May 2009

Highlights
Cattle Egret, 3 were on the Nene Washes, especially the High Wash
Little Tern, 2 were at Ferry Meadows
Dotterel, a trip of 10 was near Turves
Black Tern, several were seen including N at Ferry Meadows
Whinchat, a female was at Blackbush and a male was near Turves
Temminck's Stint, one was at Maxey pits
Other scarce waders included Spotted Redshank, Wood Sandpipers, Whimbrel, Curlew and Turnstones
A Gannet flew NW over Peterborough on 15.5.09
Black-necked Grebe, summer-plumaged bird at Ferry Meadows
Montagu's Harrier, reported through Nene Washes

© Peter Beesley
Two of the Cattle Egrets at the Nene Washes, 11.5.09

Baston & Langtoft Pits
On 10.5.09:
Wheatear, 1,
Little Egret, 6,
Greenshank, 1,
Spotted Redshank, 1, 11-15.5.09,
Black Tern, 1, 14.5.09

© Josh Jones
Black Tern, BLGP, 14.5.09

Blackbush
Whinchat, 1, female, 9.5.09

Castor Hanglands
Nightingale, 10+, singing on 4.5.09,
Tawny Owl, 10+, singing on 4.5.09

Deeping Lakes,
Black Tern, 1, 11.5.09, 13.5.09,
Arctic Tern, 2, 13.5.09

Dogsthorpe Tip
Iceland Gull, 1, juvenile in fields nearby (see Tanholt and Nene Washes), 5.5.09

© Brian Stone
Juvenile Iceland Gull, near Dogsthorpe Tip, 5.5.09

Elton area
Mandarin, 2, pair in Fotheringhay area

Ferry Meadows

© Roy Harvey
Garden Warbler, 22.5.09
Black Tern, 1, on Gunwade Lake, 11.5.09; 11 on 13.5.09, on Overton and Gunwade Lakes, 3 on 14.5.09, 1 on 15.5.09,
Little Tern, 2, 13.5.09,
Dunlin, 3, on reserve, 13.5.09,
Little Ringed Plover, on reserve, 13.5.09,
Greenshank, 1, on reserve, 14.5.09,
Redshank, 2, on reserve, 14.5.09,
Black-necked Grebe, 1, summer-plumaged on Overton Lake,

© Brian Stone
Juvenile Iceland Gull, Tanholt pits, 4.4.09

Fletton Brick Pit
Black Tern, 11, 13.5.09,

King's Dyke NR
Grasshopper Warbler, 1, singing,
Turtle Dove, several singing late-on,
Quail, 1, singing at King's Delph, 25.5.09,

Maxey pits
Wheatear, 1, female near level crossing into Helpston, 4.5.09, and 15.5.09,
Grasshopper Warbler, 1, singing in Etton Road hedgerow, 4.5.09,
On 14.5.09:
Sanderling, 3,
Dunlin, 2,
Common Sandpiper, 2,
Avocet, 2, (1 on 23.5.09)
Black Tern, 1,
Hobby, 1,
Buzzard, 1,
Temminck's Stint, 15.5.09,


© Josh Jones
Temminck's Stint, Maxey Pits, 15.5.09

Wheatear, 1, male, 16.5.09

Nene Washes

© Mike Weedon
Wheatear at March Farmers, 2.5.09
Cattle Egret, 2, on washes near Eldernell (6.5.09), then spent time on High Wash near the Dog in a Doublet, with up to 4 Little Egrets; then 3 from 7-9.5.09,
Bittern, 2,
Little Egret, 43, March Farmers, 24.5.09,
Montagu's Harrier, male flew west at 12.50, March Farmers, 11.5.09,
Turnstone, 4,
Curlew, 1, March Farmers, 4.5.09,
Whimbrel, 1,


