Cambridgeshire Birding (1 Viewer)

[Matthebirder]

Grafham Water 25 June, 3 Yellow-legged Gulls around the dam this evening and no wind for a change. A few Bee orchid photos as few birds at present!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aves-and-more/sets/72157625164915244/with/7355684366/

 

[Birdbrain]

Paxton Pits

Very nice walk yesterday round the Pits! Not been for years! sightings:- South Lincs RSPB Car Trip 34 Paxton Pits 25/06/12
Mute Swan; Greylag Goose; Mallard; Tufted Duck; Red-legged Partridge; Pheasant; Great Crested Grebe; Cormorant; Grey Heron; Sparrowhawk; Common Buzzard; Kestrel; Hobby; Moorhen; Coot; Black-headed Gull; Med Gull; Common Gull; LBB Gull; Herring Gull; GBB Gull; Common Tern; 2 Arctic Tern; Stock Dove; Wood Pigeon; Collared Dove; Swift; Green Woodpecker; Great-spotted Woodpecker; Skylark; Swallow; House Martin; Meadow Pipit; Pied Wagtail; Wren; Robin; Blackbird; Song Thrush; Cetti's (h) Sedge Warbler; Reed Warbler; Blackcap; Garden Warbler; Lesser Whitethroat; Common Whitethroat; Chiffchaff; Willow Warbler; LT Tit; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Jay; Magpie; Jackdaw; Rook; Carrion Crow; Starling; House Sparrow; Chaffinch; Greenfinch; Goldfinch; Yellowhammer; Reed Bunting.
Total Species:- 63 highlight Hobby
oh and a Bee Orchid :smoke: real nice VC there with very friendly people :t:

 

[Matthebirder]

Grafham Water: 26 June. Two Yellow-legged Gulls on the dam this evening and a few Great Black-backs. Several juvenile Black-headed Gulls now- particularly attractive while they are still brown.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aves-and-more/sets/72157625164915244/with/7355684366/

 

[MLH77]

Will be in St Ives for a couple of nights towards end of month. Any suggestions of good sites for evening visits.
Cheers

As you may have noticed, Cambs bird news doesn't really make it to Birdforum, as everybody posts here;

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cambirds/

A news summary can be seen here;

http://cbcwhatsabout.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

St. Ives is close to Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB reserve.

Happy birding.
Mark

 

[MLH77]

Certainly no Storm petrels.........surprised to see the late news report from the RSPB Fen Drayton reserve from Saturday of Storm peterl. This would have been of great interest to most inland birders surely had they known it was there?

Hi Matt

Been out of country a lot this month, so only just seen this message.
I know the finders of that bird, and they aren't twitching types, so probably didn't rush to put news out too widely.... that said, it is a shame, especially for Fen Drayton regulars, as this will be a hard one to get back! I was in Norway at the time, but thankfully I have seen two at Grafham (and 5 Leach's too), so I was rather lucky in not needing to worry too much...

 

[Matthebirder]

Grafham Water: 27 June. At least 6 Yellow-legged Gulls along the dam this evening in very hot and humid conditions. One finally gave in to my camera at close range as the rotting fish must have been too good to leave.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aves-and-more/sets/72157625164915244/with/7355684366/

Thanks Mark for the petrel records, does give me some hope for Grafham on these sparse days (though the Yellow-legged are entertaining currently), I'm really waiting for something like an Albatross or something. It does happen....

 

[Matthebirder]

Grafham Water 28 June. Still around 6 Yellow-legged gulls around the reservoir, with the 'usual' adult in front of the fishing lodge.

 

[Matthebirder]

Grafham Water: 29 June Approx 6 Yellow-legged Gulls around the dam in evening

 

[Matthebirder]

Grafham Water : 30 June at least 4 Yellow legged Gulls from the dam this morning and finally shot the Bar-headed Goose at close range! Photos later...

