Wednesday 31 December 2008

Wednesday, 31 December

Coveney - ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD again 1/4 mile south of village, ringtail Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl (per rarebirdalert.com). Please view only from roads, do not access fields or farm tracks.

Earith - 2 PURPLE SANDPIPERS opposite Berry Fen briefly 10.30, Jack Snipe (per rarebirdalert.com)

Grafham Water - 2 Smew, Red-necked Grebe, female Scaup, 5 Red-crested Pochards, 5 Goosander, 2 Pintail (Jono Leadley, Mark Hawkes)

Perry - Egyptian Goose still (Mark Hawkes)

Fowlmere - ringtail Hen Harrier (Toby Austin)

Southey Wood - 5+ Crossbills (per rarebirdalert.com)

Tuesday, 30 December

Southey Wood - 2 Crossbill (Richard Astle)

Woodwalton Fen - Bittern (John Wells); 2 Barn Owls, 70+ Siskin, 15+ Redpoll, Woodcock (Mark Hawkes); Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier (anon).

Grafham Water - Red-necked Grebe, 5 Red-crested Pochards, drk Tufted Duck x Pochard hybrid (Mark Hawkes)

Nene Washes - 2 COMMON CRANES still at Eldernell, Short-eared Owl (Chris Orders)

Paxton Pits - Brent Goose, Smew, 3 Red-crested Pochards (Martin Davis, Jamie Wells)

Wicken Fen - ringtail Hen Harrier, 70+ Fieldfare, 30 Snipe (Steffan W); Burwell Lode - 2 Short-eared Owls, 2 Marsh Harrier, Whooper Swan, 12 Siskin (David & Jonathan Heath); Merlin (Andrew Knights)

Fen Drayton GP - drk Smew, 2 Goosander (Owen Marks)

Monday, 29 December

Mepal Airfield - 6 Jack Snipe, 10 Common Snipe (David Hopkins)

Stirtloe - Merlin (Mark Hawkes)

Buckden GP - 50 Corn Bunting (Mark Hawkes)

Clopton - 2 Short-eared Owls (Kevin Harris)

Fen Drayton GP - 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, drk Smew (Kevin Harris)

Paxton Pits - 3 Red-crested Pochards, Green Sandpiper (Jamie Wells)

Southey Wood - 10 Crossbill, Woodcock (Malcolm Holley)

Ferry Meadows - 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull (Matt Webb)

Monday 29 December 2008

Sunday, 28th December

Grafham Water - 2 Bewick's Swans, Little Egret, female Scaup, Red-necked Grebe and 5 Red-crested Pochard still off dam (Mark Hawkes)

Clopton - Short-eared Owl (Stuart Elsom & Darren Oakley-Martin)

Wicken Fen - Merlin over Sedge Fen, 2 ringtail Hen harriers (Andrew Knights)

Bedford Purlieus - 6-7 Crossbill over (Brian Stone)

Perry - Egyptian Goose (Mark Hawkes)

Saturday 27 December 2008

Saturday, 27 December

Grafham Water - GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still by tower on dam, fem Scaup, Red-necked Grebe still at south end of dam, 30+ Siskin in lagoons (Mark Hawkes)

Paxton Pits - Brent Goose in field west of Diddington Pit,Red-crested Pochard, 4 Ruddy Duck, Jack Snipe, Marsh Tit (Jamie Wells)

Witcham - 4 Egyptian Geese over, WAXWING (David Hopkins)

Friday 26 December 2008

Friday, 26 December

Nene Washes - 2 COMMON CRANES still east of Eldernell, Peregrine, Marsh Harrier (Mark Hawkes)

Grafham Water - c.30 White-fronted Geese flew east at 9:25hr, 3 Brent Geese, GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, fem Scaup, 5 Red-crested Pochards (Jono Leadley); 5 Goosanders (Mark Hawkes); 4 Brent Geese at 12:30, 2 Whooper Swans through (Colin Addington)

Paxton Pits - Brent Goose in morning only, 2000 Golden Plover (Jamie Wells)

Cambourne - WAXWING still by Eco Wood (Jonathan Hook)

Woodwalton Fen - Bearded Tit, ringtail Hen Harrier, male Marsh Harrier (Mike Weedon)

Thursday, 25 December

Fen Drayton GP - 2 Red-breasted Merganser still, 2 Smew, 7 Whooper Swans through (James Hanlon)

Southey Woods - c.10 Crossbills still by picnic area (Peter Beesley)

Cambourne - WAXWING still (Jonathan Hook)

Eltisley - juv. ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD near East Hall Farm/A428 at 2.45, then flew off (Chris Boness)

