|
| BREAKING NEWS: December 2012 and January and February 2013 |
| 27th February: Great crested grebe AND kingfisher on Guppy's Pond today! Wendy Lanman |
| 26th February: Tales from Guppy's Pond: We see the kingfisher from time to time, so the ice didn't move him on - and very pleased we are too. Wendy Lanman We have had a few records of Bewick's over the house recently. These are our first records for the house. 24th February Aldreth (Cambs) Bewick’s Swan 25 over house and village at c10:40. 25th February Bewick’s Swan flock over house at c18:15. 26th February Bewick’s Swan 1 or 2 over house at c06:45. Simon Stirrup. |
| 25th February: No swans yesterday (Saturday) from Aldreth Hill, but at least 180 swans there this (Sunday) afternoon. Has anyone checked them for Whoopers? When I first found them I could see nothing but Bewick's. Simon. PM: max count this morning on the niger feeder: 5 Redpolls. There must be a real dearth of food in the wild now. If only they'd stay to breed like they used to.... <sigh>. Also, still 2-3 Tree Sparrows coming to the red millet, but yesterday there were two on the peanuts. I guess they're like us, fancy a change sometimes. I get a few Reed Buntings too, not wedded to any particular food. Jake |
21st February: Male reed bunting and female brambling in the garden this morning. I. Dickerson  |
| 20th February: It may be a long time to Spring, but I heard some welcome singing yesterday: from a Mistlethrush, which was no surprise; and from a Song Thrush, which was. I had only one record of Song Thrush for the garden in the whole of 2012 (usually I have 1-2 pairs nesting). It's going to be a good year. I know this because, like Eccles and the time [Goons script], I have it written down on a piece of paper. Jake Also 2 Bullfinches regularly coming to a Chery tree in Aldreth and the 150 Bewicks Swans are still east of Aldreth Hill on flooded fields. PM. A rather atmospheric photograph of Robert Norman's orchard in the fog from Simon Stirrup  |
| 14th February: I am still getting Tree Sparrows (usually 2-3 at a time) feeding on red millet, and Redpolls (1-3 at a time) feeding on nyjer seed. Also flurries of Yellowhammers (usually 4-5, but a maximum count one very cold day of 13 together) feeding on mixed seed on the ground. Still waiting for a Brambling or a Siskin.....Jake Allsop. |
12th February: 5 Redpolls still coming to Linden Way. Photograph Margaret Johnstone. |
| 9thFebruary: Glad you saw the swans too Paul. Whilst standing there I saw the following: Buzzard 1, Bewick’s Swan circa 150 on flooded fields east of Hill, Golden Plover circa 200, gulls spp hundreds distantly on ploughed fields, Fieldfare 100+, Chaffinch 20, Siskin 1, redpoll sp 1 heard, Yellowhammer 3. Simon Stirrup. |
9th February: Simon Stirrup found flock/herd of Bewick Swans looking from top of Aldreth Hill SE to Holme Fen Haddenham. There seemed to be about 150 on flooded fields. They have never been recorded from that part of the parish before. Very difficult to get any nearer because all droves there are still very wet. I took 2 photographs, below, to give rough idea. Light not too good but this is a record shot. Paul  |
| 6th February: Late report of 5-7 Bullfinches seen in a cherry tree in Aldreth over the snowy weather from John Burgess. |
1st February: Just had a report with photographs of Redpolls coming to a Linden Way Garden every day since end November 2012 and there today per Mrs Johnson who took these photos. The lucky observer says they were bright pink when they came in and have got paler as time proceeded. Do not know yet if all are Lessers but will try to find out. PM  |
| 27th January: A flock of 304 + Swans off Chain Causeway in a field close to Haddenham/Sutton late afternoon contained 258+ Bewick's and 46 Whooper. 3 flocks of Bewick's flew in as observer watching the feeding birds (flocks of 25, 12, 4). Also off Chain Causeway nearer to Earith 40 Dunlin and a Ruff feeding in flood pools. Most of these will be in fields in Haddenham Parish. PM |
| 23rd January: Not all fatballs are equally nutritious. At least that's the opinion of the birds in my garden. The "buggy balls" from the RSPB attracted lots of birds and were consumed in no time. I recommend them. But the fatballs I bought recently from a local shop remain largely unpecked. In fact the only way I can persuade birds to eat them is to hit the balls with a large hammer to reduce them to their constituents and then scatter them on the patio. As to what those constituents are, I am no forensic scientist, but I think I may have discovered what happened to Lord Lucan! Jake Allsop. Dunnock and Fieldfare visiting the garden produce!!!! Sheila and Ian Dickerson.   |
| 21st January: I threw a heap of grain on the back lawn a few days ago, and it's been picked at by Blackbirds mainly, but the local Yellowhammers have cottoned on, and today I counted an amazing 13 of them together feeding on the grain. Of note too, a Redpoll regularly coming to the nyjer seed feeder. Jake Allsop. |
| 19th January: In our garden today, minimum of 20 Blackbirds, many starlings, 10+ each of Greenfinch, chaffinch and goldfinch, plus many house sparrows, dunnocks and 1 or 2 robins. Also a Song Thrush and a Mistle Thrush, and a very territorial Fieldfare, who was protecting either some apple pieces, or Guelder Rose berries. Seeing off all the blackbirds that ventured near. Sheila and Ian Dickerson. The attached Fieldfare image was taken in our Aldreth garden on Friday while it was snowing. Over the past few days we have had 2 Jays visiting our garden which is most unusual. They look very odd clinging to the fat ball and peanut feeders. Today there were 4 Redpoll and 20+ Chaffinch along Aldreth causeway. Simon Stirrup.  |
| 18th January: The cold snap has brought more birds to the feeders. Two Tree Sparrows at any one time feeding on red millet, 2-3 Yellowhammers feeding on seed scattered on the ground, occasional Reed Bunting on the mixed seed feeders, and - at last! - a Redpoll coming to the nyjer seed feeder. A lot of Blackbirds - up to 12 most of the time, feeding on oatmeal and anything else they can scavenge. A few Greenfinches and Goldfinches, but few compared to previous seasons, mostly 3-5 at any one time. Robins have learned to use the seed feeders, and Jackdaws will come down for the rough stuff on the ground. Occasional flurries of Longtailed Tits, but again small numbers, usually 2-4 at any one time. So, plenty to see, but not the abundance I am used to. Stay warm! Jake Allsop. Looking out of my bedroom window at approx 11.30am today, saw a Woodcock on the lawn next to the step at the edge of the patio. Got a couple of record shots before it ran around the back of the pond and hid in the leaves where it settled for half an hour or so until I ventured out of the side door, when it took flight. Barbara York.
