Weather: Cold and sunny, with a light westerly breeze. 3°C
Our group met on a bitterly cold but fantastically sunny afternoon in the car park at Eldernell Fen. After all the gloom of my brief visit on Monday I was very hopeful for a bird-filled afternoon. A large female Sparrowhawk flashed through the car park and was picked up by Maggi.
Walking to Lord’s Holt we are treated to some wonderful views of winter Thrushes, Fieldfare and Redwing. The air was filled with chacking and squeaking as the flocks moved from the trees to the Hawthorns and back. Unfortunately the Tawny Owl wasn’t at home in its favoured roost.
We moved back down the floodbank scouring the hedges for a glimpse of the roosting Long-eared Owl and I soon picked up two sat tight in the hedge but clearly visible once you got your eye in. As I say to my groups, think about the magic eye puzzles, relax and look into the hedge. At first people say they can’t find them but once given directions there was a collective gasp as they materialised into view. Once the scopes were set up everyone enjoyed the views and took some great photographs.
The cold conditions meant there was a reduction in the numbers of waders seen but we had some small flocks of Golden Plover, which gave themselves away by their plaintive ‘püü’ calls, and Lapwing. A couple of Common Snipe also flushed off the washes. As birds that sit tight an unseen predator must have been hunting, probably a Stoat or Weasel.
By now we were in need of a warm drink so we headed back to the cars. Setting up our scopes on the bridge, we started scanning the washes proper. The frozen pools meant most of the wildfowl was hidden, only moving when flushed by a passing Marsh Harrier. Other birds of prey included Sparrowhawk and Red Kite as well as three Common Buzzard. One of the Buzzards was extremely pale and could easily trap the unwary.
A family party of Whooper Swan hogged a small pool and another few larger flocks passed over bugling loudly. They truly are the sound of winter in the Fens. At least eight Common Cranes were also on the washes but for such large birds they can easily vanish into or behind the reeds.
As the light faded and the temperature plummeted we had various Egrets coming into roost including Cattle Egret, Great White Egret, Little Egret and Grey Heron. A Water Rail also squealed out on the wash but remained unseen.
The Marsh Harrier roost started to build and gave some great views as they drifted in over the wash and occasionally put up the ducks as they looked for one last meal. A very large and noisy Corvid pre roost was a real treat for the ears. There were large flocks of Rook, Carrion Crow and Jackdaw coming in and squabbling whilst more distant the Starling murmuration built to a crescendo but sadly wasn’t close enough for us to hear them. A calling Tawny Owl was a fine end to another fantastic afternoon.
Photos from the tour (click on thumbnail to zoom)
