More Fenland Birding

31 July 2020

Having taken Jenny over to her friend's house in Langtoft so that the ladies might enjoy a day's shopping at Springfields, Spalding, I thought, why not?  So leaving Langtoft I headed over to Willow Tree Fen reserve, covering the county lane journey over what can only be described as "corrugated roads" and arrived fifteen minutes later including a couple of stops for road works.  Lovely to meet an old friend on "guard duty" not having seen terry for probably 25 years.  Terry had seen the Cranes when he first arrived at 7 0'clock but not seen since.

Red Kite Milvus milvus

During my short stay at the reserve entrance I recorded a couple of Marsh Harriers and a pair of Kestrel.  Given that I had seen a Buzzard atop a pole as I headed past Baston Fen and recorded a Red Kite approaching Baston on my return journey less than two hours later, a quartet of raptors was most encouraging.  Also seen was a pair of Moorhen in the Counter Drain where the entrance bridge is sited and very many Rooks, Crows and Jackdaws.  However, perhaps the best sighting was that of a Grey Partridge flying over the area used by the Cranes.  naturally, there were many Wood Pigeons and also seen were Collared Doves and House Sparrows.

Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus

Making a very short stop at Baston Gravel Pits on the return journey all seemed very quiet and relaxed as the temperature soared; too hot really for serious birding, especially where there was no cover from the blazing sun.  A Cormorant flew over the waters as di some of the local Black-headed Gulls.  Whilst a few were noted on the water the majority were in huge flocks feeding on the recently harrowed fields.  Alongside the gulls, lovely see the flock of well-over a hundred Lapwings.

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

On the water a couple of score of Mute Swans and at least six Little Egrets.  The limited number of ducks were made up of Mallard and Tufted Ducks and accompanied by a good number of Coot but only the occasional Moorhen.  Similarly, there were Starlings on the wires and a few Jackdaws near the cottage whilst at the back of the water a small flock of Greylag Geese and a handful of Herring Gull to accompany the greater number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Mute Swan Cygnus olor

Birds seen:
Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Grey Partridge, Cormorant, Little Egret, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Barn Swallow, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow.

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