April 10, 2008
Cambs bike birding
In an effort to fight off the flab as 30 approaches, I've been trying to get out and about on my bike as much as possible. A couple of weeks ago I cycled up the River Cam to the washes at Upware, stopping in at Milton Country Park. The sunshine was sending the local breeders into a frenzy. This pair of Great Crested Grebes were doing their head-bobbing display.
A male Sparrowhawk glided low overhead.
The sunshine provided nice photo ops for some of the common waterfowl.
This Black Swan was on the Cam just south of the washes - are they breeding yet?
The washes held a few waders (Redshank, Lapwing, Snipe, Oystercatcher) and a good selection of wildfowl, though not the hoped-for Garganey.
My first 7-spot Ladybird of the year was doing little amongst the nettles.
Fly-bys included a calling Redpoll, Mute Swan and the increasingly common Little Egret.
Down in the south of Cambridge, I connected with a few remnant Brambling near Addenbrookes, though none stuck around for photos. In the scrubby field behind Cherry Hinton pits, Robins were singing and Meadow Pipits were display-flighting.
I took my camera along on my regular running route to Grantchester hoping to photograph the singing Yellowhammers, though a noisy tractor put paid to that. I did manage a posing Blackbird and a flyover Kestrel.
Back in the centre of town, I'm frequently hearing male and female Tawny Owls close to Peterhouse, where a Grey Wagtail also appears to be holding territory.
Following yesterday's gorgeous weather, I took my bike out to Long Drove Cottenham. About 200 Fieldfares were still hanging on in a loose flock.
A couple of Lapwing pairs were display-flighting in the fields, and I flushed a Green Sandpiper off of a ditch. Highlight of the ride came at 7pm when this Barn Owl ghosted across the road in front of me.
