Three days birding. Day three - March 31st

[John]

Saturday 31st March

The previous night the pager bleeped announcing the arrival of a Red-rumped Swallow at Brogborough Lake, Beds. It appeared to go to roost there so I was hoping it would stay for the Saturday.

My plan was to go to Weeting Heath after the Stone Curlew but just as I was leaving Heacham the pager confirmed that the bird had stayed at the lake and was showing well.

I decided to still go to Weeting Heath and luckily I was rewarded with views (albeit distant) of a lone Stone Curlew. The warden had informed me that there were six pairs already there.

I was quickly on my way to Brogborough and the first part went smoothly until I joined the A428 from the A14. At the end of the first carriageway I hit an immense jam. Whilst waiting for some movement I looked at my map book and saw some back lanes that would get me out of this so cut off and went through Toft, then on and through Gamlingay, Potton and Sandy before joing up with the A421. I was soon in place and as I arrived I saw the bird straight away as it flew over the car.

I walked through the hedge to where the other birders were and watched it for quite a while. Unfortunately it was flying well out of camera range but on one occasion it just about came into distance and I fired off a few shots (shown below).






It never came any closer, in fact it seemed to have disappeared for a while. The pager announced that there was an Iceland Gull a few miles up the road at Stewartby Lake so I decided to go after that. It wasn’t long before I was looking at a sea of Lesser Black backed gulls and trying to find this gull was proving difficult. By now there were three other birders and after 15 minutes we were joined by Lee Evans.

Thankfully one of the other birders found it and from his excellent directions I managed to get onto the bird.

It was now 2pm and thinking what a lot of photos I had to edit decided to cut out now and drive home. Thankfully that was the right decision as I was still editing photos, and typing up trip reports right through to past midnight and again on April 1st for most of the morning.

Well in the end I had an excellent time, despite some bad weather. I hope you enjoyed the three reports, together with the photos.

Next week I am away to Scotland (Nethybridge) from Friday 6th right through to Tuesday 10th. Hopefully I will come back with a few images of some Scottish specialties.

John

[smartie]

Just read all three of your reports, John, and it sounds like a really good few days in spite of the weather, which has caught us out a bit at the end of this week. We're off to Suffolk today - in the sunshine - if I can ever get my family and visitors together with their coats on.

Hope you get the gardening sorted. Look forward to your Scottish reports.

[Ollie]

Again a very nice report John with photos as well. I look forward to reading and seeing what Scotland turns up for you.
Roger

[John]

I have now posted virtually all the new photos on my web site (in the recent photos section). here is a link to it if anyone wants to check it out.

- New photos

John

[Kymba]

Thanks John. I really enjoyed reading about your days out and loved the Photo's.
Can't wait to read about your adventures in Scotland.. Hope you have a great time and get lots of great photo's (Oh and hope the weather is kinder to you )
have fun

[John]

If anyone is interested I have just completed the trip report on my website. It comes out a bit better than the way it looks on WAB.

If you want to browse through it here is the link.

Untitled Document

John

[nightshade]

Well you got something to show for it,was this the same species
that was taken by a hawk in front of the twitchers last year?

[John]

Originally Posted by nightshade

Well you got something to show for it,was this the same species
that was taken by a hawk in front of the twitchers last year?

Allegedly, yes. I heard a few stories that this images isn't what it is cracked up to be (Photo manipulation and all that).

I don't know if the R R Swallow was taken that way or not.

John

[JeffH]

What a fine end to your trip John with that RR Swallow. I look forward to reading about your Easter trip to Scotland and I hope the weather north of the border is kinder to you.

Jeff

PS Not at all surprised to hear about the jam on the A14 - I have to use the road on a daily basis and it's pretty much the same nearly every day now

[John]

Originally Posted by JeffH

PS Not at all surprised to hear about the jam on the A14 - I have to use the road on a daily basis and it's pretty much the same nearly every day now

It wasn't on the A14 Jeff but just after the end of the A428 Dual carriageway that comes off the A14. It started just past a roundabout and all I could see was cars and lorries stretching to the distance so I turned back to the roundabout and took the turn for Toft and went that way.

John

[GuyF]

I've just read the last couple of days and they sound really good again, and more great birds. Great photos of the teals, and useful for comparisons. I saw my first Red-Rumped Swallows (In Spain) and Red-Breasted Goose (In Dorset) last year, and both are really beautiful birds, so even if the weather wasn't great you still had those to brighten up your days!
Guy

[dbozkurt]

Read all 3 installements, good bird trecking. If its Iceland Gull you want we have a resident one in Stornoway Harbour its very good at pretending to be a Glaucous Gull............one day I will add that to my collection.

I like the idea of you getting your pager and running off through the country side like Aneka Rice on that treasure programme, mind you she used helicopters but I am sure you would look very fetching in an orange jump suit.

Take Care Debs

[John]

Originally Posted by dbozkurt

but I am sure you would look very fetching in an orange jump suit.

Take Care Debs

Yeah - right!!

Does the image, you have been tango'd come to mind?

John