Great Northern Diver

Another species that occurs rather rarely in the Peterborough area. There was one on private waters last winter but this one (found on 16 Nov by Garry Heath) is much more accessible and my first since one at Tallington Lakes so long ago I can barely remember it. Very close views were possible as the bird swam either side of Crowland Bridge on the River Welland.

Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer), juvenile/first-winter


Digiscoped with the Nikon CP995, Leica APO77 and 20x eyepiece.

Some garden mammals

Hedgehogs have always been regular visitors to the garden but never so frequent as at the moment. They often linger around the bird seed placed on the ground although whether eating the seed or the slugs there I can't tell.

Squirrels on the other hand are a very recent addition to our garden fauna and at this third sighting one had found the garden bird food to its liking.

Western European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)

Nikon CP995 with flash

Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

Digiscoped with the Nikon CP995, Leica APO77 and 20x eyepiece.

Scoter at last

Although I have had to twitch them all, this is nevertheless my third PBC area tick of the autumn, and a very welcome one as this species has slipped from me a few times before. And what I sight they make - a flotilla of 20 female or immature Common Scoter on Gunwade Lake in front of the Watersports carpark at Ferry Meadows. Unfortunately they were gone by lunchtime.

Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra)


Digiscoped with the Nikon CP995, Leica APO77 and 20x eyepiece.