Friday, June 12, 2020

Lockdown Diary: Wednesday 10.6.20

It was raining quite heavily this morning (good for the garden etc), so I declined to cycle down to Ferry Meadows to continue my quest to see an Osprey there. Yesterday, I looked at some photos on a Flickr group of the ‘Ospreys’ seen on separate days in the park. The photographer thought they may be different individuals, based on the wing pattern. But, having analysed them by adjusting the contrast in Photoshop, and looking for little tell-tale details, I have concluded that it was the same bird on both occasions. It has a blue ring with white writing (unreadable), which suggests it is probably one of the Rutland-bred birds having a wander. The fact that it returns to FMCP is perhaps a sign that an extended vigil would be rewarded. Something for the weekend (as they say).
I was also a bit tired this morning after taking a bit of a long evening stroll around the Nene Washes (a bit east of Peterborough), which is easily the best birding site (though site is pushing it, as it is enormous!) around these parts. Highlights included three drake Garganeys (starting to move to their dull ‘eclipse’ summer plumage), three adult Cranes (non-breeders), a male Marsh Harrier, drumming Snipe, singing Cuckoo, hunting Hobby and a couple of summering Whooper Swans. Mustn’t grumble.
Lunchtime update: There are high-pitched youngsters in the garden. Eventually, I tied them down to a new family of Robins. I have never mastered the ID of baby birds on call!

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