randombirder

Making the most of an extended Easter break, I chose to spend time around a few sites local to home (including the patch), the furthest of which was Fowlmere RSPB, a convenient 20 minute drive into Cambridgeshire. There is something uniquely satisfying about discovering wildlife within the local area. After such a wet and at times bleak winter, a couple of days of warm sunshine was most welcome and hopefully a precursor to an agreeable spring and summer. Having returned from Albania the day before, it was surprising to see temperatures lift to 26C on Wednesday 8th. And when the weather improves, nature responds. So instead of travelling further afield, the day (8th) started with a walk around the patch, that produced a surprise sedge warbler singing from the depths of a scrubby area at Weston Hills NR. A willow warbler attempted song along the hedgerow opposite Bush Wood, a late fieldfare flew north, a raven flew low west, and three each of corn bunting and grey partridge were pre...

A lovely day out on a dull day that threatened rain that thankfully stayed away. Plenty of great birds at a fabulous reserve that deserves more than what has become an annual visit. Best of the day was the regular tawny owl roosting in a modest ivy-covered tree, two firecrest including a preening individual a matter of metres from a small assembled crowd. There were also two chiffchaff in the general area. Heading to the sea, a decent scan eventually revealed the four long-tailed duck , three great northern diver and a black-necked grebe along with decent numbers of red-breasted merganser . A female scaup on the Tidal Lagoon on the way back was a surprise but the usual assemblage of brent geese , wildfowl, lapwing and four avocet and the odd marsh harrier are standard fare for this site but a great place to see a range of great birds.