Every couple of years the big farm, G's, that supply most of the UK's salads it appears, flood a couple of fields to rid the soil of nematode worms that can obliterate potato crops if the land is being farmed organically. These temporary floods can be really great bird wise and this year the floods were really close to home at Barway, and easily viewed from the road.
Hundreds of dabbling duck, mostly Teal and Shoveller but with the odd Pintail, Garganey and some fluctuating number of Wigeon congregated and a couple of Crane put in an appearance. Once the pumping stopped, water levels dropped pretty quickly and amongst the hundred Snipe a healthy range of waders appeared. Black-tailed Godwit formed feeding flocks and Ruff were scattered throughout. Dunlin and Ringed Plover appeared but the flood receded to fast for a sizeable flock to form. The best of the scarcer migrants was a Temminck's Stint which joined a Spotted Redshank and Wood Sandpiper which both lingered. It is always a shame when the water has gone and the wait starts again for the next field to be flooded and the hope that it will be both accessible and productive.
Meanwhile on the Washes at Welney a lingering juvenile Montagu's Harrier was finally re-identified as a Pallid and a second bird was found along the Cambridgeshire section. After several afternoon vigils Ben and I did see the bird a couple of times briefly. The following great photo's are snipped off the web.
Photo - Paul Nobt
Photo - Paul Ward
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