 

[Matthebirder]

Grafham Water 30 June cont'd. Still 4 or more Yellow-legged gulls, also 2 Little Egrets at Plummer car park

 

[Pompadour444]

The landfill at Peterborough has a number of Red Kite's at present each morning I have noticed upwards of 5, on Sat there was 7 in the air at one time. The best place to observe from is the garden centre car park.

 

[Matthebirder]

Grafham Water: 3 July. 4 Yellow-legged gulls still this evening, ranging widely. The regular adult still prefers the Fishing Lodge floats but didn't look too well this evening. Not many fish left on the dam now so little activity.

 

[Matthebirder]

Grafham Water; 6 July; One Yellow-legged Gull ad at the fishing lodge still, 'the resident' this evening. One Little Egret distantly from the dam.

 

[Matthebirder]

Grafham Water: 8 July : Two Ospreys over the dam at 10.20, managed both in the same shot. One bird ringed, possibly No. 50? Birds drifted off to the west. Also adult Yellow-legged gull off the dam.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aves-and-more/sets/72157625164915244/with/7355684366/

 

[Peewit]

Grafham Water: 8 July : Two Ospreys over the dam at 10.20, managed both in the same shot. One bird ringed, possibly No. 50? Birds drifted off to the west. Also adult Yellow-legged gull off the dam.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aves-and-more/sets/72157625164915244/with/7355684366/

Hi Matt

I visited Grafham on Sunday the 1st July 2012, and I am about to post a report of my day on here tomorrow if all goes to plan - photos need to be sorted as we use two different camera now LOL

Not a lot to write home about with interesting species, but I have to say it was nice seeing the birds we did see...the rain stopped and started all day.

Seeing a juvenile Pied Wagtail was a lovely experience, and I have managed to get a couple of decent photos. The juvenile BHG's where good to watch too. We hoped to see a Green Sandpiper at the damn, but it was no where to be seen this time around.

OH, and I have just bought the yearly pass for the Anglian Water Car parks and we will make use to the facility as we want to join the sailing club too.

Another thing is that we visit Paxton Pits (we are members) a lot and I see that Cambs birders add to their species boards too.

Regards
Kathy
x

 

[Matthebirder]

Kathy
Green Sands are probably in the lagoons I'd guess, or possibly right up the end of the creeks. I tend to only look along the dam or off Mander carpark as time is always short. The dam 'always' turns up the good birds though especially for photos ie most of the waders on my flickr collection. Good luck.
M

 

[Peewit]

Kathy
Green Sands are probably in the lagoons I'd guess, or possibly right up the end of the creeks. I tend to only look along the dam or off Mander carpark as time is always short. The dam 'always' turns up the good birds though especially for photos ie most of the waders on my flickr collection. Good luck.
M

Hi Matt

Thank for your prompt answer :t:

Never thought of looking elsewhere at Grafham for the Green Sandpipers - good tips for where to find them in the area.

I have to admit a 10 mile walk around the area is very time consuming, and can eat up a whole afternoon quite easily - we tend to do it as a full walk to make the most of the day.

Great photos in your flickr collection. I am in the mind of posting my own photos in the near future on flickr. Have a bit of a hectic life myself (run a company) so try to make the most of the free time too.

Love to hear what you think of the photos, and ID's that I post on here

Regards
Kathy
x

 

[Matthebirder]

Grafham Water 11 July evening; just one Yellow-legged Gull off the dam. One Common Gull off Mander Carpark - it must be Autumn.

 

[Matthebirder]

Grafham Water: 12 July evening; at least 3 Yellow-legged Gulls around the Fishing Lodge.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aves-and-more/sets/72157625164915244/with/7355684366/

 

[Matthebirder]

Grafham Water : 13 July evening. 'The' Osprey (No. 50?) came in at 17.20 and flew around the reservoir for an hour before heading off westwards, it tried many fishing attempts but failed each time. Not easy to follow though as moves rapidly between areas. The dam is the best spot to see it I guess. Photos confirm the same bird, note the nick in primary no.4. on left wing. The silver ring can only be seen on photos I think.
Also at least 2 Yellow-legged gulls.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aves-and-more/sets/72157625164915244/with/7355684366/