Birding by bike has seemed like an option the past week or so as we become increasingly distanced from opportunities to get outdoors. Thankfully the garden is not locked down and there's been plenty to wonder at. Firstly, after many years of hoping, and quite a bit of tinkering around the pond to create newt hibernaculum, I was completely taken back to find a female Great Crested Newt at the bottom of the wheel barrow used to pick through the duck weed and rotting elodea removed from the clogged up pond. I had to hold the lass to put her back in the pond but am fully aware of the need for a license to handle these beauties.
The following night a whatsapp prompt from Jono Leadley, who was hearing sea duck over inland Yorkshire, led me out to listen to the night in addition to having the noc mig recorder running. Within minutes the peeping whistles of Common Scoter migrating overhead were heard, amazing. Subsequently I heard more the following night alongside whistling Wigeon and a ticking Water Rail. As ever it takes me forever to trawl through the nights sound recording and I'm several days behind - I'm hoping it'll have picked up the Scoter although these were not directly overhead, but quietly I'm hoping for some Brent Goose calls to lighten up the spectogram.
A brief report of a White Stork "in Ely" was followed by an early morning e-mail from Andrew Balmford saying a blue rung White Stork was in the meadow beneath the riverside Heronry. I decided my daily exercise should take in the riverside and pots and I took a few pics of Herons and Cormorant before stumbling upon GB46, a very handsome White Stork from the Knepp Estate introduction that had relocated over the river in Springhead Meadow. Nearby the White-fronted Goose that has lingered had relocated itself on to the Pits. Alongside the Water Meadow a strident calling Pipit was most likely a Water but Rock Pipit couldn't be ruled out - unfortunately I wasn't able to locate the bird around the flood meadow.
A brief report of a White Stork "in Ely" was followed by an early morning e-mail from Andrew Balmford saying a blue rung White Stork was in the meadow beneath the riverside Heronry. I decided my daily exercise should take in the riverside and pots and I took a few pics of Herons and Cormorant before stumbling upon GB46, a very handsome White Stork from the Knepp Estate introduction that had relocated over the river in Springhead Meadow. Nearby the White-fronted Goose that has lingered had relocated itself on to the Pits. Alongside the Water Meadow a strident calling Pipit was most likely a Water but Rock Pipit couldn't be ruled out - unfortunately I wasn't able to locate the bird around the flood meadow.
Increasing time outdoors in the garden has led to more sky watching and alongside the resident and local Buzzards a couple of Marsh Harrier and wandering Red Kite provided welcome scarcity value.
We would have been travelling to Morocco today for a family road trip incorporating some brilliant birding spots. Evidently we're very disappointed and hopefully this time next year we'll be able to travel to the deserts, mountains and coast of that wonderful country.
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