© Mike Weedon
Whimbrel, March Farmers, 16.5.09
Bar-tailed Godwit, 1, March Farmers, 4.5.09,
Greenshank, 2, March Farmers, 4.5.09,
Grey Plover 1 on several dates
Ringed Plover, 124, March Farmers, 13.5.09
Dunlin, 40, March Farmers, 13.5.09
Sanderling, 1, March Farmers, 13.5.09, 16.5.09
Iceland Gull, 1, juvenile, following east to roost, along Nene,
Arctic Tern, 15, 13.5.09
Black Tern, 2, 14.5.09
Turtle Dove, 1, March Farmers,
Blue-headed Wagtail, 1, male on bank at March Farmers,
Cetti's Warbler, 1, at Eldernell Pit,
Wheatear, 2, March Farmers, 9.5.09, 1 on 11.5.09

Orton Brick Pit
Black Tern, 2,
Oystercatcher, 1,
Hobby, 1 or 2,
Common Buzzard, 1, over Jones' Covert

Tanholt pits
Iceland Gull, 1, juvenile, present for ten minutes on 3.5.09,
Hobby, 1, 3.5.09

Turves area
Dotterel, 10, along Cock Bank, 9-13.5.09, 2, 16.5.09




© Mike Weedon
Dotterel, Cock Bank
Whinchat, 1, in field beside Dotterel, 10.5.09,
Turtle Dove, 2, west of Turves, 12.5.09
White Wagtail, 1, in same area

Woodwalton Fen
Long-eared Owl, 1, giving good views near main tracks

April 2009

Highlights
Black-winged Stilt, a sensational find of the first in the area since 1983
Iceland Gull, 2, juveniles at Tanholt pits
Ring Ouzel, 3 at King's Dyke nature reserve, plus a male at Caldecote
Little Gull, 7 adults at Ferry Meadows
Hawfinch, at Castor Hanglands
Bar-tailed Godwit, 14 birds in breeding plumage on Nene Washes, 1 at Maxey pits
Cranes, pair still around

© Will Bowell
Black-winged Stilt at Maxey pits

Baston & Langtoft Pits
Egyptian Goose, 1, on Old Wader Scrape, 6.4.09,
Wheatear, 1, male, by Long Pit, 7.4.09, 1 male at north-west pools, 11.4.09, 1 at Grummitt's Scrape, 19.4.09, 1, 28.4.09,
Pink-footed Goose, 4, still present to 19.4.09 at least,
Little Egret, 13+, 28.4.09,
Greenshank, 1, 28.4.09

Caldecote
Ring Ouzel, 1, male, 23.4.09-26.4.09

© Brian Stone
Male Ring Ouzel at Caldecote, near Stilton

Castor Hanglands
Hawfinch, 1, in main pond area, 6.4.09

Deeping Lakes,
Whimbrel, 3, over Deeping High Bank near Crowland, heading north-east, then east, 19.4.09,

Farcet Fen
Crane, 2, over, 9.4.09
Hen Harrier, ringtail, 20.4.09,
Wheatear, 1, male in rough grass field near Farcet village,

Ferry Meadows
Little Gull, 7, adults on Overton, 6.4.09, 1 adult on Overton, 14.4.09,
Common Tern, first bird on Overton, 6.4.09, 16 by 16.4.09,
Black Tern, 1, through briefly, 24.4.09
Little Egret, 1, roosting on Overton, 6.4.09,
Black-tailed Godwit, 1, limosa-type at Prestt Hide, 21.4.09,
Grey Plover, 1, winter-plumaged bird over, 24.4.09

© Brian Stone
Garden Warbler at Ferry Meadows

King's Dyke NR
Ring Ouzel, 1, 22.4.09, plus pair, 27.4.09
Blackcap, 3, singing along Green Wheel, 1.4.09,
Green Sandpiper, 3, at Sewage Works, 1.4.09,

Maxey pits
Black-winged Stilt, 1, found by Chris Lines, an outstanding find, and the bird of the year (so far!), 25.4.09, stayed until dark but was gone by dawn,

© Will Bowell
Black-winged Stilt at Maxey pits
Bar-tailed Godwit, 1, red male briefly in early morning, 30.4.09,
Curlew, 1, 16.4.09, plus 1, 26.4.09,
Black-tailed Godwit, 1, in flight, 2.4.09
Grasshopper Warbler, 1, singing in hedge along Etton Road, 26.4.09,
Red-crested Pochard, 1, drake, 29.4.09

