The wind had moved round to the east slightly, this morning, and there were more birds at Ferry Meadows CP. Lots of Chiffchaffs were out and about and calling., and there was an increasing in Meadow Pipit numbers going over (still small numbers, though). Probably the highlight, though, was the fact that there were two juvenile Grey Wagtails on the shore of Gunwade Lake. As we near the equinox, there is a feel of autumn in the air, and I expect things will pick up more than somewhat, birdwise, around these parts…
Thursday, September 17, 2020
Responsible Birding Diary, Tuesday 15.9.20
It was a quiet pre-work morning at Ferry Meadows CP, with no Otters or exciting birds to report. Oh well, at least I am getting some daily exercise again… In our back garden, the highlights were the growing number of singing Starlings and a visiting Brown Hawker dragonfly, the first I have seen here, this year.!
Responsible Birding Diary, Monday 14.9.20
I have been getting extra fat, since reducing the amount of cycling I have been doing. So, I decided it was time to start cycling again, and where better to go than good old Ferry Meadows CP (a round trip of 8-10 miles). This morning, I was rewarded by seeing a lovely Otter fishing on Gunwade Lake (too distant for photos). A juvenile Grey Wagtail came and perched on some nearby railings, and a flotilla of fishing Cormorants came close by to the platform I was watching from. Meanwhile, a very persistent juvenile Herring Gull was demanding food from its parent!
Herring Gull juvenile begging from its parent, Ferry Meadows CP, Peterborough, 13.9.20
Responsible Birding Diary, Sunday 13.9.20
I started the day working the hedge at Eldernell, once again. Easily the highlight were the several Small Copper butterflies basking in the sun on the short-cropped ‘turf’. These are real beauties of the butterfly world!
Small Coppers, Eldernell, Cambridgeshire, 13.9.20
Later I was back at Woodwalton Fen NNR, where I noticed Willow Emerald Damselflies on the Great Raveley Drain (which marks the western edge of the rectangular reserve). In the wadery bit, it was a case of the usual suspects, with 3 juvenile Ruffs and 3 Green Sandpipers. Lots of Red Kites were workign the Great Fen fields nearby, as was the odd Hobby and Marsh Harrier.o there, were a new Ringed Plover, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, Green Sandpiper and a couple of Common Sandpipers.
Responsible Birding Diary, Saturday 12.9.20
It was windy (with a strong blast coming from the west) and the best action at Baston Fen NR (south Lincolnshire) was on the sheltered east side of the small wood by the car park, which was also catching the morning sun. Here were dozens of Willow Emerald Damselflies, with the vast majority paired up ‘in cop’ or ‘in heart’ if you prefer. This is a species which has only colonised around here in the last few years, and is now abundant at suitable sites in autumn (when other damselfies are no longer on the wing). The relatively chunky females lay their eggs on the thin twigs of willows overhanging water. When the nymphs hatch, they then drop into the water below. I got a few shots…
Willow Emerald Damselflies, Baston Fen, Lincolnshire, 12.9.20
Later, I went to Deeping lakes LWT, where three Goosanders had been reported on the east pit. And they were still there. On Friday, one of my colleagues from another magazine in our company (Louise from Trail), sent me some photos of three Goosanders on the Nene at Elton, Cambs. I wonder if these were the same three…
Responsible Birding Diary, Friday 11.9.20
This morning I duly assembled myself early at Deeping Lakes in anticipation of a filming session with our video genius, Jake Kindred. After yesterday evening’s slim pickings, it was encouraging to see evidence of a bit of ‘movement’ with a new-in eclipse drake Pintail, a few eclipse Wigeon and a surge of new Shovelers, all on the east pit. Also there, were a new Ringed Plover, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, Green Sandpiper and a couple of Common Sandpipers.
There were also still 8 Swifts flying around. Later a Peregrine came buzzing through. In all, I recorded 63 species, which is not bad for this small site!
Responsible Birding Diary, Thursday 10.9.20
I am due to do a bit of filming at Deeping Laeks LWT tomorrow morning (short clips of birding advice for the BW website). So, I did a recce this evening. It was very disappointing how few birds were around, however, with a single Common Sandpiper being the highlight at the east pit. So, I whizzed off to Baston and Langtoft pits. And it was even worse! I have never seen the pits there looking so ‘birdless’ and grim!
