Another Evening with the Owls

Valentine's Day 2025

There had been no reports of the Short-eared Owls at Holwell since the 3rd February so time for a visit to see what was going on. As we approached the crematorium the number of cars that were already parked in the two laybys said immediately that the owls were indeed still present, so it was just a matter of settling down with a cup of tea and waiting.

When we first came to Holwell on the 17th January there were four birds present, but in recent weeks only three have been seen. Tonight there were only two birds, but they put on a good show for the assembled audience.

Good to have a natter with Ian Conn and eventually, after all these years, to meet Sh4rpy and his personalised number plate.

Just a pity he can't spell 😋

A Morning with the Marsh Harriers

14th February 2025

My first visit to Fowlmere this year was on the 24th January and the Marsh Harriers were already on site and settling in for the breeding season, so time for another visit to see how they are getting on. We arrived at the Reed Bed Hide at 9.00am and shortly after the male appeared and showed briefly before disappearing behind the Barn Owl box bushes, not to be seen again before we departed at 1.30pm. So we don't know whether he was hunkered down in the reeds all that time or whether he had slipped out the back and left the site.

The female was far more active and carried out a few laps of the reed bed on a number of occasions.

On a couple of occasions she flew to a corner of the reed bed and hovered for an extended period. They often hover for a few seconds, but this was more than 10 seconds.

But the best part of the day was when she spotted something in the reeds and dived in after it. Here is the dive sequence.

I'll be back soon to see how they are getting on.

Grebes and Smew at Abberton Reservoir

6th February 2025

After a morning with the male Hen Harrier at Copt Hall time for avisit to Abberton. Goldeneye numbers are still very low with just one male in front of the sluice and no sign of any females.

He was obviously keen to brush up on his courtship skills..................

....................but no females around...................

......................so he practised on this Coot, which as you can see can scarcely hide its indifference!!

Still only a handful of Goosanders on site and mainly hanging around the sluice and making the most of the large shoal of Perch that live inside.

And next a very special species for me, the White-fronted Goose. So why so special? Well it was at Abberton back in the 1960s that I saw my first ever White-fronts in the field at the NW end of the Layer Breton causeway, and today seven were at the SW end. How good is that?

Always one of my favourite geese.

And now for the grebes starting with the Black-necks. They, like the Slavonians, are normally found to the east of the Layer de la Haye causeway and sometimes come in quite close. Unfortunately, the black-necks never do that when I am there so all shots are a bit distant.

But at least I broke my record and got seven birds in the same shot.

But at least the Slavs came close..............

.......................and even got both in the same shot.

But the stars of the show today were the newly arrived Smew. I say newly arrived because there are normally Smew at Abberton during the winter months, but normally appear well before Christmas. However this year they only arrived a few weeks ago and today there were three off the Layer Breton 

causeway.

As always the male was looking immaculate.

The females are not as showy but a lovely blend of pastel colours.

But it was lovely to see all three together, probably the first time I have photographed a trio.

Well, that was Abberton as its best.!!