Nene Washes
Water Pipit, 1 or 2, on central drove, 1.4.09, 4 at least, 4.4.09,
Black-tailed Godwit, 1,000, Icelandic birds still, 4.4.09,
Garganey, up to 9 birds, 7 drakes and 2 females on washes, 18.4.09,
Wheatear, 2, 18.4.09, plus 2, 25.4.09,
Egyptian Goose, 1, on High Wash, 17.4.09,
Merlin, 1, young male on central drove, 25.4.09
Blue-headed Wagtail, 1, female of this type with several flavissima males, 25.4.09

© Mike Weedon
'Blue-headed'-type female Yellow Wagtail at March Farmers

© Mike Weedon
Male flavissima Yellow Wagtails at March Farmers
Avocet, 1, bird with red colour-rings on each leg on Field 12 pool, 25.4.09,

© Mike Weedon
Colour-ringed Avocet at RSPB Nene Washes
Bar-tailed Godwit, 14, including 10 red males, 25.4.09

© Mike Weedon
Part of a flock of 14 Bar-tailed Godwits, March Farmers

Old Sulehay
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 1, calling and drumming in woods, 4.4.09, 2 drumming, 5.4.09

Tanholt pits
Iceland Gull, 2, one juvenile, 4.4.09, another juvenile from 26.4.09,


© Mike Weedon
Juvenile Iceland Gull, Tanholt pits, 4.4.09
Greenshank, 4, called in briefly, 19.4.09

March 2009

Highlights
Ring-necked Duck, drake on the Nene Washes
Black Redstart, female/first-winter male at Swaddywell pit
Black-necked Grebe, summer-plumage bird on Nene Washes
Waxwing, two at least at British Sugar, Woodston
Iceland Gull, worn juvenile bird at Tanholt pit late on
Cranes, pair still around

© Peter Beesley
Black Redstart at Swaddywell Pit

Baston & Langtoft Pits
Pink-footed Goose, 3, north of Grummitt's scrape, 6-7.3.09,
On 1.3.09:
Little Egrets, 4+,
Mealy Redpolls, 2+ still by Gull Pit,
Siskins, c30,
Lesser Redpolls, c10,
Shelducks, 4,
Nordic Jackdaws, 2,
Green Sandpiper (Cross Drain), 1,
1 Corn Bunting singing by Cross Drain, 1,

On 29.3.09
Pink-footed Goose, 1, fields on north side,
Sand Martin, c30, over Ocean,
Little Ringed Plover, 2, on New Works,
Ringed Plover, 1, New Works,
Little Egret, 1, New Works
Goldeneye, 12, (3 drakes) ARC Pit,
Red-crested Pochard, 20,
Oystercatcher, 3,
White Wagtail, 1, New Works

Deeping Lakes,
Goldeneye, 27, lots of displaying birds well into month,

Farcet Fen
On 16.3.09:
Wheatear, 1,
Chiffchaff, 1,
Pied Wagtail, 7,
Fieldfare 90+;
Brambling, 1, female, 17.3.09
Chaffinch, weirdly deformed bird in garden, 18.3.09,
Hen Harrier, 1, female, 26.3.09

Ferry Meadows
Mealy Redpoll, 1, with singing Lesser Redpolls near Orton Mere, 16.3.09,
Chiffchaff, first singing birds on 16.3.09,
Little Egret, 1, on Overton off and on mid-month,
Sand Martin, 7, on 17.3.09, increasing to 50+ on 23.3.09, 100+ on 30.3.09
Common Gull, 120, on Overton, 20.3.09,
Ruddy Shelduck, 2, on Overton Lake, 29.3.09,
Swallow, 1, over Gunwade, 29.3.09
Goldeneye, 1, male lingered into April,

