Saturday 31 March 2012

Friday, 30 March

Nene Washes - COMMON CRANE, Short-eared Owl, Grasshopper Warbler (Steve Dudley)

Thursday, 29 March

RSPB Fowlmere - Jack Snipe from Reedbed hide (Matthew Mellor)

Ouse Washes - 2nd-winter ICELAND GULL, Goosander Short-eared Owl, pair of Garganey (David Hopkins)

Wednesday, 28 March

Grafham Water - GLAUCOUS GULL off fishing lodge, 3 Goosander (Mark Hawkes)

Wicken Fen - Short-eared Owl, 5 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Marsh Harriers, Water Rail (Gavin Paterson)

Ouse Washes - 1st-winter ICELAND GULL (David Hopkins)

Tuesday, 27 March

Milton Tip - GLAUCOUS GULL (Richard Johnson)


Monday 26 March 2012

Monday, 26 March

Thorney - GREAT GREY SHRIKE from roundabout on the bypass again (Malcolm Holley)

Grafham water - displaying male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER from Mander CP although distant, later from Marlow CP (Dean Harlow); Brent Goose off south end of dam (Colin Addington); adult Mediterranean Gull (Robin Cox); 3cy Caspian Gull (Mark Hawkes)

Ferry Meadows - Common Tern on Gunwade Lake (Chris Park)

Isleham Washes - 37 Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit (Dave Palmer)

Ouse Washes - Imm GLAUCOUS GULL and 2cy ICELAND GULL from Cradge Bank, male Hen Harrier (David Hopkins)

Hixton - GREAT WHITE EGRET at Hinxton ford (Alan Freestone)

Sunday 25 March 2012

Sunday, 25 March

Fowlmere - Jack Snipe from the reedbed hide (David Hatton); Hen Harrier (Ade Cooper)

Berry Fen - Brent Goose (Richard Thomas)

Kings Dyke - SANDWICH TERN over Funthams Lane (Mike Weedon)

Thorney - GREAT GREY SHRIKE still present (John Saunders)

Eldernell - 13 Buzzard, 7 Marsh Harrier,  3 Red Kite, Peregrine, Short-eared Owl, Crane, 3 Barn Owl, 11 Whooper Swan over west (Steve Dudley)

Ouse Fen - 3 Cranes over (Richard Thomas)

Fen Drayton Lakes - 8 Sand Martins (Louise Bacon)

Cam Washes - Spotted Redshank, Green Sandpiper, 2 Egyptian Geese, Peregrine, 4+ Marsh Harrier (David and Jon Heath)

Paxton Pits - Osprey over (as per Jamie Wells)

Ouse Washes - ICELAND GULL from Cradge Bank, Short-eared Owl (David Hopkins)

Saturday 24 March 2012

Saturday, 24 March

Milton Tip - 1st winter ICELAND GULL, Caspian Gull (Peter Herkenrath)

Monks Wood - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, pair Woodcock, c.20 pairs of Nuthatches  (Richard Broughton)

Grafham Water - 6 Ruff over, 9 Avocets, Green Sandpiper (Mark Hawkes)

Gamlingay Wood - Crossbill over (Julian Young)

Thorney - GREAT GREY SHRIKE still present (John Saunders and Chris Orders)

Morborne Hill  - Black Redstart (c/o Birdguides)

Fen Drayton Lakes - Brambling, 2 Sand Martins  (Peter Herkenrath)

Tanholt - Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, White Wagtail (David Chambers)

Nene Washes - Merlin, 4 Marsh Harrier (Gavin Paterson); ringtail Hen Harrier, 3 White Wagtail at Eldernell (Mike Weedon)

Ouse Washes - ad Mediterranean Gull, Short-eared Owl (David Hopkins)

Friday 23 March 2012

Friday, 23 March

Thorney - GREAT GREY SHRIKE still present 07:30h (Mike Weedon)

RSPB Grange Farm, Knapwell - Ring-necked Parakeet (Derek Gruar)

Ferry Meadows - ad Little Gull on Gundwade Lake (Mike Weedon)

Hinxton - GREAT WHITE EGRET on private farmland again (Louise Bacon)

Paxton Pits - fem RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, 8 Smew, Little Ringed Plover, 2 littoralis Rock Pipits (Martin Davis)

Ouse Washes - GREAT WHITE EGRET at Witcham Gravel (Ben Green); ICELAND GULL from Cradge Bank (David Hopkins)

Eldernell - Water Pipit, male Garganey, 6 Marsh Harrier (Steve Dudley)

CEGB - Mediterranean Gull (Matt Webb)


Thursday 22 March 2012

Thursday, 22 March

Guyhirn - 4 Common Cranes opposite Chill Out cafe 06:15h, but distant (John Saunders)

