Maxey GP Birds

Conditions good for a bit of photography at Maxey GP this morning.

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe, female




Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava flavissima



The two together


Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x32

Western Whip Snake

A weekend in Rome produced some wildlife with the Fora Romano being the most productive area. Birds included Blue Rock Thrush, Firecrest, Lesser Kestrel, Peregrine and Sardinian Warbler (Serin and Pallid Swift were common). The reptiles stole the show though with Italian Wall Lizards darting about too fast to photograph and this stunning snake found by Alex resting on a ledge.

There is a lot of snake here; as well as several coils you can just make out the tip of the thin tail at the very far left of the bottom picture.

Click for the full size versions.

Western Whip Snake Hierophis viridiflavus


Canon Powershot A640

Dotterel

Another good morning. The Nene Washes was pleasant first thing but as I'd finished there quite early on I decided to head down to Blackbush. This beauty was with 3 Golden Plover on a cracking pea field at the south end. This field should attract more in the coming weeks.

Dotterel Charadrius morinellus



Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Arctic Terns at Ferry Meadows

A remarkable 32-33 Arctic Terns lingered on Gunwade Lake this afternoon providing a rare opportunity to photograph this marathon migrant.

Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea



Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Warbler wonderland

My first Common and Lesser Whitethroats this morning at Orton BP; one of the best warbler spots in the area. More unexpected was my third Curlew of the year flying over high heading north calling as it went. Some years I don't see any.

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus


Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Common Scoter

Did not expect to get this one back so soon. The only other records so far this year were at Ferry Meadows (a much more expected location for the species) while we were away in Cornwall. Well done Will for checking an unlikely area.

Common Scoter Melanitta nigra, 2 males and a female

Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

And then there were three

Now three Ring Ouzels at Folksworth in the same field including the original one from Tuesday, which has distinctive white flecking on the nape.

Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus

Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Ring Ouzel, Folksworth

Found this nice male this morning on a field I've thought looked likely. Shame it was too far off for photos really.

Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus


Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Curlew at Maxey

Turning into a good early spring for waders. Long may it continue.

Curlew Numenius arquata

Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Treecreeper at last

Until today there was only one species on our garden list that I hadn't managed to see myself. Karen and Alex had seen Treecreeper three times before but this was my first; it's been a long wait. It was feeding on the 25 year old birch trees in the front garden which attract a huge array of wildlife throughout the year. It takes the garden year list to 54 species. There was also a male Reed bunting on the feeders again this morning.

Treecreeper Certhia familiaris


Digibinned with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica 8x42BA

Wader Day

I very nearly went looking for insects today but the calm sunny conditions early in the day deteriorated to cold, breezy showers so I decided to head off down the Nene Washes. What a good decision this turned out to be.

The 4 Avocets present at the weekend had grown to 6, there were now 2 Grey Plovers and two other quality waders had dropped in: a Spotted Redshank, just commencing moult from winter plumage and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits. All four are scarce waders for the area so this was quite a haul.

With the regular Black-tailed Godwit, Redhsank, Ruff, Snipe, Lapwing, Oystercatcher and Dunlin that made eleven wader species present.

It was dull and windy and the birds far off so brace yourself for some seriously enhanced images.

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica and Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola





Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20 & x32

Common Cranes

Who would have thought you could see something like this in the heart of the Cambridgeshire Fens. Although these did not go on to breed it was a remarkable sight on a magical morning.

Common Cranes Grus grus dancing and mating

Mammals at Woodwalton Fen

Chinese Water Deer Hydropotes inermis



Fox Vulpes vulpes


Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Cranetastic

Common Crane Grus grus



Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Wood Anemones

Ols Sulehay is a riot of these flowers at the moment and it is one of the best places for woodland birds.

Wood Anemones Anemone nemorosa



Treecreeper Certhia familiaris


Canon Powershot A640, Treecreeper digiscoped with Leica APO77 x20

Nene Washes excellence

A glorious sunrise and outstanding birds. What could be better?



Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa, several thousand icelandic birds



Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus


Snipe Gallinago gallinago


White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba


Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20