01/04/14 Baikal Teal and Stone Curlew.

Tuesday 1st April 2014
Cambridgeshire and Norfolk Birding Day Trip

There is so much going on at the Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border that we just had to make a visit.  AK not available so PJ and I set off at 06.00 in perfect weather conditions.

The first stop had be Fen Drayton RSPB site to see the Baikal Teal, a very rare bird worldwide and not one usually seen in the UK.  This was the bird PJ most wanted to see on our recent Holland trip but we missed it by a matter of hours.  No mistakes this time, for there, at about 08.30, was the delightful duck, swimming out in the open some 50m in front of our hide.  The lighting was excellent, with the sun behind us, so we were able to enjoy almost 30 minutes of truly amazing views.  It was close to a group of Wigeon with Tufted Ducks nearby but it remained unfazed by their presence and carried on quietly going about it's business.

Baikal Teal
Library picture

 This Teal, like it's UK compatriot was very colourful but had a more angular shape in places.  It was a "lifer" for both of us and it was PJ's first new bird sighting in the UK for nearly 3 years - no wonder he was excited!


On the way to the hide I heard, then saw, my first Blackcap of the year; it was singing away in a tree just to the right of our path.

Blackcap
Library picture

Spring is really here! 




After watching the other birds on show we were soon on the road again, this time to the Ouse Washes at Pymoor to look for the American Wigeon and several Garganey that were known to be present.  Unfortunately we were unable to find either.  There were hundreds of Wigeon to be seen but despite our best efforts the American version eluded us or was not present at the time.

A little further along the Ouse we were again not able to find the Ring-necked Duck but we did see a pair of Garganey and a superb pair of Cranes, my third sighting this year in three different places!

Next stop was NWT Weeting Heath NR to see two of the three pairs of Stone Curlew that are this venue's speciality.  Again the views were excellent as the birds fed in the fields some 30m and 50m from the hide respectively.  

Stone Curlew
Library picture

This was a first this year for both of us.

Our final stop was at Lyndford Arboretum in Mundford where we hoped to see the elusive 2-Barred Crossbill but this proved not to be the case.



Overall a really good trip with a "lifer" each for PJ and myself, some special birds and a species count of just over 50.

Today's Species List:
Baikal Teal
Black-headed Gull
Black-tailed Godwit
Blackbird
Buzzard
Blackcap
Blue Tit
Bullfinch
Canada Goose
Carrion Crow   (10)
Cetti's Warbler*
Chaffinch
Coal Tit
Collared Dove
Common Crane
Common Pheasant
Coot
Cormorant
Egyptian Goose
Firecrest*   (20)
Gadwall
Garganey
Goldeneye
Great-crested Grebe
Great Tit
Green Woodpecker*
Grey Heron
Kestrel
Lapwing
Little Egret   (30)
Little Gull
Magpie
Mallard
Moorhen
Mute Swan
Nuthatch*
Oystercatcher
Pied Wagtail
Red-legged Partridge
Redshank   (40)
Reed Bunting
Robin
Siskin
Shaveler
Song Thrush
Sparrowhawk
Starling
Stone Curlew
Teal
Tufted Duck   (50)
Wigeon   
Woodpigeon
probable Caspian Gull

                                                         *heard only




Today's species count is at least 53


Additions to 2014 UK Bird List
Baikal Teal   (184)
Blackcap    (185)
Stone Curlew   (186)

Addition to UK Life List:
Baikal Teal   (221)  out of sequence to correct an error on Excel spreadsheet.