© Peter Farbridge
Siskins in a garden in Orton Longueville, 23.3.09

Maxey pits
Little Ringed Plover, first pair on 14.3.09, two pairs by 16.3.09
15.3.09:
Ringed Plover, 7, 3 pairs and 1 bird looking like a tundrae
Oystercatcher, 2
Little Grebe, 9, 4 pairs plus 1
Shelduck, 12, 6 pairs
Teal, 95
Redshank, 8
Green Sandpiper, 8
Barn Owl,

Nene Washes
Ring-necked Duck, 1, drake on flood at March Farmers with Tufted Ducks, 22.3.09,

© Mark Hawkes
Drake Ring-necked Duck, March Farmers, 22.3.09

Black-necked Grebe, 1, summer-plumaged bird on flooded fields on 14.3.09 (first on reserve since 2001),

© Mike Weedon
Black-necked Grebe, central drove, Nene Washes, 14.3.09
Water Pipit, 3, at least, 14.3.09, 5 on 19.3.09,
Hen Harrier, satellite-tagged sub-adult male in Ring's End area in first two weeks,
Black-tailed Godwit, count of 2,650 in one flock, 14.3.09


© Mike Weedon
Black-tailed Godwits dotted for counting, 14.3.09


© Mike Weedon
Young Peregrine, 14.3.09
Peregrine, 2, at least including a juvenile, 14.3.09


© Mike Weedon
Whooper Swans on central drove

Old Sulehay
Bullfinch, 1, calling like a northern-race bird, 1.3.09

Swaddywell NR

© Peter Beesley
Black Redstart at Swaddywell Pit
Black Redstart, 1, in stonecutting works area at edge of reserve, 21-22.3.09,
Wheatear, 2, male and female, 22.3.09,

Tanholt pits
Iceland Gull, 1, juvenile, 29.3.09,

Thornhaugh Quarry
On 1.3.09:
Snipe, 47,
Jack Snipe, 10,
Woodcock, 1,

Thurlby Fen,
Great White Egret, 1, reported on 4.3.09 and
On 1.3.09:
Brambling, 1,
Yellowhammers, c40,
Buzzard, 1,

Woodwalton Fen
Sand Martin, 2, 14.3.09, the first in the area this year

Woodston, Peterborough
Waxwing, 2, feeding on berries outside British Sugar office, Oundle Road, 28.3.09


© Mike Weedon
Waxwing, outside British Sugar, Woodston

February 2009

Highlights
Green-winged Teal, at Maxey pits and perhaps the same bird at Eldernell (Nene Washes)
Great White Egret, in the Kate's Bridge-Thurlby Fen-Baston Fen area throughout
Cranes, the pair moved from the Nene Washes to Woodwalton Fen
Firecrest, again at Woodwalton Fen

© Mike Weedon
Great White Egret by the River Glen, east of Kate's Bridge

Baston & Langtoft Pits
27.2.09:
Nordic Jackdaw, 3, by Cross Drain,
28.2.09:
Goosander, 2, pair,
Mealy Redpolls, 3+, in alders by Gull Pit,
Little Egret, 7,
Pink-footed Geese, 3, in fields north of Grummit's Scrape,
Ruddy Shelducks, 2, pair on New Works,
Tufted Duck x Pochard hybrid, 1, perhaps the regular hybrid at Deeping Lakes (a different hybrid was seen on 27.2.09)

Farcet Fen
On 8.2.09:
Sky Lark, 465, including flocks of 320+ and 145+on two stubble
fields,
Long-tailed Tit, 12,
Marsh Harrier, 1 imm male,
Merlin, 1, imm/imm fem,
Tree Sparrow - 45+

Ferry Meadows
Mediterranean Gull, 1, adult, 20.2.09
Mealy Redpoll, 1 with a Lesser Redpoll at Ham Bridges, 7.2.09

© Peter Beesley
Mealy Redpoll at Ham Bridge

On 8.2.09:
Goosander, 1, female over Gunwade,
Tufted Duck, 210,
Pochard , 101,
Great Crested Grebe, 25 on Gunwade,
Cormorant, 50 in the island trees, Overton Lake,
Buzzard, 10, 20.2.09,
Red-crested Pochard, 6, on Overton briefly, 22.2.09,
Little Egret, 1, off and on from 27.209