Thorney - GREAT GREY SHRIKE showing very well by the first roundabout (coming from Peterborough) on the Thorney bypass c.12:40h (Brian Stone)

Witcham Gravel - male and fem Hen Harrier to the north-east this morning (David Hopkins)

Ouse Washes, Chain Corner -  2 Hen Harrier nearby (Ben Green)

Paxton Pits - Brent Goose, fem RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, Little Ringed Plover, fem Wheatear, 6 Smew (Martin Davis)

Wicken Fen - Woodcock, Short-eared Owl, 5 singing Cetti's Warblers. Also ringtail Hen Harrier at Wicken village, Merlin and ringtail Hen Harrier at Fidwell Fen (Gavin Paterson)

Wednesday 21 March 2012

Wednesday, 21 March

Anglesey Abbey - 2 male Reeve's Pheasant (Peter Wells)

Thorney - GREAT GREY SHRIKE 08:30h. In the tops of trees in the small copse just north of the section of bypass between the first two roundabouts (coming from Peterborough), at TF273045. When here, best viewed from the mobile cafe at the eastbound pull in between the roundabouts at TF276046 (Brian Stone, John Saunders)

Little Shelford - GREAT WHITE EGRET over north-northwest 09:30h (Ali Cooper)

Murrow - c.50 Whooper Swans over (Marie Barton)

Cam Washes, Upware - 3 Avocet, Spotted Redshank, Green Sandpiper (Bruce & Gwen Martin)

Ely - Short-eared Owl between the city and Little Thetford (Mark Grooms)

Buckden Tip - 6 Whooper Swan over (Tony Burrin)

Tuesday 20 March 2012

Tuesday, 20 March

Addenbrookes site, Cambridge - Osprey over north 13:10h (Sarah Howlett)

Caldecote - male Wheatear (Mike Weedon)

Grunty Fen - Short-eared Owl over 16:15h (David Nation)

Dry Drayton - fem Brambling (Ken Hook)

CEGB Reservoir - 2nd win Mediterranean Gull (Don Gardener, Matt Webb)

Ouse Fen - ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD briefly (Jeff Stenning)

Monday 19 March 2012

Monday, 19 March

Trumpington - GREAT WHITE EGRET west over A1309 at 17:30h (Mike Foley)

Fowlmere - 3 Wheatear (Matthew Mellor); juv Hen Harrier (Alan Pool)

Cambridge -  3 Peregrines, 2 Buzzards over Castle Hill (Ian Ellis)

Isleham - 41 Avocets, 2 Egyptian Geese (Dave Palmer)

Tahnolt GP - Rock Pipit, 2+ White Wagtail (Brian Stone)

A10 - male Hen Harrier over low west just north of the Lazy Otter pub (Mark Peck)

Paxton Pits - summer plumage BLACK-NECKED GREBE, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, BRENT GOOSE, 10 Smew (Martin Davis)

Sunday, 18 March

Fowlmere - 3 Wheatear on the airstrip, fem Hen Harrier leaving roost on the reserve (Ade Cooper)

Maxey Pits - Peregrine, 12 Ruff over, Green Sandpiper (Chris Lines)

Cam Washes - 2 Sand Martin, Spotted Redshank, Green Sandpiper, 10+ Buzzard (David and Jon Heath)

Welney - Opsrey over into Norfolk (Vic, Pauline & Brian Cozens)

Brampton - Osprey over (John Lindsell)

Tanholt GP - 2nd winter ICELAND GULL (Mike Weedon)

Ely - GREAT GREY SHRIKE in hedge opposite the train station (Duncan Poyser)

Gamlingay - Wheatear (Richard Patient)

Paxton Pits - Rock Pipit, Brent Goose, fem RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, 2+ Sand Martin, 11 Smew (Martin Davis)

Fen Drayton Lakes - 3 Sand Martins, male Wheatear (Sarah Howlett)

Wicken & Burwell Fens - 3 male Wheatears, 2 Short-eared Olws, 60 Golden Plover, 40 Fieldfares (Andrew Taylor)

Late news from Thursday, 15 March: Needingworth - STONE CURLEW (Paul and Lynne Roberts)

Sunday 18 March 2012

Saturday, 17 March

Paxton Pits - 10 Smew, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, Peregrine, Curlew, Ruff (Martin Davis); 8 Sand Martins (Jamie Wells); Brent Goose (Richard Patient)

Grafham Water - 5 BLACK-NECKED GREBES from south end of dam, pair of Red crested Pochards, 4+ Avocets (Mark Hawkes)

Cam Washes - 3 Avocet (Gavin Paterson)

Fowlmere - 2 Hen Harriers, Merlin, Barn Owl (Ade Cooper)

Maxey Pits - Avocet, Little Ringed Plover (Chris Lines); also White Wagtail (Mike & Jasmine Weedon)