Ferry Meadows - 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull (Matt Webb)

Wednesday, 24 December

Clopton - Short-eared Owl (Darren Oakley-Martin)

Cambourne - WAXWING on west side of Eco Park Wood, fem Scaup and 2 Pochard at Whomping Willow Lake, Pink-footed Goose at Crow Hill (Jonathan Hook)

Ferry Meadows - Adult Mediterranean Gull (Matt Webb)

Wednesday 24 December 2008

Tuesday, 23 December

Southey Woods - 4+ Crossbills (Jack Thorpe)

Monday, 22 December

Grafham Water - GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still, Red-necked Grebe, 5 Red-crested Pochard, 6 Goosander (Jono Leadley)

Fen Drayton GP - 3 Red-breasted Mergansers still, drk Smew (per rarebirdalert.com)

Sunday 21 December 2008

Sunday, 21 December

Coveney - ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD seen well from TL482798, initially on hedgerow along byway to Witcham, then gradually moving south towards the A142 (Hugh Venables)

Grafham Water - GREAT NORTHERN DIVER still, Red-necked Grebe, 5 Red-crested Pochards, fem Scaup, 1-2 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Yellow-legged Gulls, 4 Goosander (Mark Hawkes, Jono Leadley)

Paxton Pits - Goosander, 3 Red-crested Pochard, Peregrine (Jamie Wells)

Wicken Fen - 2 ringtail Hen Harrier, Stonechat (Gavin Paterson)

Fen Drayton GP - 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Smew, 40 Dunlin (Richard Patient)

Nene Washes - 2 COMMON CRANES (David Richardson)

Saturday, 20 December

Cottenham, Long Drove - 1st win ICELAND GULL (Duncan Poyser, Ben Green, Andy Massey) 2 GLAUCOUS GULL, 2 Caspian Gulls, 7+ Yellow-legged Gulls (Richard Patient)

Grafham Water - Red-necked Grebe, 5 Red-crested Pochards (Mark Hawkes)

Buckden GP - adult Mediterranean Gull (Mark Hawkes)

Southey Woods - 5 Crossbills by entrance, 8 Goldcrests (Richard Astle)

Ferry Meadows - adult Mediterranean Gull, 250 Common Gulls, 2 Ruddy Ducks (Matt Webb)

Saturday 20 December 2008

Friday, 19 December

Coveney - ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD south of Coveney (Jamie Wells)

Cottenham, Long Drove - juv. GLAUCOUS GULL in field to the west of the road (Richard Palmer)

Thursday, 18 December

Mare Fen - 10 Ruff, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Redshank (Andy Cotton)

Fen Drayton - 4 Smew (2 drakes) 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Water Rail, 2 Stonechats (Andy Cotton)

Wednesday 17 December 2008

Wednesday, 17 December

Coveney - ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD south of Coveney and east of the road, c.14:30h(Stuart Sharp). Do not enter fields or use farm tracks.

Grafham Water - Black-necked Grebe, fem Scaup, 4+ Red-crested Pochards (Chris Mackley) GREAT NORTHERN DIVER (birdguides.com)

Brampton Pits - redhead Smew this morning, viewable from River Lane (Richard Palmer)

Tuesday 16 December 2008

Tuesday, 16 December

Coveney - ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD east of Coveney, c.13:00h, before flying north towards Little Downham (Jono Leadley). Do not enter fields or use farm tracks.

Grafham Water - juv GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, Black-necked Grebe, Red-necked Grebe and Water Pipit; all on or near the dam this morning (Jono Leadley)

Cottenham, Long Drove - juv GLAUCOUS GULL still (Simon Stirrup)

Orton BP - Red-crested Pochard, 5 Goldeneyes, 3 Water Rails (Brian Stone)

Monday 15 December 2008

Monday, 15 December

St. Ives - 5 WAXWINGS over Needingworth Road this morning (Neal Gates); at least one WAXWING in hawthorns near the Co-op this afternoon (Alan Bull)

Waterbeach Fen - 3 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE 13:30h, 4 Little Egrets, Peregrine (as per rarebirdalert.com)

Grafham Water - juv GREAT NORTHERN DIVER, Black-necked Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, 5 Red-crested Pochards, Scaup, Little Egret (as per rarebirdalert.com)

Ouse Washes RSPB - 3 Jack Snipes, 539 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Water Pipits (Alex Thomas)

Brampton GP - Smew (as per rarebirdalert.com)

Cottenham, Long Drove - GLAUCOUS GULL (as per rarebirdalert.com)

Sunday 14 December 2008

Sunday, 14 December

Grafham Water - juv GREAT NORTHERN DIVER off north end of dam, Black-necked Grebe, Red-necked Grebe and Water Pipit by south end of dam, 5 Red-crested Pochard in Gaynes Creek, fem Scaup off Plummer, 2 Woodcock Littless Woods, 3 Goosander, Little Egret (David Hollin, Mark Hawkes, Colin Addington, Jono Leadley)

Waterbeach (Long Drove) - 3 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE still, 3 Little Egrets and Ross's Goose (Mark Hawkes)

Coveney - ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD still (Mark Ward). View only from road between Wentworth and Coveney. Do not access fields or farm tracks.

