November 19, 2008
November birds around Cambridge
A couple of weekends ago I cycled to Wicken Fen via the excellent new cycle track from Lode. I finally came across a decent-sized flock of Golden Plover (around 400), but scanning through them the best I could in strong winds failed to pick up anything more unusual. I wheeled my bike along the quagmire that is Wicken Lode, pausing only for a Stonechat and some pretty views of the wintering Teal and Wigeon.
The best bird of the day was a male Hen Harrier high overhead in Swaffham Prior village.
Following some heavy rain, a flooded field across the river from Grantchester meadows has proved attractive to masses of corvids, gulls and Lapwings.
A couple of the Carrion Crows present had white wing patches.
Among the three commoner gull species were single Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls.
Some high counts of note so close to the city centre included 5 Teal and 9 Grey Herons. On the passerine front, I counted a dozen Linnets, a single Lesser Redpoll that came in to drink at the river, and at least 40 Pied Wagtails among the Meadow Pipits.
Winter thrushes were present in good numbers - here's a Song Thrush and a Redwing showing its red wings.
On Lammas Land I ran into this extremely confiding Kestrel.
The Goldfinch flock in the alders contained several Siskins.
One of many Goldcrests around town at the moment.
Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Sparrowhawks can frequently be seen perched on various buildings around the city - this one rested briefly on Queen's College roof.
But the biggest surprise of the week was noticing an extra gargoyle on the Catholic Church, which turned out to be a Peregrine!
Hopefully it will stay around for the winter; there are certainly more than enough pigeons to feed on.
Posted by rjhall at November 19, 2008 11:58 AM