, giving itself up to some digiscoping (see below)
Saturday: Bar-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank on Nene Washes, Ring Ouzel still present

More ouzel shots

Ring Ouzel at Castor Mill, 23.4.10

Green Woodpecker at Castor Mill, 23.4.10

A good week

Spring birding has kicked off in the last week in the Peterborough area, especially around the Ferry Meadows CP complex. Here is a resumé of some of the best bits I've had (others have had more):
Saturday: Green-winged Teal found by John Saunders at Maxey pits,
Sunday: Male Redstart found by Don Gardener at FM,
Monday: Two Black Terns found by me at FM (the first on Birdguides this year),
Tuesday: Male Redstart found by me at Castor Mill; three Arctic Terns found by Brian Stone at FM,
Wednesday: Male Redstart at CM joined by a female Wheatear,
Thursday: Male Ring Ouzel found by DG at Castor Mill (where he also saw the Redstart).


Ring Ouzel, Castor Mill, 22.4.10

Speedwell in our lawn

Peregrine, Nene Washes RSPB

This bird, which appears to be a young female, has been hanging about on the Washes this year. This morning I saw it chase after a Little Egret!

Redstart

Found at Ferry Meadows CP, Peterborough, today, by arch Redstart finder, Don Gardner