Author: Val Bentley

Two on the pools yesterday afternoon – as well as a rather nice reflection!

Eight members tackled the 5+ miles down the old railway line and up river. We started with House Sparrows at the start of the railway line, saw or heard many of the commoner species as we walked along the first part, Blue & Great Tits, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Wren, Robins, Long-tailed Tits, a calling Nuthatch.  We heard a Stock Dove singing – if that’s not too generous a term!  When looking across to Rye Farm it looked as though there were a lot of birds moving about near a pond, but on closer inspection they turned out to be strings of light bulbs swaying in the wind!

After all the rain, there was plenty of water again on the fields to the west, containing a group of Black-headed Gulls, approx. 70 Teal, 60 Wigeon, 12 Pintail, half a dozen Shoveler.  Along the railway line we heard a rather unusual call, which turned out to be a male Chaffinch, at least 2 Ravens went over, and in fields to the west were 2 Mute Swans, and a mixed flock of Greylag and Canada Geese, about 60 combined.  The Herons were on two of the nests, 1 on the northern nest and 2 on the southerly one – these two doing some display and the male looking very handsome.

A 3 raptor moment near Stretham Bridge, with Kestrel, Buzzard and Red Kite within five minutes.  The river and overflow pit were rather disappointing this morning, but the two swans looked fine after the encounter with the power lines.  Just south of New Inn was a large flock of gulls, estimated at about 500, 300 Black-headed and 200 Common, which we had a look at through the scope to note the differences in plumage.  Some rather nice Turkey Tail fungus noticed on a dead log.

Ee did a quick divert down the track where about 8 Chiffchaffs were flitting around the ponds, and Godlcrest and Wren also present.

Some not very clear pics of the Herons and gulls attached.  The Common Gulls are the larger ones with the greeny-yellow beaks and similar coloured legs.  Generally slightly slatier grey backs than the Black-headed Gulls – not all of which have black heads at the moment!  Better photo of the fungus.

There were 2 Grey Wagtails on the niffy ponds this morning, with at least 6 Chiffchaffs  (VB)

Nine of us  for the February amble amble round the levels & river on Monday 20th.

Along the first part of the railway line we heard three different Song Thrushes, got good views of a Jay, a brief glimpse of a Nuthatch as it flew from a wire into a tree.  Once into the fields and looking over patches of water on the levels,  most of the usual duck species were noted – Teal, Wigeon, Pintail and Mallard, plus 3 Shoveler.  A Raven was heard, then Buzzard and Red Kite seen.  When the Lapwings rose into the air and were easier to see, a conservative count was 300.  A couple of Snipe were noted.  Where the millstream reaches the railway line, we could see about 80 Greylag Geese and a few Canadas in a field to the east, then in a wet patch a bit closer were 5 Pied Wagtails and a couple of Meadow Pipits.  Skylark in song too.  On the west side one Grey Heron was sitting on the right hand nest, and two Little Egrets were lurking underneath.  Just one Cormorant in the oak tree, though we’d seen another earlier.

Dave had just mentioned that we hadn’t had any Fieldfares, when we found a field full of them (about 100) with some Redwings and Starlings too.  Near the overflow pit  Suzy noticed some small waders fly over, which then merged with some Lapwings.  Reckon they were Dunlin, but not quite sure enough to put them in as a BirdTrack record. They weren’t Snipe or Green Sandpipers though. Angela departed here and headed back to Small Dole.   By the time we got to New Inn we were rather “birded out” though enjoyed seeing two Ravens fly across, and some Greenfinches singing.  The final nice spot of the morning for the remaining 4 was a very nice view of a Goldcrest low down in the bushes by Rye House.  As a postscript two of us wandered down to the pools by the Rye Farm track and had lovely views of at least 5 Chiffchaffs.

As always, thanks to all for their eyes and ears to help spot the 46 different species (or was it 47?)!

A good number again this morning – of walkers and birds!  Joining me were Angela, Belinda, Dave,  Ian, John D, Mark & Tessa, Sharon J (with Bess) and Suzy.  Beautiful day, cold but sunny and no wind.

