Meadow Pipit

Cuckoo, March Farmers

More Black Terns, Ferry Meadows CP

8 of 9 Ruff at Maxey Pits

Garden Warbler, Ferry Meadows CP

Male Banded Demoiselle, Ferry Meadows CP

Black-winged Stilts at March Farmers

On 14th May 2016 I made arguably my best 'rare' bird find in the Peterborough area (at least as far as finding birds for others to enjoy), when I found two White-winged Black Terns at March Farmers (towards the eastern end of the Nene Washes complex). This year, I think I may have found a challenger, having found, on 29th April, a Cambridgeshire record 'flock' of five Black-winged Stilts at the same site. As the birds have now left the vicinity (classic one day wonders as usual for stilts around here), I can report that there were two pairs among the five, both of which were seen to mate and one of which appeared to be showing signs of preparing a nest! My photos were distant and don't show all five birds, but for what they are worth, here are some...

Kingfisher, Ferry Meadows CP

Just after I took this photo, this Kingfisher, which appears to be a male, dashed low over the water, about 20m and attacked another one perched about five feet above the water (which I had not seen). Both birds fell into the water and continued fighting in the water for about five or six seconds, before both escaping and flying their separate ways. A brief but amazing battle.

Black Terns at Ferry Meadows CP

Black Redstart, Deeping Lakes LWT

Caringorm Mountain action

Two Mountain Hares

Flirtatious Ptarmigan pair

Red-rumped Swallow, Ferry Meadows CP, 17.4.17

End of March 2017

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 was on 128 (inc 20*(21) 'elites'). Year total: 187
Last week in March, 2014, I was on 124 (inc 17*(18) 'elites'). Year total: 187
Last week in March, 2015, I was on 114 (inc 11*(12) 'elites'). Year total: 172
Last week in March, 2016, I was on 127 (inc 13*(14) 'elites'). Year total: 188
Last week in March, 2017, I was on 134 (inc 23*(24) 'elites'). Year total: 186
 * () 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 (2017).
This year saw my best ever start to a PBC year list, with a record number of elites seen before the start of April and a record equalling total. I saw plenty of birds I didn't record at all last year, including Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Mealy Redpoll, Great Grey Shrike, Glaucous Gull and Kittiwake.

Newly blue Bluethroat

Crane family

Lapwings (Dunlin and Starlings)