© Roy Norris
Redwing on ice at Heron Meadows


© Roy Norris
Drake Shoveler on Lynch Lake

Fletton Brick Pits
Pink-footed Goose with Greylags at Ikea compound, 1.2.09

Maxey pits
Green-winged Teal, 1, drake on 19.2.09
Ringed Plover, 2, first of year, on 15.2.09

Nene Washes

Green-winged Teal, 1, drake west of Lord's Holt, 21.2.09,
March Farmers, 1.2.09:
Crane, 2
Turnstone, 1

Black-tailed Godwit, c5,000
Golden Plover, c5,000
Shelduck, 29
Dunlin, 30

© Max Catterwell
A Black-headed Gull snatches a vole from the flood

Thurlby Fen,
Great White Egret, 1, reported occasionally throughout the month,

© Mike Weedon
Great White Egret by the River Glen, east of Kate's Bridge

Woodwalton Fen
Mealy Redpoll, 1, 2.2.09
Firecrest, 1, by bungalow, 8.2.09, 14.2.09
On 7.2.09:
Bittern, 1,
Marsh Harrier, 1, drake,
Barn Owl, 2,
Little Egret, 1 (at north end),
Mallard, 442, on Rotshchild's Mere,
Teal, 25 there.

© Mike Weedon
Long-tailed Tit on the fringe of Gordon's Mere

On 21.2.09 at north end:
1 little egret, 1,
2 Cranes, 2,
2 Marsh Harrier, 2,
Hen Harrier, 1, ring tail,
Cettis Warbler, 1,
Harris's Hawk, 1, being mobbed by crows and Marsh Harriers,
1 Red Kite, 1,
Water Rail, 1, singing plus 4, calling

© Mike Weedon
Marsh Harrier from Gordon's Mere hide

January 2009

Highlights
Great White Egret at Thurlby Fen on the last day of the motnth
Hawfinches at Southorpe
Bean Geese at the Nene Washes
Two decent flocks of White-fronted Geese (Deeping Lakes; Nene Washes)
Glaucous Gull at Dogsthorpe Tip
Scaup at Ferry Meadows and Deeping High Bank
Last year's Cranes (Nene Washes), Red-breasted Mergansers (Deeping High Bank) and Crossbills (Southey Woods) lingered
Record wintering roost of Little Egrets at Deeping Lakes
The month ended with belated claims of an Arctic Redpoll, 15 Mealy Redpolls and a young male Goshawk at Woodwalton Fen

Baston & Langtoft Pits
Pink-footed Goose, 4, from 1.1.09
Smew, 1, redhead on ARC, 7.1.08
Little Egret, 4, along Cross drain, 1.1.09, peaking at 15 on 14.1.09
Also on 10.1.09:
Redshank, 17
Green Sandpiper, 3
Grey Wagtail, 1
Snipe, several
Kingfisher, 2
Stonechat, 2
Grey Heron, 7

Also on 14.1.09:
Water Pipit, 1, Cross Drain
Hen Harrier, 1, ringtail
Green Sandpiper, 5, minimum - Cross Drain
Goosander, 1, drake on old wader scrape
Redshank, c15
Grey Wagtail, 1, Cross Drain
Kingfisher, 2, Cross Drain
redpoll sp, 10, flew over Old Wader Scrape

© Josh Jones
Four Pink-footed Geese

Bedford Purlieus
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 1 or 2, on several dates,
Lesser Redpoll, c45, 16.1.09

Deeping High Bank
Red-breasted Merganser, 1, drake 1.1.09, pair on 11-22.1.09 at least

© Peter Beesley

© Kevin Du Rose
Red-breasted Mergansers

Scaup, 2, females, 10-11.1.09
Goosander, up to 7, 17.1.09
Short-eared Owl, 2, up to two present

Deeping Lakes LWT
Little Egret, 31, record roosting count at end of month
European White-fronted Geese, 16, 17.1.09


