karen's country calendar

The weather didn't look very promising, misty and dull but at least not cold, wet or windy.  Being the only available day for a visit to the Wildfowl Reserve at Welney and the knowledge of a good meal available in the restaurant, we decided to make the trip anyway.  Our fears were realised when  the fog seemed to come down as we got nearer and we really wondered if we would see much at all but just as we approached Welney, it lifted into a mist and the visibility was reasonable. The heated Observatory provided a warm viewing spot though the glass in the windows did not allow for very clear photos.  However all the usual ducks were present (teal, mallard, tufted, shelduck, pochard, wigeon and pintail) together with Mute and the Whooper swans for which Welney is known and Canada and Greylag geese. We also managed to see a number of waders including black tailed godwits, dunlin, lapwing, snipe and a curlew which was the final species for this years list. As expected a delicious Ch

It was a sunny but slightly breezy  morning when we arrived at Frampton Marsh to check out the waders which had been widely advertised in the RSPB magazine!  We spotted a few butterflies on the walk  from the visitor centre to the main 360 hide and from there saw a good number and  variety of waders particularly large flocks of black tailed godwits and dunlins. Several new birds for this years list included the above plus spoonbills,  avocets and a sandpiper.    We had a good view of a little ringed plover from the hide which obligingly spent most of the time pecking about on a sand bank just in front of us.  A large number of sandmartins were also present flying around near the nest holes.  green veined white    peacock   common blue    large flock of black tailed godwits and dunlins    common sandpiper little ringed plover spoonbills    avocets    ruff   

A very unimposing entrance (layby next to a gate) was the entrance to this butterfly hotspot near Woodwalton.  A grassy path with wildflowers  either side provided my first sighting this year of a Silver Washed Fritillary and a ringlet.   At the end of the path was another gate with Monks Wood sign and map so we knew we had reached the right place!  Although a bit breezy and not as sunny as we would have liked, we still saw plenty of meadow browns, fritillaries, ringlets,  gatekeepers and red admirals.  silverwashed fritillary  red admiral speckled wood   meadow brown    ringlet     silver washed fritillary

Having visited Therfield Heath at the end of last summer and thinking it would be better to visit earlier in the season, I made a return trip today when it was sunny and warm.   I was looking for chalkhill blues for which the Heath is a known hotspot and I wasnt disappointed. I didnt have to walk far to find a good  number of little blue butterflies fluttering about at low level and round my feet.  They landed frequently enabling photos and seemed to particularly like to congregate on dog's poo that some irresponsible owners had not cleared up!  I also saw a couple mating but unfortunately my camera battery had given up by then as I forgot to check its charge before I went!  However I got enough photos to satisfy me including some of the numerous gatekeepers and meadow browns together with an unidentified moth!  chalkhill blue     chalkhill blue     rather  tatty meadow brown  gatekeeper    unidentified moth!     gathering of chalkhi

A beautiful still and sunny morning was ideal for the wildlife boat trip we had booked this morning from St Ives along the Great Ouse.  There were 7 early risers plus the boat owner and a volunteer from the local wildlife  trust.    Plenty of birdsong heard and birds seen along the route as we glided alongside the banks and into backwaters.  Sightings included a kingfisher flying past, two cuckoos in the skies above us and glimpse of reed warblers among the reeds.  45 in total and 4 new ones for this years list. St Ives Bridge, early morning   Two swans in the morning mist   Swan cloud formation   brief stop at Hemingford Lock   Heron on river bank A local seal   Reed bunting

Having not had a suitable opportunity earlier I decided I'd better get on with a bird count this morning although being a very dreary misty day I wasn't very hopeful. So 10am I sat down in the Conservatory and waited,   within 30 secs a single long tailed tit appeared followed shortly by a robin and blackbird. Then nothing for about 30 mins. Very frustrating as I could bird song in the trees.  Then a gold finch decided to have a quick feed on the sunflower hearts  and a little while after, a greenfinch followed suit.   At the back of the garden I had put out some apples and sprinkled some seed on the ground and eventually a woodpigeon, collared dove and blackbird found them.  I also spotted a dunnock hopping about in the trees above plus a few more woodpigeons. Just before I finished 3 gold finches appeared on the feeders and a bluetit briefly landed on one of them too..  so totals as follows: wood pigeon 4 collared dove 2 dunnock 1 robin 1 greenfinch 1 goldfinch

Despite being rather dull and overcast although not particularly unpleasant, we decided to visit Slimbridge Wetland Centre as we were in the area and hadn't been for many many years. I was quite surprised how many people were there including many carrying telescopes and long lens cameras and others set up in the numerous hides who provided valuable information and identification tips. I managed to add quite a number of species to this years bird list including Bewicks swan for which Slimbridge is well known, teal and pintail ducks and various waders comprising curlew, ruff, golden plover and snipe. There were also a few cranes in evidence plus various tits at the feeding stations.  an inquisitive robin same robin looking rather puffed up    Bewick swan teal pintail preening    spot the snipe - two of them   blue tit

A bright crisp morning and an invitation to join the Coopers for a walk at Fen Drayton provided a good start to my bird list for 2017!    The usual ducks and grebes were present together with numerous blue and great tits at a newly installed feeding station.  A track with a regular supply of bird seed scattered on it was busy with greenfinches, yellow hammers and reed buntings. Unfortunately few  photos possible due to distance of birds and accompanying small children!! Two cygnets from last year.    Future bird watchers!   Birds seen this year so far are blackbird, song thrush, robin, chaffinch,  blue tit great tit, dunnock, starling, wood pigeon, collared dove, yellowhammer, greenfinch, reed bunting, magpie, crow, jackdaw, barn owl, buzzard, kestrel, fieldfare, redwing,  mallard, moorhen, coot, shoveler, goldeneye,  pochard, tufted duck, great crested grebe, little grebe, mute swan, cormorant, various gulls but not positively identified from a distance, red legge