A February week in England

Yellowhammer  Emberiza citrinella

What a week to choose to return to Lincolnshire!  The idea was to undertake some exterior repairs at home but the weather was never going to permit that to happen so the chance to do some serious birding, no distractions, the possibility of four whole days and a choice of habitats with nobody to worry about apart from myself.  Well that was the theory anyway.

Arriving in Stansted on 5 February the sun was shining and it felt reasonably warm.  An hour later as I drove my rental car away the sky had clouded over and by the time i reached the A1 (M) there was blustery snow in the air.  On the other hand, at least it was clear when I got back to Stamford but the scene had been set for the coming week; it was going to be very cold and windy and, yes, I was to experience a fall of the white stuff.

Wednesday:

Wigeon  Anas penelope

A chance to pay a first visit to the RSPB reserve at Frampton Marshes as recommended by Chris bell.  By jove it was bitterly cold when I arrived and found everything closed and the wind blowing in the Arctic air.  I was early as I had travelled via Bourne to see if I could locate some Waxwing, I could not, but did at least come across a Goldcrest as well as a handful of House Sparrows in the far corner of the supermarket's car park.  Strange this as on previous two visits I had not seen a single House Sparrow in either Bourne or Stamford.  Similarly, no matter how much I tried I still did nor manage to track down one of the millions of Waxwings which have irrupted over from Scandinavia this winter.  But I was at Frampton before 9.30.

Whilst birds were trying to find some shelter I immediately had views of the thousands of Wigeon that I was to see in the area along with Mallard, Teal, Tufted Duck and a few Shelduck.  Mute Swans were everywhere in small numbers and a trio of Curlew took off from a field to my right as I drove slowly past.  Lapwing were also present in very large numbers and on the water nearer the sea bank I had a few Greylag Geese and a very small number of Brent Geese.  A Redshank patrolled the water's edge in search of food but no other waders were to be seen until I started off back to the Reception hut and came across a large flock of Golden Plover in with more Lapwings.

Part of the large flock of Golden Plovers Pluvialis apricaria

Neighbouring lagoons produced a few Canada Geese and Gadwall plus two pairs of Pintail.  No sooner had I come across the few Pochard than a Cormorant sailed across the water. Then it was back to the abive Reception centre where the hanging food holders were enticing in some smaller birds.  A couple of Goldcrest and then the small flock of Greenfinches.  No sooner had I got my camera out than I realised that there was a handful of Brambling in with the other finches plus a couple of Tree Sparrows feeding from the holder.  Again, closer inspection also revealed a few Reed Bunting and then two beautiful Yellowhammers shining like gold on this dull day.

My final call was to the 360 Hide where I managed to record Coot, Moorhen and immediately in front of me a half-dozen feeding Meadow Pipits.  Add on both Blackbird and Collared Dove and I had recorded 29 species before moving over to the neighbouring reserve of Frieston on the other side of Boston.

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

This was relatively quiet with a selection of birds on the inshore lagoon, it not yet being high tide, including more Wigeon,Teal, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Gadwall, Mute Swan, Canada Goose and around the edges Jackdaw, Magpie, Rock Dove, Common Starling and Crow.  Only a few Black-headed Gulls to make up the 18 species recorded.

Too early to go straight home so I made a quick call to the Deeping St James Fish lakes Reserve which did at least add both Robin and Fieldfares.

Thursday:

Robin  Erithacus rubecula

Off to the Nene Washes and what a wash out that was in every sense of the word, both literally and figuratively.  The plain was rally flooded with the tracks and paths underwater and very little on the water.  Yes there were Coots and the occasional Cormorant and a small number Black-headed Gulls but very little else.  A bitterly cold walk westwards along the exposed raised footpath enable me o record Wigeon and Tufted Duck plus a pair of Greylag Geese quickly followed by a couple of Mallards.  Wood Pigeons few about over the trees on both sides of the footpath and a number of Starings found something to feed on.  Again, there were Moorhens and Magpies plus a number of Carrion Crows.

Whooper Swan  Cygnus cygnus

Ignoring the sign indicating that the road from Whittelsey to Thorney was closed due to flooding, I drove along just to take a look and discovered that the water's had receded sufficiently to allow cars to drive over to the Dog and Doublet public house on the far side where, often, sea ducks and seals can be seen.  The flooded water on the right held a solitary Great Crested Grebe and then, on the fields just past the D&D pub, a large flock of about 150 sans in two distinct groups.  Whilst the first contained almost exclusively Mute Swans there were four Bewicks Swans.  the second, slightly smaller spread flock, again held mainly Mute Swans but this time there were a number of Whooper Swans feeding happily in family groups.