Waterbeach GPs - 2 Wheatear, 20 Snipe (David and Jon Heath)

GEGB Reservoir- 2 second winter ICELAND GULLS (Matt Webb)

Friday 16 March 2012

Friday, 16 March

 Fen Drayton Lakes - male Wheatear (Anne Howard)

GEGB Reservoir- 2 second winter ICELAND GULLS (Matt Webb)

Ouse Washes - 3000+ Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Ruff, 11 Little Egret, c.700 Whooper Swans (Colin Kitland)

Singing Chiffchaffs reported widely yesterday and today

Thursday 15 March 2012

Thursday, 15 March

Lode Mill - Grey Wagtail (Peter Wells )

Duxford/Hinxton - GREAT WHITE EGRET seen from level crossing between the villages (as per Mike Foley)

Wednesday 14 March 2012

Wednesday, 14 March

Nene Washes - 2 GLOSSY IBIS in area of shallow water between Moreton's leam and the Gate entrance to the RSPB reserve 10:45h,  having flown from just west of Lord's Holt (Peter Beesley). Please note that the area of RSPB Low Wash hosts breeding and feeding birds that are very easily disturbed. This area is readily viewed from the south barrier bank, accessed via Eldernell or Bassenhally, which should minimise disturbance. Please avoid the section of Long / Central Drove beyond the gate at the corral at TL295996, which is about 2km from the start at TL277991.

Bourn Brook, Barton - Little Egret on CRT land (Tony Roberts)

Isleham Washes - 44 Avocet, Common Tern (Dave Palmer)

Duxford/Hinxton - GREAT WHITE EGRET in flight between River Cam and Level Crossing (Neil Rawlings)

Fowlmere - ad fem and juv Hen Harrier, Redshank, Dunlin, 2 Cetti's Warbler (Ade Cooper)

Cam Washes - Spotted Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Marsh Harrier (David & Jon Heath)

Tuesday 13 March 2012

Tuesday, 13 March

Ferry Meadows - 4 Whooper Swans over south-east 11:00h (Paul Taylor)

Nene Washes - 2 GLOSSY IBIS on field 41 again until 13:00h at least; use the south barrier bank from Eldernell (Brian Stone); birds about 1.25 miles west of Eldernell car park 13:30h (Duncan Ritchie); probably best to approach along south barrier bank from Bassenhally (Brian Stone)

Needingworth sewage works -  likely SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF, but silent (Mark Eaton)

Grafham Water - c.30 Goldeneye (John Le Gassick)

Bedford Purlieus - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker calling and drumming (Peter and Jan Farbridge)

Monday 12 March 2012

Monday, 12 March

Fen Drayton Lakes - Sand Martin over Moore Lake (Andy Cotton)

Nene Washes - 2 GLOSSY IBIS  on Low Wash field 41, SNOW BUNTING over (Jonny Taylor); 7 Cranes east along river (Mike Weedon); 2 GLOSSY IBIS  flew south, landing on Eldernell Pit side (John Saunders); viewable from south barrier bank west of Lord's Holt 18:00h (Steve Dudley)

Cambridge - Ring-necked Parakeet over fields to west of Huntingdon Road, near Storey's Way, 13:13h (Philip Bubb); Ring-necked Parakeet over Pembroke College c. 14:30h (Matthew Mellor)

Castor Hanglands - male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker drumming (Mike Weedon)

Ouse Washes - 3921 Black-tailed Godwit, Garganey, 30 Dunlin, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, 140 Corn Bunting (Mike Burdekin)

Sunday 11 March 2012

Sunday, 11 March

Cambridge - Ring necked Parakeet in Eachard Road. Later flying towards Huntingdon Road (Christoph Zockler); Ring necked Parakeet west over River Cam at Fen Ditton (Jeff Stenning)

Wilbraham Common - 2 Short-eard Owls (Rob Law)

Cam Washes - 4 White-fronted Geese, Spotted Redshank, Avocet, Green Sandpiper, 8 Whooper Swan (David and Jon Heath)

Grafham Water - 9 Avocet in lagoons, 4 Siskin (Mark Hawkes)

Eldernell - 9 Common Cranes, 4+ Short-eared Owls  (Duncan Ritchie & Steve Dudley)

Fowlmere - ad femHen Harrier, fem Merlin, Barn Owl, pair of Kingfisher (James Hanlon)

Paxton Pits - 13 Smew, fem RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, 7 Goosander, 6+ Little Egret, Green Sandpiper, Little Owl (Martin Davis, Gary Rawlings, Neal Parkin, Jamie Wells)

Wicken Fen - Bittern, Kingfisher (Matthew Mellor)

Burwell Fen - 5 Short-eared Owls, 2 Barn owls, Little Owl (Matthew Mellor)

Bedford Purlieus - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker calling and drumming (Peter and Jan Farbridge)