Responsible Birding Diary, Wednesday 9.9.20
This evening I followed a tip-off and went to check out the wader habitat near Woodwalton Fen NNR, in the very south of the Peterborough area. It was a very pleasant evening and there is plenty of habitat which is potential wader paradise. This evening there were 3 juvenile Ruffs (2 were females aka ‘reeves’), 5 Green Sandpipers and a dozen or so Snipe. Also, there was a Wheatear next to the wader pools and a Hobby and Marsh Harrier added an extra bit of spice to the occasion.
Responsible Birding Diary, Tuesday 8.9.20
I popped up to the River Welland in search of ‘Sharky’ the Great White Egret and perhaps some Whinchats again, this evening. Sadly, the Whinchats were not to be found and neither was the GWE, until, I spotted him/her rising (in flight) briefly above the high bank of the Welland (viewed from where the road had already dropped off the bank). I parked up on the bend of the road where it drops off and could see it fishing in the river to the north and occasionally coming up onto the bank with assorted corvids, sheep and cattle.
Great White Egret, Deeping High Bank, south Lincs, 8.9.20
Responsible Birding Diary, Monday 7.9.20
This evening I followed a tip-off and went to check out the wader habitat near Woodwalton Fen NNR, in the very south of the Peterborough area. It was a very pleasant evening and there is plenty of habitat which is potential wader paradise. This evening there were 3 juvenile Ruffs (2 were females aka ‘reeves’), 5 Green Sandpipers and a dozen or so Snipe. Also, there was a Wheatear next to the wader pools and a Hobby and Marsh Harrier added an extra bit of spice to the occasion.
Thursday, September 10, 2020
Responsible Birding Diary: Sunday 6.9.20
This morning, I decided to once again explore the hedge west of the car park along the ‘counter drain’ at Eldernell, Cambs (part of the Nene Washes complex). I encountered 50 species, including 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Cetti’s Warblers, 13 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Willow Warblers, fly-over Siskin and Marsh Harrier. There was a steady stream of migrating Meadow Pipits, heading south and Brown Argus and Small Heath butterflies were on the Rabbit-grazed areas.
Responsible Birding Diary: Saturday 5.9.20
Today was a great day for nice, scarce, photogenic birds! I started the day by checking to see if a reported Whinchat was still present a bit south of Spalding (but still in the Peterborough area part of south Lincolnshire). I saw two lovely Whinchats in the thistly field [later there was a third reported].
Whinchats, south of Spalding, Lincs, 5.9.20
Later, I bumped into the Great White Egret reported previously, which was fishing along the Welland. Never have we had such a bold and photogenic Great White Egret in these ‘ere parts!
And finally, I went to ‘twitch’ a first-winter male Redstart which had been found just north of the village of Etton (north Cambs). It turned out to be a most obliging and vocal bird, offering really good scope views. A drain, two barbed wire fences and narrow field probably helped it from being disturbed! It was doin gthe classic thing of coming out to the fence beside row of hedge-trees and feeding on the sheep-cropped ground beside the the fence, before whizzing back up, shimmering its tail and repeating! The call is a very Willow Warbler-like ‘hooeet’, arguably purer in tone than the warbler.
Responsible Birding Diary: Friday 4.9.20
I didn’t get out until quite late, today, and headed down to Tanholt Pits in search of waders etc. The best I got was close by from a male Marsh Harrier and a couple of juvenile Little Ringed Plovers. So, I abandoned the pits and went north to Deeping Lakes. I went via the Deeping High Bank (road alongside the River Welland), in the hope of seeing a Great White Egret reported there, earlier. No luck.
A quick scan of the east pit at DLLWT revealed the ‘usual suspects’. But as I reached the central ‘Rock Island’, there was a Cattle Egret standing there doing nothing in particular! Alas, as I reached for my phone to put the news out, it disappeared! Twenty minutes later, I explored the raised grassy banks of the nearby Welland to see if it had joined any sheep, cattle or horses there. No sign.
But as I drove back along the track to the east screen I noted an egret flying west. It was the Cattle, and it was heading towards The Lake. The first birders to come to see the egret (my friends Bob and Sue) were a few minutes too late, but as I went off home, the continued west and later reported the Cattle Egret in a pre-roost gathering with Little Egrets, beside The Lake. I wonder if it will reappear for a longer stay as previous CEs have.
This was the third Cattle Egret I have ‘found’ in the Peterborough area and the third I have seen at Deeping Lakes.