We heard several Song Thrushes in song along the first part of the railway line, admired a lovely group of Long-tailed Tits in the trees beside the embankment, heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming and a Green Woodpecker yaffling. Angela picked up the call of a Bullfinch, but only worked out what it was a bit later! The flooded fields were mostly covered in ice, but in the distance we could see probably 2,500 birds – the majority Wigeon and Teal, with smaller numbers of Pintail and Shoveler, and about 200 Lapwing.  Among 300 or so Black-headed Gulls, I found one Common Gull.  Suzy noticed a single Snipe fly up.

Looking across the fields from the bridge with the metal railings, there was great excitement when Suzy and Belinda found a Kingfisher perched on a bush over a stream.  Very distant but got some reasonable ‘scope views.  Then more excitement when a Red Kite was spotted way off – probably the other side of the river!  We had seen Fieldfares feeding with Redwing and Blackbirds on ripening ivy berries.  These are a valuable food source this time of year.

A Kestrel was flying around near Stretham, and along the river we had 2 more Little Egrets, a single Stonechat, and two Ravens cronked their way over.  We found a dead Buzzard lying by the river, but later saw a live one, and a group of 14 Goldfinches were in a bush to the left.  A Moorhen scuttered across the river, and Dave noticed a Grey Wagtail on the path, which disappeared, to be relocated by Tessa beside the kayaks.

Must admit I was getting quite tired by then, so the only other species I had the energy to note down was Starlings along the bridleway!

A couple of not very clear “record” photos attached.  Loaded everything onto BirdTrack and it came up with a total of 47 different species  –  and I didn’t record Dunnock!

The Fab Four (me, Will, Nigel & Nige) did our annual New Year Bird Race on 4th January. 66 species, beating our previous record by 3. Walked 11 miles – should have been 10 but flooding by New Inn meant we had to go the extra mile! Highlights were Blackcap at 8 am in my garden, Water Rail having a splash and a preen by the hide at Woods Mill, Water Pipit by the overflow pit (a lifer for Will and first for us in the Race). Treecreeper & Mistle Thrush along the Hollands Lane bridleway, Tufted Duck on the water, then finally the Chiffchaffs and Grey Wagtail showed up by Rye Farm. Finished with a Tawny Owl hooting along Stonepit Lane in the dark about 4.30. No bird pics, but one of the lads wading through the floods at the millstream.

Just three of us, Suzy, Angela & myself, did the monthly stroll around this morning.  Quite hard going in places because the paths along the river and through the fields were quite uneven, but the dips were hidden by the patches of snow.  Suzy was delighted that she had seen Water Rail and Barn Owl in the area recently.

House Sparrows in bushes by Braziers kicked off the walk, and a good range of common species were collected along first section, including 3 Jays.  Across the fields we could see Snipe flying up and down, over 100 Teal in the small areas of water – the sun was lighting up their green wing patches (speculums) which looked gorgeous.  There were 3 Pintail, a few Wigeon and Shoveler and one Canada Goose.  The rest of the Canadas were grazing in one of the higher fields south of Rye Farm. Three Lapwing were looking a little bemused on the ice, then another 3 flew in to join them. A pair of Egyptian Geese were near the heronry, and Fieldfares and Redwings in the bushes along the railway line.

Along the river we were a little frustrated because some small ducks in the water kept only giving glimpses before disappearing out of sight.  A cry of joy came from Suzy who spotted the flash of a Kingfisher, but Angela and I weren’t quick enough to catch it.  On the overflow pit were a couple of Mute Swans having a preen.  When one got up it had to tread very carefully to avoid slipping over.  In a sheep field by New Inn were another lot of Snipe – about 30.  Looking into the light so photo not good, but we enjoyed watching them for a while.

The causeway is just about passable in wellies now so we walked back past Frogshole, finding a single Stock Dove among Jackdaws and Woodpigeons in another field of sheep, and a few more Lapwings and Teal over towards Buckwish Farm.  In the pools along the track was a Pied Wagtail, another Snipe and I reckon 7 Chiffchaffs flitting around. A Goldcrest called from the other side and a Nuthatch just as I got back to Hollands Lane.

Excellent walk, and many thanks to Suzy for the addition of Kingfisher to the list of 44 species! (VB)