Saturday, 10 March

Fen Drayton Lakes - 6 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE (Neil Renwick); Barn Owl, Cetti's Warbler (Alan Pool); 5 BEAN GEESE and a PINK-FOOTED GOOSE (Richard Patient)

Buckden Sewage Works - Brambling (Duncan Ritchie)

Friday 9 March 2012

Friday, 9 March

Milton Country Park - Mediterranean Gull - adult dropped in with the Black-heads on Dickerson's Pit before heading towards Milton Tip, 2 Water Rail, 2 Lesser Redpoll (Jon Heath)

Cam Washes, Upware - Spotted Redshank still (Gavin Paterson); Green Sandpiper, Peregrine, 2 Barn Owl, 32 Lesser Redpoll (Will Miles)

Fen Drayton - Avocet, 5 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE, Barnacle Goose, Green Sandpiper, pair of Goosander, Cetti's Warbler (Malcolm Anderson)

Paxton Pits - fem. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER still, 13 Smew, 2 Goosander, Peregrine, 8+ Tree Sparrow (Jamie Wells)

Swavesey - male Merlin at Scotland Drove (Vince Lea)

CEGB Reservoir - 2nd win ICELAND GULL (Matt Webb)

Thursday 8 March 2012

Thursday, 8 March

Morborne Hill - male Stonechat (Richard Jones)

Fen Drayton Lakes - 6 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE, Green Sandpiper, male and female Goosander, Short-eared Owl (Andy Cotton)

Ouse Fen - ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD, Short-eared Owl, 2 Barn Owl, Marsh Harrier (Jeff Stenning & Andrew Maddocks)

Wicken Fen - 2 Short-eared Owls, 2 Barn Owls, 4 ringtail Hen Harriers, Marsh Harrier, 4 Pintail (Christoph Zockler)

Wednesday 7 March 2012

Wednesday, 7 March

Chesterton - Ring-necked Parakeet in High Street (BTO birdtrack)

Fowlmere - juv and fem Hen Harrier into roost (Ade Cooper)

Fen Drayton Lakes - 5 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE, redhead Smew (Sarah Howlett)

Tuesday 6 March 2012

Tuesday, 6 March

Fowlmere - Stonechat, Woodcock nearby (Richard Palmer)

Isleham Washes - 30 Avocets (Dave Palmer)

Paxton Pits - 3 Smew (Martin Davis)

Fen Drayton Lakes - 3 male and a female Goosander (Alex Quig)

Lark Rise Farm, Barton - 2 Short-eared Owls, 2 Barn Owls, Red Kite (Vince Lea)

Sunday 4 March 2012

Sunday, 4 March

March - 10+ Tree Sparrows this morning opposite March BRAZA sports field (Andy Bayes)

Fen Drayton Lakes - 8 Siskins, 5 Bean Geese, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper (Neil Renwick); also pair of Goosanders (Sarah Howlett)

Fowlmere - 2+ Hen Harrier, Cetti's Warbler (Matthew Mellor)

Colne GPs - Green Sandpiper, Jack Snipe (Mark Eaton)

Paxton Pits - fem RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, 8 Smew, Woocock (Martin Davis, Gary Rawlings, Jamie Wells)

Saturday, 3 March

Milton Tip - 2 Caspian Gulls (Peter Herkenrath)

Cawcutts Lake, Impington - 2nd winter ICELAND GULL (Richard Johnson)

Grafham Water - 9 Avocets and a Cetti's Warbler in lagoons (Mark Hawkes)

Fowlmere - 2 ringtail Hen Harriers (Matthew Mellor)

Isleham Wash - 46 Avocets, 102 Teal, 2 Shoveler and 2 Egyptian Geese (Colin Kirtland)

Cam Washes - Spotted Redshank still on Waterbeach side, feeding with 21 Redshanks and a Green Sandpiper (David and Jon Heath)

Paxton Pits - 20 Goosander (Bill Simmonds)

Friday 2 March 2012

Friday, 2 March

Fowlmere - male & female Merlin reported 08:00h

Peterborough - Peregrine over the town hall 13:15h (matt Webb)

Isleham Washes - 35 Avocet (David Collins)

CEGB Reservoir - 2nd win ICELAND GULL (Matt Webb)

Thursday 1 March 2012

Thursday, 1 March

Ferry Meadows - White-fronted Goose, Stonechat (Mike Weedon)

Paxton Pits - 5 Goosander, fem RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, 10 Smew, Peregrine, c.50 Goldeneye (Colin Kirtland)

Fowlmere - Merlin, Cetti's Warbler (Mike Foley)

Displaying Goshawk reported from one site.  Now is a good time to look for them; any sightings of this Schedule 1 bird at a potential breeding site should not be made public but would be gratefully received by the County Recorder. (Any such sightings can also be submitted via the link to Paul and Pete).