Responsible Birding Diary: Wednesday 2.9.20
It wasn’t a great day for getting out and about birdwatching, today. After all, my son Eddie finally flew the nest today (or rather he has gone down south to London to college). So, it was a morning of packing the car rather than watching wildlife. That said, I did slip out to the garden for a cup of tea at one stage. Once again, there was a juvenile Blackcap sneaking around the apple trees and Ivy near our overgrown (almost invisible) shed. A family of Goldfinches came down to bathe. And there was a decent ‘family’ flock of Starlings mainly feeding on the Dogwood berries. In 2001 I planted more than 100 ‘whips’ of native trees around the garden as a hedge. So, in addition to the figs, apples, blackberries and plums our garden produces, there are plenty of berries, hips and haws.
Responsible Birding Diary: Thursday 3.9.20
After work I cycled down to Ferry Meadows to search for a male Redstart which had been reported there in the same spot where I watched a female not so many days ago… Alas, there was no sign of the Redstart, and the whole area (a scrubby Hawthorn rich patch called Coney Meadow)was a bit quiet. So, I cycled along the Nene Valley Railway in search of chats and flycatchers, and headed down to the old water Mill called Castor Mill.
There was very little action to report there, wither, just a single Red Kite drifting around. So, I cycled back through Ferry Meadows and past the Peterborough rowing lake, in the hope that there may be an off-track Shag. But all there were were loads of rowers, burning up and down the Km+ course. I did hear a couple of Ring-necked Parakeets, which are a couple of miles or so from the ‘main’ flock at Ferry Meadows. I wonder how many there are around Peterborough, now…
Responsible Birding Diary: Tuesday 1.9.20
I started off today’s birding by visiting Castor Hanglands NNR at c6.30am. It was a case of the usual stuff, with plentiful Marsh Tits, Nuthatches and lots of woodpeckers (of both common species) all over the place. Sadly, no tree Pipits, or Redstarts, but I did see a couple of Ravens. This is fast becoming one of the most reliable sites for these scarce corvids in these here parts.
Responsible Birding Diary: Monday 31.8.20
I was inspired by yesterday’s Redstart to have an early-ish start at Eldernell. Once more I walked the hedge, but it was so much less windy, sunnier and warmer that birds were dripping out of the bushes. There were families of Reed Warblers, Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Lesser Whitethroats in the Hawthorn hedge, as well as the usual Greenfinches and Goldfinches. In a few hours I recored 54 bird species (some heard only, like Greenshank and Crane), including my first fly-over redpoll of the autumn and a few Siskins, plus Hobby.
The best action though came with the same male Redstart as yesterday, plus a couple of Spotted Flycatchers. I wasted a bit of time chasing after a reported Pied Flycatcher very close to where I had been searching all morning! Never mind…
Male Redstart, Eldernell, Cambs, 31.8.20
Responsible Birding Diary: Sunday 30.8.20
Having seen not much on a tour of a few sites, I found myself working the hedge, to the west of the car-park at Eldernell, which is a viewpoint over the Nene Washes. This particular hedge has a reputation for turning up good birds, the best of which was a Wryneck a few years ago. But its main reputation is founded upon Redstarts, and along with Ferry meadows CP, it is one of the most reliable sites in the county (Cambs) for these lovely birds.
Having walked the length of the main part of the hedge, I saw plenty of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats, but not a hint of Redstart. So, I was heading back, when a pure ‘hooeet’ call caught my ear. It sounded just like a Willow Warbler call, but rapidly repeated and steady, without any ‘broken’ notes. Surely, it was a Redstart! A couple of minutes later, out popped a gorgeous male Redstart, looking almost as pretty as a spring individual (when they tend to look at their best).
This is the first Redstart I have found anywhere this year, and the third I have seen locally, after the singing male in spring and last week’s female at FMCP. What a lovely bird!
Responsible Birding Diary: Saturday 29.8.20
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…
Responsible Birding Diary: Friday 28.8.20
It was a very foggy start to the day, but after dropping off Eddie for his last blueberry-picking session (He is off to college next week), I went up to Deeping Lakes LWT, anyhow. I was surprised to be able to record 52 species from the east pit alone, the highlight being a Ringed Plover which dropped in for a short while, announcing its presence with repeated calls.
Responsible Birding Diary: Thursday 27.8.20
It was a very pleasant morning, so I went to check out the scrubby rough fields and hedges of Castor Hanglands NNR, just west of Peterborough. I was mainly after scarce passage birds such as tree Pipits or Redstarts. No such luck. However, the place was buzzing with Chiffchaffs and plenty pf Great Spotted Woodpeckers and Marsh tits were scattered about. The highlight, though was a gently chirping Raven, which I eventually saw calling from the near the top of a massive pylon a bit to the west. It is amazing how far the soft calls were carrying, but I guess the Raven was applying the same principles that allow a Sky Lark to spread its song over such a wide area.