Fen Drayton Lakes - 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Smews (James Hanlon, Richard Hall)

Saturday, 13 December

Grafham Water - female Scaup and 5 Red-crested Pochards viewable from south end of dam (Colin Addington); Black-necked Grebe at the south end of the dam (Chris Orders)

Fen Drayton Lakes - 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, redhead Goosander on Drayton Lagoon, drake Smew, female Scaup, Shag on Ferry Lagoon (Andy Cotton)

Long Drove, Cottenham - juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL, adult Caspian Gull, adult Yellow-legged Gull and a melanistic (dark-grey) adult Black-headed Gull (Peter Herkenrath)

Waterbeach Fen - 3 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE (Jonathan & David Heath)

Maxey GP - 8 Goosanders (Richard Astle)

Nene Washes - 2 COMMON CRANES still at Eldernell (John Wells)

Friday 12 December 2008

Friday, 12 December

Coveney - ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD east of the Wentworth-Coveney road c.13:15h (Andy Cotton). Do not enter fields or use farm tracks.

Fen Drayton Lakes - fem Scaup on Oxholme Lake this morning (Dennis Hall)

Grafham Water - 5 Red-crested Pochards between Plummer CP and south end of dam (Colin Addington)

Cambridge - Peregrine on Our Lady and the English Martyrs church again 14:30h (Stuart Sharp)

Long Drove, Cottenham - 2 juvenile GLAUCOUS GULLS reported, and 1st-winter Caspian Gull (per rarebirdalert.com)

Thursday 11 December 2008

Thursday, 11 December

Coveney - ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD distantly from the Wentworth-Coveney road 12:15-13:15h (David Nation); showing well for 20 minutes shortly after this (Mike Everett); 2 Short-eared Owls (Stuart Sharp). View ONLY from road between A142/Wentworth and Coveney. Do not enter fields or farm tracks.

Cambridge - WAXWING just off Storey's Way in the grounds of Churchill College, near fire assembly point 3, c. TL433595 (Richard Thomas)

Grafham Water - Red-necked Grebe near Plummer CP, GREAT NORTHERN DIVER near Marlow CP this afternoon (Colin Addington)

Fen Drayton Lakes - 4 Smews, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, Goosander, fem Scaup, Shag, Egyptian Goose, 3 Little Egrets (Andy Cotton)

Wicken Fen - WAXWING 100 yards east of Tower Hide 13:53h (as per rarebirdalert.com)

Wednesday 10 December 2008

Wednesday, 10 December

Ouse Washes - WAXWING (birdguides.com)

Stretham - 2 WAXWINGS in a private garden 12:05h (Owen Marks)

St. Neots - 2 WAXWINGS at Tescos 12:45h (Paul Lippet); still present, by the garage, 12:54h (Mark Hawkes)

Cambridge - Peregrine on Our Lady and the English Martyrs church again 14:00h (Saimon Clark)

Fen Drayton Lakes - Shag, 2 redhead Red-breasted Mergansers, redhead Goosander, Ruddy Duck, Short-eared owl (Gavin Paterson)

Eldernell - 2 COMMON CRANES (Peter Farbridge)

Tuesday 9 December 2008

Tuesday, 9 December

Nene Washes - 2 COMMON CRANES at Eldernell this morning (Max Catterwell)

Cottenham, Long Drove - 1st c.y. GLAUCOUS GULL still present, also ad Caspian Gull, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (Ian Ellis)

Monday 8 December 2008

Monday, 8 December

Coveney - ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD 14:40h (David Hopkins, Owen Marks). View ONLY from road between A142/Wentworth and Coveney. Do not enter fields or farm tracks.

