Spotted Sandpiper: Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire

An unexpected phone call from Brian this morning asking if I wanted to go to Cambridge and try for the Spotted Sandpiper. 

By the time we set off, the bird had already been reported on the news services; however, as we were heading up the A1, the sandpiper was reported again, only this time it said "No further sign." So we changed our plans and headed twenty miles east to the RSPB reserve at Ouse Fen. Dad was busy when Brian and I saw the Great Reed Warbler on our previous visit, so this was a good opportunity to see it today. There had been no reports all morning, but it soon began singing as we approached Crane's fen, and it was quickly spotted at the back of the reeds. Dad added another year tick when a single Crane flew low across the reeds and dropped down among the reeds behind a line of bushes. Seven Hobbies were seen over the distant trees, and we picked out a female Red-footed Falcon hawking among them. Giving us all another addition to the year list.

A glance at the news services revealed that the Spotted Sandpiper had been refound. We headed west to Grafham Water and parked in Plummer Park car park. From here, it was a short walk north along the grass path. The Spotted Sandpiper was busily feeding along the shoreline. 

It was a very smart-looking bird and the first Spotted Sandpiper I have seen that actually had spots! The two previous Spotted Sandpipers I have seen were both 1st winter birds. It fed along the same area of shoreline until flushed by a Carrion Crow. However, it would return to the same shoreline after a few minutes.

Spotted Sandpiper

Shoreline, the sandpiper was feeding along

Blue-winged Teal, Rainham Marshes

When a female Blue-winged Teal was found at Rainham Marshes on Thursday, Brian, having dropped his grandchildren off at school, was already on his way to Rainham and quickly located the Teal upon arrival. This morning, he offered to drive me to Rainham, allowing me to connect with the bird. It's 18 miles from home, and we arrived at the car park around 7am, and the Teal had already been reported on the news services en route. We walked up the steps onto the seawall and joined a small group of birders already present. A quick scan of Purfleet scrape and a Whimbrel is found, a bonus year tick. A short distance away on a small body of water was the Blue-winged Teal. 

Unlike the obvious features of a drake Blue-winged Teal, the female has subtle features. It has white eyelids that are surprisingly obvious; the white loral spot at the base of the bill is even more obvious, it also has a dark eye stripe that meets the nape, and it has the powder blue patch on its upperwing coverts of the drake, which is normally not visible unless in flight or preening.

We watched the teal from our seawall position until the reserve finally opened at 9.30! allowing us to walk along the boardwalk past Purfleet Hide to get a closer look at the duck. It spent most of its time feeding along the channels, and occasionally it walked onto the exposed mud, revealing its yellow legs. and a very brief glimpse of the powder blue wing patch. 

Black Terns, KGV Reservoir

I was home this morning when seven Black Terns were reported at the KGV Reservoir. I was keen to make the trip, but Brian was busy dropping the grandkids off at school. After navigating the traffic, he picked me up, and soon afterwards, I was unlocking the reservoir gates.  We walked up the ramp to scan the south basin. We picked up the Black Terns straight away. All seven were flying together along the western edge. We had been watching them for twenty minutes when they suddenly gained height and drifted northwards. They would not be seen again.  A Lesser Whitethroat was heard singing from behind the sailing club huts and Dad added another year tick when three Common Sandpipers were seen feeding along the edge of the causeway.

Looking north from the south basin

A day trip to RSPB Minsmere

This morning we had the opportunity to go birding, so we decided to spend it at Minsmere. We arrived shortly before 7am, having already had good views of Stone Curlews before entering the car park. We walked out along the North wall, hearing a Nightingale singing. Scanning the scrape from East Hide, we added Kittiwake and Sandwich Tern to the year list,  Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers were all seen. A Little Gull was also seen, and a Wood Sandpiper dropped in briefly; luckily, we all managed to see it before it took flight and wasn't seen again. Brian found a pair of Garganey feeding along the front of the distant reeds while scanning from the Public Hide. A single Spoonbill was seen flying overhead and bearded Tits were "pinging" from the reedbeds.

We had super views of a Bittern from the aptly named Bittern Hide, and dad saw his first Hobby of the year. On the walk back to the visitor centre, Brian finally saw his first treecreeper of the year. 

Sand Martin bank

View from East Hide

Med Gulls

View from the Public Hide

Bittern

Treecreeper

We left Minsmere and headed to Dunwich Heath, where we enjoyed good views of  Dartford Warblers. 

I ended the day having seen 93 species. 

Great Reed Warbler: Ouse Fen Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire

An early morning call from Brian saw us heading up the M11 into Cambridge and a visit to Ouse Fen Nature Reserve, hoping to connect with the returning Great Reed Warbler. We arrived just after 8.15 and walked along the grass path towards the viewing mound, the same area where we connected with the bird last year. As we approached, we could hear the bird singing, although it had now moved further along the track and was now in a stretch of reeds bordering the canal. It followed the same routine during our four hours on site. It would start singing, allowing views of it through the reeds, but always remain towards the back of the reeds. It would occasionally fly across the canal to feed among the vegetation on the opposite bank, then return to the reeds in front of us. We arrived in dull and overcast weather conditions, which became brighter and slightly warmer as the morning progressed, which encouraged the warbler to climb higher up the reed stems, allowing for some very nice views.

While waiting for the warbler to show, I heard and then saw my first Cuckoo of the year. It was calling regularly and was seen in flight before it landed in a tree among the reedbed. A single Crane was watched flying low across the reeds, and a Bittern was also seen in flight. Several Swifts, Swallows, and Sand Martins were seen hawking over the reedbeds throughout the morning. As the temperature increased, a single Hobby appeared, giving me another welcome year tick.

Before leaving for home, we scanned the body of water known as "Cell 10" and found a pair of Garganey.

Part of the stretch of reeds the warbler favoured

The views of the majority of our sightings

Eventually it climbed the reeds

A very nice morning, watching some fantastic birds within a wonderful reserve.

Baikal Teal, Wilstone Reservoir

A female Baikal Teal was found at Wilstone reservoir yesterday, and when it was reported again this morning, we decided to make the trip. After an hour's drive around the M25 and up the A41, we arrived at the parking area, which was full! Brian dropped Dad and me off and waited for a space to become available. We walked up the steps and along the embankment towards a group of birders we could see in the distance. A quick scan and we spot the Teal. It's swimming back and forth along the shoreline on the opposite side from us. It was distant, but through the scope we managed to get excellent views. 

hand-held phone shot through the scope

Hirundines were seen in large numbers above the trees, mainly Sand Martins, but several Swallows and our first House Martins of the year were seen. Swifts were also seen for another addition to the year's total.

RSPB Lakenheath

This morning, we visited the RSPB nature reserve at Lakenheath. The Little Ouse River runs along its northern edge and forms the border between Suffolk and Norfolk. We followed the top path along the river towards Joist Fen viewpoint. The washland was quiet, but we noted Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank, Snipe, and Lapwings. Sedge Warblers were very vocal, singing from the reedbeds, and we heard our first Reed Warblers of the year. A pair of Garganey were found on a smaller body of water along the path from the washland. We heard several Bitterns "booming" but failed to see any Cranes on this visit. While looking for the cranes, we did find a Great White egret and two Cattle Egrets.

View from Joist Fen viewpoint

Whitethroat

View from the New Fen viewpoint

On the way home, we stopped at Cavenham Heath and found a single Wheatear, my first of the year. After many searches, I eventually found a single Stone Curlew. A Woodlark showed well among the grass, and Skylarks and Stonechats were much more abundant.