Cambridgeshire Birding (1 Viewer)

[jimmyg]

Puffin seen last week on New Bedford River... Probably came through Denver Sluice at some point!

Darn! Mark, if you do have any info such as an email address for the people who watch Earith/Sutton Gault would you mind giving them to me please? I promise not to bother them too much!

 

[Jonny Rankin]

Grafham Water - Red-necked Grebe

Hi,

Wondered if any Cambs birders could give me tips on how best to see the Grafham Red-necked Grebe. Especially nearest sensible car parking area.

I am passing on Saturday but will have my galfiend in the car - allowing me very little time.

The report says its off the dam. Is there a better end of the dam to park/view from?

Amy tips very gratefully received :t:

 

[marklhawkes]

For ease of parking, Marlow Car park is best (Plummer car park is closed for the winter). This is at the north end of the dam, and from here it is probably best to walk onto the dam to view (although you will be looking into the sun at certain times). The grebes are often present in a big group, spreadout, in the middle of the reservoir. However, they can be mobile, and Red-necked Grebes here previously have moved about quite abit.

Good luck

 

[Jonny Rankin]

For ease of parking, Marlow Car park is best (Plummer car park is closed for the winter). This is at the north end of the dam, and from here it is probably best to walk onto the dam to view (although you will be looking into the sun at certain times). The grebes are often present in a big group, spreadout, in the middle of the reservoir. However, they can be mobile, and Red-necked Grebes here previously have moved about quite abit.

Good luck

Many thanks for the quick response :t: fingers crossed I'll connect with it.

Cheers.

 

[Jonny Rankin]

R-n Grebe & Velvet Scoter

Thanks again for above directions. Finally made trip along A14 today - was rewarded with views of both Red-necked Grebe & Velvet Scoter in same scope view!

Also near in views of Gt Northern Diver.

Incredible volume of birds overall & wish I had a local resevoir to me!

Cheers & happy crimbo:t:

 

[marklhawkes]

Glad you caught-up with them mate.
Velvet Scoter is a real Cambs-rare - but my third at Grafham Water

 

[black kite 1964]

Bearded Tits at Paxton.

Three birds still present yesterday. Directions from visitors centre. They also do a very nice cup of tea!:cat::cat:

 

[black kite 1964]

Paxton Pits

Bearded Tits still present. Bittern and smew seen on reserve. Good numbers of Meadow pipits in flooded area by river.

 

[mr.sim]

Travelling along the A47 past Wisbech today I noticed huge amounts of thrushes in orchards to the West of the town. The orchards are just inside Norfolk but I thought I'd mention it because there were probably about 10,000 birds there - mostly Fieldfare!

 

[jimmyg]

Just seen a report on Birdguides of possible Chaffinch at Wicken :smoke:. What's the story behind this? Reliable observer? I mean, its a bold call, and I don't want to waste petrol going all that way if it turns out not to be one...

 

[Connor Rand]

Chaffinch showing characteristics of North African Chaffinch at Priory Farm still this morning

 

[marklhawkes]

Full details here
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cambirds/message/26769

Worth noting that all previous claims of this form has been found unacceptable by BBRC. The problem comes from the variability of Chaffinch. This bird is being claimed as one, but the ID will no-doubt be far from straight forward....

 

[jimmyg]

Thanks. I don't get the full messages from Birdguides, so in case its not obvious my last post was supposed to be a joke about twitching a Eurasian Chaffinch.

 

[mr.sim]

If anyone is in the local area during this freeze I thoroughly recommend a trip to the orchards at Walsoken, just to the west of Wisbech. Although just inside Norfolk, the phenomenon of the sheer volume of thrushes there is astounding. A trip there today with my brother had us scrap the previous estimate of 10,000 birds and made us more inclined to say around 50,000 Fieldfare present on the 2km sq. More information on my website.

 

[Jonny Rankin]

Kiddicare Peregrines

Driving through Peterborough today I had two peregrines perched on the Kidicare warehouse next to the Parkway dual carriage way...

They looked a almost plastic though - like models had been put there as bird scarers or something?

Can any Cambs birders confirm either way?

Cheers.

 

[marklhawkes]

Peregrines are present in this area. I have not heard of any plastic models in the area, but it's not a part of Cambs where I do much birding.

 

[Brian Stone]

They are indeed plastic. They've been there a while and the Feral Pigeons are getting quite used to them. I've seen one sitting next to one of the 'Peregrines' but I'm waiting for one to actual sit on one.

 

[Jonny Rankin]

Cheers for the clarification Brian :t:

 

[Digbert Doobrey]

Hello people. I will be travelling up to the the area for a days birding in early March. Was originally going to see RSPB Lakenheath Fen but noticed there are no hides only viewing areas. I wanted a reserve with hides because I don't want rain to spoil the day (it wouldn't matter if I had more time).

Was thinking about RSPB Ouse Washes however would appreciate the opinion of a local or someone who knows Cambridgeshire well enough as to which reserve is generally the best to spend a day checking out??

 

[marklhawkes]

Ouse Washes RSPB (at Welches dam visitors centre) has plenty of hides, and in March will have plenty of wildfowl still - but it can be quite a walk between hides (which are staggered along the line of the wash bank). Lakenheath RSPB does have some viewpoints under cover. Wicken Fen NT has several hides, and again, in March, will be quite good for birds. Paxton Pits has hides, and plenty of birds too. Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB is great for birds, put there are no hides build yet (there are some viewpoints though)