Grafham Water - GREAT NORTHERN DRIVER still off dam, Water Pipit, Red-necked Grebe, female Scaup & 5 Goosanders (Mark Hawkes)

Nene Washes - 2 COMMON CRANES at Eldernell (Robin Cox); Water Pipit, Marsh Harrier (Mark Hawkes)

Orton BP - Pink-footed Goose with the Greylags this morning (Brian Stone)

Sunday 7 December 2008

Sunday, 7 December

Ely - pair of Bearded Tits at Roswell Pits (Will Burdett)

Grafham Water - female Scaup off Plummer, Water Pipit still on the dam, GREAT NORTHERN DIVER off the north end of the dam near Marlow CP (Jono Leadley)

Fen Drayton - female Red-breasted Merganser and Shag on Ferry Lagoon (Peter Herkenwrath); 11 Grey Partridges, drake Smew, Merlin (David & Jonathan Heath); pr. Stonechat, Short-eared Owl, 5 Water Rails (Mike Everett); 2 redhead Smews, 9 Ruddy Ducks (Dave Anderson); 2 further drake Smews and a Bittern (as per Neil Renwick)

Eldernell - 2 COMMON CRANES on the flooded wash south east of the decoy wood, 2 Peregrines (Max Catterwell)

Paxton Pits - 2 Water Rails, 2 Woodcocks, Stonechat, Marsh Tit (Jamie Wells, Gary Rawlings)

Wicken Fen - 3 Short-eared Owls, Barn Owl on and around Adventurers' Fen (Andrew Knights); pr. Stonechat (Gavin Paterson); 3 ringtail Hen Harriers to roost (Richard Palmer)

Chippenham - male Merlin perched in the top of the hedgerow near the entrance to the La Hogue farm shop (Andrew Knights)

Waterbeach Fen - 3 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE at 9am only, Ross's Goose, Whooper Swan (Richard Palmer); Little Owl (Gavin Paterson)

Woodwalton Fen - Firecrest by bungalow, male Marsh Harrier, 3 Common Buzzards, 10 Siskins (Richard Patient); female Mealy Redpoll (Mike Weedon)

Saturday, 6 December

Grafham Water - Water Pipit again at south end of dam, juv. Great Northern Diver juv still at north end of dam (Mark Hawkes); Little Egret at Savages (Colin Addington).

Buckden GP - c.20 Corn Buntings, Siskin, Stonechat (Mark Hawkes)

Cottenham - juv GLAUCOUS GULL still (Duncan Poyser); Caspian Gull, 4 Yellow-legged Gulls, Green Sandpiper (Richard Patient)

Hinchingbrooke Park - 2 Goosanders on Sewells Lake (John Lindsell)

Cam Washes - 3 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE, White-fronted Goose, Hen Harrier, Buzzard, 7 Little Egrets (David & Jonathan Heath)

Fen Drayton - Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Shag, 3 Water Rail, Marsh Harrier, 2 Barn Owl (Stuart Elsom, Mike Everett and Richard Patient); Waxwing over, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (Richard Patient); Woodcock (Mike Everett and Richard Patient)

Eldernell - 2 COMMON CRANES (Peter Beesley)

Friday 5 December 2008

Friday, 5 December

Cambourne - fem SCAUP on Whomping Willow Lake (Louise Bacon)

Alconbury Weston - pair of Tree Sparrows in a private garden 09:00h (John Plaice)

Thursday 4 December 2008

Thursday, 4 December

Peterborough - CRANE opposite the power station off Storey's Bar Road 08:55h (Max Catterwell)

Fen Drayton - Shag on Ferry Lagoon, also Red-breasted Merganser, male Stonechat (Mike Everett)

Wednesday 3 December 2008

Wednesday, 3 December

Bluntisham - possible Night Heron flew along the River Ouse at Berry Fen towards Brownshill Staunch (as per rarebirdalert.com)

Tuesday 2 December 2008

Tuesday, 2 December

Cambridge - Peregrine on Our Lady and the English Martyrs Church again 14:00h (Saimon Clark); still present 15:00h (Chris Went)

Fen Drayton - 2 redhead Smew, Red-breasted Merganser (Dave Anderson)

Eldernell - Short-eared Owl, Barn Owl, fem Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzards (Max Catterwell)

Cottenham, Long Drove - juv Glaucous Gull, Caspian Gull (1 1st W, 1 adult, 1 hybrid), Yellow-legged Gull 6+ (Anon)

Monday 1 December 2008

Monday, 1 December

Grafham Water - 2 GREAT NORTHERN DIVERS this afternoon (Mark Hawkes)

Ouse Washes RSPB - 2 Water Pipits, Peregrine (Alex Thomas)

Cottenham, Long Drove - juv GLAUCOUS GULL, 3 Yellow-legged Gulls, Barn Owl (James Hanlon)

Late news for Thursday, 27 November: St. Ives - WAXWING in Green Leys briefly (Catherine Morton)