© Mike Weedon
Part of flock of 16 White-fronted Geese

Smew, 1, drake, 18.1.09 and 28.1.09

Dogsthorpe Tip
Glaucous Gull, 2nd winter on 11.1.09



© Mike Weedon
2nd-winter Glaucous Gull

Caspian Gull, 1, 1st winter 9, 9-11.1.09

© Kevin Du Rose
1st-winter Caspian Gull
Mediterranean Gull, 1, adult on 9.1.09 and 27.1.09

Ferry Meadows
Whooper Swan, 5, 14.1.09, on Lynch and Overton


© Roy Norris
Whoopers at Ferry Meadows

Woodcock, 4, on nature reserve, 1.1.09

Also on 1.1.09
Tufted Duck, 225,
Gadwall, 87,
Wigeon, 77,
Pochard, 42
Mediterranean Gull, 2, 1st-winter on Overton near visitor centre, 1.1.09, 10.1.09, adult on 231.1.09
Snipe, at least 50 on Heron Meadows on 6.1.09
Scaup, 1, 1st-winter male on Gunwade lake from 4-21.1.09 at least


© Mike Weedon
1st-winter Scaup, Gunwade Lake, Ferry Meadows



© Mike Weedon
1st-winter Scaup, Gunwade Lake, Ferry Meadows (21.1.09), after a bit of moulting

Maxey pits
Jack Snipe, 1, 1.1.09 at least
Curlew, 1, on two dates, 8 & 9.1.09
Black-tailed Godwit, 2, early on
Goosander, 12, in area, 23.1.09

Nene Washes
Bean Goose, 5, tundra-race birds, late on



© Jonathan Taylor
Tundra-race Bean Geese

Crane, 2, 1km east of car park at Eldernell 1-31.1.09

© Mike Weedon
Wigeon take flight as 2 Cranes and a Peregrine stand in the background, Eldernell

White-fronted Goose, 17, European-race birds east of Eldernell, 18-20.1.09 (8 on 22.1.09)



© Mike Weedon
Some of the 17 European-race Whitefronts between Eldernell and March Farmers


© Mike Weedon
Some of 200 mixed Bewick's and Whooper Swans in the ploughed fields at March Farmers, part of a much larger wintering 'flock' in the washes area

Hen Harrier, 1, ringtail near March Farmers, from 6.1.09
Lapland Bunting, 1, 24.1.09
Egyptian Goose, 1, 24.1.09
Black-tailed Godwit, c5,000
Golden Plover, 3,000 minimum
Turnstone, 1, March Farmers 31.1.09
Ruff, c100,
Redshank, c100,
Corn Buntings, 35, March Farmers, 24.1.09
Water Pipit, 1, March Farmers, 24.1.09
Grey Partridge, 11, March Farmers (24.1.09)

Padholme Pump
Best counts between Fitzwilliam Bridge and Padholme Pumping Station were on 14.1.09:
Stonechat, 8
Kingfisher, 1
Grey Wagtail, 2
Redshank, 16
Green Sandpiper, 5
Rather few Moorhens compared with previous winters.

Ramsey
Rough-legged Buzzard, 1, reported on 8.1.09, but remained unconfirmed

© Brian Stone
Buzzard eating 'rabbit'. Was this bird the reported Rough-leg?

Southey Woods
Crossbill, up to 15, from 1.1.09

Southorpe
Hawfinch, 2, just north of hamlet, 1-5.1.08, at least

©Peter Beesley
Female Kestrel at Southorpe

Tallington,
Goosander, 14, at roost, 1.1.08

Tanholt
Yellow-legged Gull, 2, inc an adult 8.1.09

© Josh Jones
Adult Yellow-legged Gull

Woodwalton Fen
Mealy Redpoll, 2, from 10.1.09 (up to 15 were claimed on 21.1.09)
Bittern, 1, on ice of Gordon's Mere 11.1.09
Hen Harrier, 1, ringtail, throughout
Marsh Harrier, 1, young male, 17.1.09
Arctic Redpoll, 1, , exilipes-race bird reported in early February, 31.1.09
Goshawk, 1, young male reported in early February, 31.1.09

© Mike Weedon
Pintail drake at Gordon's Mere