Spotted Redshank (record shot), Nene Washes

Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits, Nene Washes

Spot the Lapwing

Redwings in horse manure

Barn Owl, Deeping High Bank

Last week in March, 2008, I was on 125 (inc 17 'elites'). Year total: 189 (my record total)
Last week in March, 2009, I was on 131 (inc 22 'elites'). Year total: 187
Last week in March, 2010, I was on 126 (inc 15 'elites'). Year total: 177
Last week in March, 2011, I was on 130 (inc 18 'elites'). Year total: 182
Last week in March, 2012, I was on 134 (inc 21*(22) 'elites'). Year total: 183
Last week in March, 2013, I am on 128 (inc 20*(21) 'elites'). Year total: ??
 * () Modern counting with Smew as an 'elite'

Here is the traditional state of my personal PBC (Peterborough Bird Club area) year list summary, as of the end March.
Highlights of what feels like quite a productive first three months (despite awful weather), include a self-found Great White Egret, a Hawfinch for the first time since 2009, multiple Brent Geese, and an early Sandwich Tern (only the fourth time I've recorded this species), plus the sheer abundance of Waxwings. Though the overall total is relatively weak, the number of 'elite' species – species which are very scarce and unreliable annually – is good, and that is what really matters.

Little Gull, Dog in a Doublet sluice, Whittlesey

Med Gull at Ferry Meadows CP

Bird on far left

Displaying at bemused Black-headed Gulls, to assert its hierarchical position

Colour-ringed (red ring with white writing on left leg) adult summer Mediterranean Gull at Ferry Meadows CP, 16.3.13. Bird was found by Don Gardener

More Nuthatches

Siskin at Ferry Meadows CP

Alternative (Weedonian) Cambs bird photo of 2012

Here are my favourite photos from Cambridgeshire, that I took last year

Great Crested Grebes, Ferry Meadows CP

Common Scoter, Ferry Meadows CP

Cranes, Nene Washes

Dunlin, Serpentine BP

Firecrest, Murrow

Green Woodpecker, Ferry Meadows CP

Little Stint, Maxey pits

Merlin, Nene Washes

Reed Bunting, Nene Washes

Scaup, Eye Green LNR

Temmincks Stint, Serpentine BP

Waxwing, Fengate

Wheatear, Maxey pits

Yellowhammer, Maxey pits

Nuthatches, Bluebell Wood

Mad as a March hatter

From the Archives... No. 28

Long-eared Owl, Star Pit LNR, Peterborough, 5 December 2005

Today, I added Long-eared Owl to my local year-list with two birds on the island ont he main lake at Deeping Lakes LWT. Luckily, these birds (presumably the same pair which were there last year), haven't completely abandoned the area despite the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust volunteers carrying out some extreme pruning a matter of yards from their spot on the island. These people are among the most misguided conservationists around these parts... Anyhow, the viewl was distant but good, not unlike this bird, but further away.

Another Waxwing in frost

Fieldfare in frost

Barn Owl, Baston Fen

Barn Owl fly-past

Monochrome Short-eared Owl

Backlit Short-eared Owl at sunset, Baston Fen, Lincolnshire

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

This male was at the 'usual' site in Old Sulehay, this morning, another 'elite' year tick for my ever-growing list...

From the Archive... No. 27

Hawfinch (digiscoped), Ferry Meadows CP, 1 January 2006

Little Egret, Deeping High Bank

Blue Tit at our nestbox

The pair of Blue Tits have been interested in the nestbox outside our kitchen window since January 18th.

A tune from early 2013