|
| 12th January: Approx 80 Whooper Swans off Hillrow Causeway/North Fen today. Jake Allsop. |
| 10th January: NEWS FROM GUPPYS POND: I saw a kingfisher yesterday, fishing from one of the poles at the base of the bank, to the right of where we tether the boats. Also a green woodpecker, but so few garden birds, especially the goldfinch and long-tailed tits, which we usually see lots of. Other people I know have noticed the same. I suppose last year's poor breeding season is responsible. The coots are getting 'busy-bodyish', though, but no woodpecker drumming yet and we usually hear that by now. Wendy Lanham. |
| 6th January: Coal tit in the garden today. Redpoll yesterday. Barbara York. |
| 5th January: Along Dam Bank Drove this morning 8 Lesser Redpoll, 20+ Corn Bunting and 3 Green Sandpiper. Simon Stirrup. |
| 1st January 2013: This evening at dusk coming down Long Drove and Dam Bank Drove I had 2 Little Egrets together, 1 Buzzard and close views of a Short-eared Owl. Simon Stirrup. |
| 31st December 2012: High Bridge Farm, Dam Bank and Long Drove 11am- 1pm: 900+ fieldfare, 30+ meadow pipit, 30+ pied wagtail, 1 merlin, 1 kestrel, 1 peregrine, 2 buzzard, 1 little egret, 2 grey heron, 45 linnet, 6 yellowhammer. Barbara York. |
| 28th December: Lode Way. Thought you might like to know that l saw a Waxwing briefly in our front garden this morning. Happy New year. Ann Biggs |
| 24th December: REPORT FROM CAMBIRDS: I just spent about 1.5 hours going through the massive plover flock between Earith and Chain corner - I'm guestimating around 2000 Lapwings, perhaps 6000 Golden Plovers. About 30 each of Ruff and Dunlin in amongst them; I've no doubt a proper scour through might well reveal something more interesting - a nice Snow Bunting bounded past me while I was there, but headed off south and didn't land. Also a family party (2 ads, 2 subads) Whooper Swans at the back of the plover field. Richard. |
| 23rd December: This afternoon I had a quick look at the floods at Grunty Fen. Plenty of birds there including 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls, an adult Caspian Gull and 100+ Lapwings. Looks great, but I guess lots of other places around Cambs look like this too! Simon. Barbara York has just phoned in to say as she was going from Haddenham to Earith along Hillrow Causeway there were possibly 1000 if not more Golden Plovers whooshing around over North Fen. Lapwings too. They would also be seen from Chain Corner if any body wants to check them out for a goody. Have not seen any there for at least a month. (PM) |
| 17th December: Several hundred Fieldfares and some Redwings feeding on ground again near to Aldreth Ponds. Suddenly all rose in air as Peregrine disturbed them calling as it flew. 40-50 Corn Buntings along Dambank with some Yellowhammers and Goldfinches mixed in. Stonechat also. 5 Roe Deer. Long Drove 50 app Linnet flock. PM & ID |
| 14th December: 3 waxwings in Cherry Tree outside No.1 Linden Way on Froize End at 15.00. Christian Boness. |
| 12th December: Coal tit visiting feeders yesterday, also a male Blackcap, briefly (11th). Still waiting for my first Brambling of the winter....Jake Allsop. |
| 7th December: We had a Lesser Redpoll feeding on our niger feeder here in Aldreth. This is the first time we have had this species on our feeders. Simon Stirrup (PS from Tina Bone, Comberton: we have had six different-looking Redpolls on our niger feeder, not sure whether they are lesser or ordinary!!). |
| 6th December: We had a record number of Fieldfare (circa 10) in the garden feeding on windfall apples. Simon Stirrup. |
5th December: 20-22 Waxwings in Haddenham. West End. In gardens behind houses unfortunately not viewable from road. Went back later to same site. Waxwings still there now joined by a smart male Blackcap. PM.   |
| 4th December: A new garden tick this day, not only fourteen long tailed tits on the fat balls but a goldcrest in the Christmas tree on the patio. First one I have ever seen in Haddenham. Ian. A first for my Haddenham garden this morning: a female Blackcap feeding on fatballs. She hesitated on a twig for a while to perch on the feeder before clinging to the feeder, and then climbed into the feeder on top of the fatballs. Ingenuity born of desperation, no doubt. Jake Allsop. Many Fieldfares and Redwings feeding off Hawthorn berries on Aldreth Hill roadside hedge. PM. |
2nd December: A Fieldfare taken near Wilburton. In the same area I heard 2 parties of Waxwings flying over.Simon Stirrup. |
|
Previous News GO:
|