Still only early afternoon, so I decided to make a short stop at Rutland Water on the way home to check out the reserve in readiness for a visit the following day.  Greeted by both Blackbirds and Robins a stop at the feeding station produced Dunnocks, Great Tits, Goldfinches and Pheasants whilst Jackdaws were all about me.  In the field between car park and Reception a trio of Fieldfares and a pair of Redwing were feeding with many Wood Pigeons in the neighbouring trees.  A look at the water from the Reception produced Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Shelduck, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Pochard, Coot and Moorhen.  Both feeding and resting on the water were Cormorants and Black-headed Gulls.

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus gradually coming into breeding plumage

To my left a single Little Egret fed and then, immediately in front of me, A beautiful Barn Owl arrived to rest on the old gate before heading off to my left.  The far side of the water produced a Red-breasted Merganser and then it was time to head off for the North Arm of the reserve before making my way home.
The water here contained mainly Tufted Ducks and more Wigeon but also the large flocks of Canada and Greylag Geese.  Four Little Egrets rested on the far bank along with a trio of Grey Herons.

Friday:

Fieldfare  Turdus pilaris

Another cold day but at least not so windy.  Arriving at Rutland Water early I passed Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies and Wood Pigeons and I even had a Robin sit patiently at my feet as I put my boots on; obviously this individual is used to receiving food from visitors.  The neighbouring field seemed bust and on closer inspection contained a number of both Fieldfares and Redwings along with the many Blackbirds and a single Mistle Thrush.  A check on the feeding station found more activity than yesterday, perhaps because I was one of the first visitors of the day, with both Great and Blue Tits on the nuts and Dunnocks, Robins and Pheasants below.  Before long a pair of Long-tailed Tits joined the feeding frenzy and then a female Great Spotted Woodpecker on the far feeder.

Lagoon 1 held Coots, Moorhens, Tufted Duck, Teal, Mallard and Cormorants along with a single Shelduck but it was time to walk the reserve so off to deeper water of lagoons 3 and 4.  Passing a pair of Egyptian Geese, a stop at the Redshank Hide disturbed a resting Peregrine Falcon which then beat a hasty retreat to the nearby bushes.  Then, leaving the Grebe Hide, I stopped to check the small flock of birds that had landed on the entry path in front of me.  Not only a small number of Siskin but a handful of Lesser Redpolls and a single inquisitive Robin.

Egyptian Geese  Alopochen aegyptiaca

In addition to Wigeons, Lagoon 4 held a few Mute Swans, Greylag Geese, Pochard and both Black-headed and Herring Gulls.  However, it was at Lagoon 3 that the ducks had really gathered in force along with many Coots.  Lots of Wigeon but also Goldeneye, Tufted Duck and at least one male and three female Smew.  A single Shelduck rested nearby and then a small number of Great Crested Grebes made an appearance.  On the far bank both a Grey Heron and a Little Egret followed by Gadwall when looking at the water from the next hide.  Indeed, the return journey produced a Reed Bunting in the tree in front and a little later a pair of Bullfinches were seen as I approached the Badger Hide.

Male Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniculus

A final visit to the feeding station produced a few Chaffinches and a Goldcrest was busy in the tree next to the hide.  Tie to take a lst look at the North Arm in the hope that the female Long-tailed Duck might be visible and, driving along the connecting road, first a Pied Wagtail flew over the road in front of me and then, to my right, another large flock of feeding Lapwing along with a small flock of Starlings.  The water itself produced many more Wigeon and Tufted Duck plus a small number of Little Grebes but no positively identified LTD.  However, a female Goosander did reward me with her presence.  Time then to depart back to Stamford having recorded 52 species.

Sunday:

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

At the time I was not to realise that there would be no birding on Monday following a good fall of snow on the Sunday evening and the need to spend time on the Internet trying to address problems relating to house damage back in Spain.  Sunday itself was wet all day when I visited my son near Thatcham in Berkshire but they have a lovely house set in two acres of woodland and a large feeder in front of the lounge window.  So, lots of Coal Tits, Grey and Blue Tits plus a party of 10 Long-tailed Tits feeding on and off nearly all day till my departure in mid-afternoon.

Three cold but interesting birding days resulting in a final tally of 71 species.

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