More Crab & Winkle Waxwings

Waxwings, Werrington

Hooded Crow at Ferry Meadows CP, Peterborough

Water Pipits at Baston Fen, South Lincs

>
There have been up to 13 Water Pipits at Baston Fen this month. It is easy to see six feeding together. The best LBJs out there!

Whooper Swans in early morning frost, Thorney Dyke

Common Seals at Dog-in-a-Doublet

There were two Common Seals on the tidal River Nene at the D-in-a-D sluice on Saturday. One was still there on Sunday.

Roadside Merlin (hiding!)

At Thorney Dyke

Flush at frozen March Farmers

Water Pipits, Baston Fen, Lincs

Over the Christmas period Will Bowell and I went in search of Water Pipits at Baston Fen NR. Josh Jones had found one at the 'wader pit' of the Baston and Langtoft complex and we thought that the flooding around Baston Fen looked even more suitable. We walked the edge of the flood and eventually flushed three Water Pipits, a local find tick for Will. A couple of weekends ago, I returned and, in high winds, found at least one Water Pipit feeding with a flock of Meadow Pipits, on the edge of the now greatly enlarged flood.
Last week, Dave Roberts found that there were at least seven Water Pipits at the site, so on Saturday, WIll and I went to pay our respects. Almost as soon as we got there, a heron flew across and flushed a flock of 12-15 pipits from near the path. We binned them and were surprised that they all looked similar and some of them were definitely Water Pipits. Luckily they landed again along the edge of the flood and we could scope them. We soon realised that all the birds we were lookign at were Water Pipits, with no visible Meadows. We confirmed at least 12 Water Pipits, which was more than I have ever seen together in the UK, let alone the PBC area (my previous high count was seven on the Nene Washes).
I went back yesterday and saw at least eight WPs feeding in great light and occasionally perching in a bare tree, showing very well. These photos don't do justice to the birds or the views; they really are lovely little things and strangely delightful for such nondescript LBJs...

Kestrel, Deeping High Bank

New Year's Eve Waxwing: PBC tick 195 for 2018

Two Waxwings at Dobbies, near Tesco, Hampton, south-west Peterborough on 31st December. A great way to end the year, but all too brief! Waxwing took my Peterborough area year list to 195 speceis, smashing my previous best (189 set in 2008) by six birds.

Hooded Crow, Eye Tip

Originally found by Josh Jones as I was standing next to him on Christmas Eve (searching for year tick gulls), this was just the third Hoodie I have seen in the Peterborough area (PBC year tick number 193). These photos were taken when Will Bowell ( relocated it on 29th December.

Hen Harrier, Deeping High Bank, S Lincs

This lovely bird is, I believe, a juvenile Hen Harrier. It was hunting ove the Lonely Cow Field or Sad Cow Field, a bit of rough grassy stuff, where the World's Saddest Cow used to live on its own for years... Eventually, it settled on the ground where it sat for a while, then started to rip into the food it was perching on; a dead rabbit, perhaps? Slightly troubling, in all the shots I took it appeared to have its bill open; but it did appear to be feeding OK.

Returning Lottie?

In February 2017, Bob and Sue Titman found a Long-tailed Duck on the stretch of the River Welland called the Deeping High Bank (DHB; near Crowland, S Lincs). This female soon got named Lottie and hung around on the river for ages. It later moved to Deeping Lakes LWT where it could be seen on the east pit or The Lake. It later relocated to Baston & Langtoft pits (BLGP), notably the 'wader pit' and the adjacent 'T-junction pit' (just across the road).
On New Year's Day 2018, Lottie was again back on the Welland near Gull Farm on the DHB, then it vanished for a while, though I refound her further north near Spalding a few weeks into the year. Later it once more relocated to the BLGP complex, and especially the 'wader pit'. It was there for ages into the spring, but started to be afflicted by a horrible condition which made it spin continuously in tiny circles, half on its back. Things looked terminal for Lottie. But she is a tough cookie, and after a few weeks apparently recovered to full health. In April, not long before our annual bird race (around the May Day bank holiday), she disappeared. Had Lottie been predated or just left?
Last week, Chris Lines found what appears to be an adult female Long-tailed Duck on the 'T-junction pit' at BLGP and she is still there. Has Lottie returned? Probably, but we will only know for sure after a bit more moulting to reveal more white in the face. I took these shots last Sunday (25th).

Ferry Meadows CP ducks

PBC area year tick 192 for me and I believe a Cambs tick for me (and certainly my first RbM in the Nene valley and at Ferry Meadows)

Goosander

Scaup