|
|
Click on "Programme & Volunteering" to see the Working parties |
|
Click on "Flora & Fauna Record" to go to the Birds and Wild Flower Systematic lists
|
| BREAKING NEWS: October and November 2012 |
| 11th December 2012, 8.00pm: December meeting: KINGFISHERS - UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL (JEFF HARRISON). View poster. |
| 30th November: 25+ Waxwings around Haddenham primary school and Camping Close at 08.55, then flew south. Also 7 Whooper Swans flew north (Chris Boness). Brief trip round fens found plenty of Fieldfares, 4 Redwings, 3 Mistle Thrushes, Yellowhammers, Chaffinches, Corn Buntings, Reed Bunting. Kestrel. PM & ID. |
| 23rd November: A Little Egret noted flying around by Bury Lane. Very near to back of houses. Probably looking at suitable pool of water in grass fields because of excessive rainfalls. PM. |
| 8th November: 14.15 - 16.15. Drove through deep mud and leeks to the SW corner. 1 Buzzard on old farm building, 3 Kestrel, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail over, 25 Fieldfares flying N, 1 Brambling over. B H Gulls most flying towards the Washes, Larger Gulls flying more Westerly. at the head of c15 Herring and Lesser B B gulls was probably a 1st winter Glaucous Gull, size and build OK but all primaries and primary coverts were brilliant white. Monica and Owen Green Sandpiper in a ditch off the Boot. No sign of the Stonechat at the south end of Long Drove. Simon. |
| 7th November: Haddenham Station Rd. Very pleasing view of 4 waxwings from house this morning, coming off berries in property behind and perching on wires but then could not find again. Stayed only a few minutes, but keeping a look out in case they return. Ian and Sheila D. Aldreth 800 app Fieldfares and odd Redwings very active. Some batheing in large puddles by track and then in fields nearby. About 20 mixed finches doing same and included 1 Brambling. Dambank Lt Egret flying around and Stonechat at junction with Long Drove. PM & ID  |
| 6th November: One or two Waxwings heard from our garden this morning here in Aldreth. I had a quick look around the village for them without success before I had to head off to work. Simon. |
5th November: Short Eared Owl hunting just past Grunty Fen. Sheila and Ian D. |
| 3rd November: A look around Aldreth this morning produced nothing exceptional, but pleased to see a Green Sandpiper and a Kingfisher. The Boot – Golden Plover 10+, Kingfisher 1. Dambank Drove – Great Black-backed Gull 22. Long Drove – Green Sandpiper 1, Starling 100+, Corn Bunting 6+ (including 1 singing).Simon Stirrup. 4 Common Buzzards, 3 Sparrowhawks, 3 Kestrels.PM&!D There is a dearth of birds on my feeders at the moment, but I have had 1 Greenfinch and 1 Goldfinch exhibiting signs of trichonomosis. It is the first time I have seen it in Goldfinches. Jake Allsop |
| 28st October: Hi Paul: I had a look at your Golden Plover and Lapwing field today just north of A1123. Several hundred Lapwings at least, but only 10s of Golden Plovers. Lots of birds there, but couldn't find anything amonst them. From there I saw 8 Pink-feet flying south. Also, whilst gardening we had 2 grey wagtails and a redpoll over. The latter was a garden tick. Simon Stirrup |
27th October: Just a stroll around Guppys Pond and Hinton Hedges produced these pictures. PM   |
| 26th October: Dambank: at least 800 Fieldfares in continuous parties of 30-40 travelling low across fields occasionally stopping to feed and move on going northeast. 50 Lapwings, Starlings uncountable. Corvids around 150 mixed Crows and Jackdaws. Flock of 40 mixed finches and 6 Corn Buntings. Near Nineacre Wood coveys of 6 Grey Partridges and 9 redlegs. In drain 6 Shovellers. This is unusual for fen drains around here. 30 Whooper Swans flying around. North of Hillrow Causeway many many Golden Plovers and Lapwings in a field by Foulmire Drove. Had not got time to count them but must run close to 1000 GPs and 500 Lapwings. This field is a great favourite for them every year. Must have a constituancy of soil that holds invertebrate food etc. Other fields closeby never have them in. Only raptors were 2 Kestrels in different places. 2 Roe Deer. PM & ID A walk into the village this morning- several goldcrests calling, especially in the large trees on the north side of the green. Also one redpoll flying over calling. There’s been a goldcrest in my garden most days for the last couple of weeks- but always on its own. Barbara York |
| 21st October: Simon Stirrup reports a Grey Wagtail round his garden pond. Otherwise all reports say fen bird life very quiet at moment. |
| 20th October: Goldcrest regularly in the garden in the last few days. Also one coal tit. Both are very vocal - perhaps because they’re on their own - trying to locate others? Barbara York |
| 11th October: Adult Yellow-legged Gull from Dambank Drove. The previous Friday I had a Green Sandpiper near the Boot. Simon. Following a drive around the Aldreth area birds seen this morning along Dambank:- Starlings 50+, Fieldfare 400+, Lapwing 500+, Golden Plover 100+, and a mixed flock of Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet and a few Reed Bunting of about 200. Gravel Pit Drove, a distant Marsh Harrier. I. and S Dickerson. |
| 10th October: Many of you may know that our President Freda Crofts passed away recently. For those interested her funeral will be at Cambridge Crematorium on Monday 15th October next at 2.15 p.m. Reception at Arkenstall Centre, Haddenham, about an hour later. The family say that if you cannot attend the funeral they will be glad to see you at Arkenstall and to remember her great involvement in HCS and conservation generally. She was also greatly involved in saving Haddenham Library from closure and for recording much in the way of historic records now saved in the library annuls. PM |
8th October: As I write on the PC this Hawthorn Sheild Bug was walking along the screen top. Light not good for best photo though. PM |
| 7th October: Dambank. 20 Lapwings, 20 LBB Gulls loafing in field. 6 Common Buzzards 5 of which were all in one field on ground worming. Merlin flew low on ground and then just over car. Mixed finches and buntings along Dambank. Later 4 Corn Buntings. 4 Kestrels, And a Weasel! PM & ID |
| 6th October: Whilst trying to mow the lawn, I was distracted by the following: 4 Buzzards, circling high and calling, moving west (3.30pm); 7 golden plover, flying N; 1 Cormorant,low over the garden flying west, plus a Coal Tit in the garden, an infrequent visitor. Barbara York |
| 3rd October: Interesting observation. I had one pair of House Martins nest on my house this summer. They fledged three in July. On Monday 1 October 2012 I noted 2 flying above my house and then they swooped down and then up to the nest. They did that at least 10-11 times as I watched and maybe more when I was not looking. Now the question is… Were they the parents just checking the premises before going away for the summer? Or were they 2 of the young saying "farewell dear home…see you next year (if we make it)"? Or were they complete interlopers saying "Ah make a note matey…there's one to take over next time".? They flew on southwards after a bit. PM |
|
Previous News GO:
|