Today was always going to be very windy and cold. The wind was coming from the NNW and that is a cue to think about looking for potential ‘seabirds’ such as skuas and Gannets, which may come inland from The Wash and pass over the Peterborough area. It has been know for some time that skuas, in particular, cross over between The Wash and the Severn Estuary. And, on one occasion, I have succeeded in witnessing some of this inland passage, close to home (when my friend Brian Stone and saw three Great Skuas and an Arctic Skua flying by).
The place to do search for potential seabirds is closest open vista we have in the Peterborough Bird Club (PBC) area to The Wash, on the bank of the River Nene, at Ring’s End/Guyhirn. So, at first light i met up with former BW sub-editor Chris Jones and started a vigil for about five hours. Five hours later, we had recorded 40 species of bird. These included a couple of Sparrowhawks, a couple of Marsh Harriers and a flock of 6 Golden Plovers. But the highlights were twofold: firstly a Great White Egret, heading west over the Nene Washes.
But even better, was a year-tick Osprey, drifting slowly southwards, circling as it went. That is the 173rd bird on my PBC year list. No seabirds, but never mind, another day, perhaps…
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