Later in the day, I popped into the garden (Thursday is drinking pond top up day) and was surprised to not only see juvenile Blackcap, but beside it in the ivy, a Garden Warbler. This is the only the second Garden Warbler we have had in our garden in 20 years!
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Lockdown Diary: Wednesday 26.8.20
This morning, I returned to Ferry Meadows to get a better look at last evening’s Shags. But, alas, there was no sign. I returned to the scene of my spring vigils, outside the cafĂ© overlooking Gunwade Lake, and hoped for the best in the strong NW wind. There were two highlights: a very close fly-by from an adult Hobby, which whizzed past and low over the lake, before powering up like a rocket to chase Sand Martins. And also an Otter which swim very close to the shore. It is always a good day when you see an Otter!
Otter, Ferry Meadows CP, Peterborough, 26.8.20
Lockdown Diary: Tuesday 25.8.20
I was sitting watching a bit of telly, this evening (at about 7 o’clock), after a day stuck indoors, owing to the horrific high winds. But I got a call from my friend Don who believed he had found a Shag at Ferry Meadows CP, on Overton Lake. I thought, it was worth a cycle, despite the gusty gale. We don’t get many Shags around Peterborough, perhaps one a year maximum and I hadn’t seen one since December 2017. But they have turned up at FMCP in August a couple of times before in my time (2008 and 2010), and there had been a big influx inland after the recent high winds (with more than 20 on the dam at Rutland Water yesterday).
However, when I got about halfway to the park, Don called me to say that his Shag had flown off in the direction of the other large lake, Gunwade. I ploughed on, and despite the wind getting stronger and a very nasty shower, I cycled passed Overton and round Gunwade and saw nothing but Black-headed Gulls, Common Terns and a couple of Great Crested Grebes. So, I thought it best to go back to the where Don had originally seen the Shag, on the narrow gravelly beach of a steep wooded island on Overton, the trees of which are white with Cormorant guano.
I got the place you look at this island (at an old archaeological site called Roman Point) and a quick glance revealed there were 2 juvenile Shags standing on the beach! I called Don, who cycled over and we watched them for a short while before they flew out onto the water of the lake. They were constantly fidgeting and nervous, like new ‘stranger’ birds. This is the first time I have seen more than one Shag at the same time in the Peterborough area. Local year tick number 172.
Juvenile Shags, Overton Lake, Ferry Meadows CP, Petrborough, 25.8.20
Lockdown Diary: Monday 24.8.20
It was back to fruit picking for Ed (I am surprised he can even look a blueberry in the eye, these days!), and I was once again early on, at Deeping Lakes. Nothing much to report there, so I headed to the Baston and Langtoft pit complex (BLGP), where the lingering juvenile Black-necked Grebe is still on theT-junction pit. On the way home I called in at the new workings near Etton, Cambs, which had 4 Common Sandpipers, 1 Green Sandpiper and lots of Yellow Wagtails.
I got a report that my friend Don found a Redstart at Ferry Meadows this morning, so I may head down there after work, today… Watch this space. Meantime, here is a tame Robin from out garden (I think a youngster, who has just grown his ‘adult’ type head feathers).
Robin, our Peterborough garden, 24.8.20
As it happens, after work I cycled down to Ferry Meadows and almost immediately upon arriving at the scrubby area called Coney Meadow, I saw the female Redstart! But it was another hour until I saw her again. No photos. The bushes around here were full of warblers, mainly Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers, with several Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats, plus Goldcrest.
After getting a bit bored waiting for the Redstart to reappear, I wandered down to Roman Point on the edge of Overton Lake and admired the growing Ring-necked Parakeet flock which were nibbling on Field Maple seeds. Most were juveniles, and the flock was more than 20 strong. So, there must have been several broods mixing from the newly-established local breeding population. These ones were posing for photos!
Ring-necked Parakeets, Ferry Meadows CP, Peterborough, 24.8.20
Lockdown Diary: Sunday 23.8.20
I visited Tanholt Pits, Cambs, today. I think it is technically called Eye Quarry or even America’s Farm pits, but we birders call it Tanholt, probably you park outside the entrance to Tanholt Farm, just south of Eye. Anyhow, the main pit which has decent birds has been so flooded that it looks like it has strings of shallow islands. And these naturally attract the odd wader. There was nothing exceptional but there were 3 Green Sandpipers and 4 Common Sandpipers. It is one of those places with a lot of potential…
There were also loads of Little Grebe families there and the surrounding tracks had Small Heath and Brown Argus butterflies, which are always nice...
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