Easter birding

Garganey, Welches Dam, Ouse Washes

 

Started the Easter weekend off with a bang at Four Balls Farm near Pymoor. The Baikal Teal was bit a bit shy but eventually showed quite well thanks to a local Marsh Harrier. Lots of Grey Herons & Little Egrets at the nearby roost. Not a lot else to see though so headed off to Welches Dam to see if the Cattle Egret was still on show (it wasn't). Driving from Welney to Manea I almost massacred a flock of  20 Yellow Wagtails on the road. Missed 'em all. At Welches Dam a Whitethroat in the car park was a year tick and a few others followed on the way to Stockdale Hide. Garganey, House Martin and  Common Tern added to my year list. A Common Crane was also present.

Garganey, Welches Dam, Ouse Washes

 

Even though the drake Ring-necked Duck hadn't been reported for a day or so, I headed off to Poplar House Farm on the Nene Washes to see if it was there. Loads of wildfowl there but no sign of the Ring-necked Duck. However, I did find another goody in the form of a probable Ferruginous Duck. It was quite distant and the only photograph is heavily cropped. You decide.

probable Ferruginous Duck, Poplar House Farm, Nene Washes

 

Also at the same site were four more Common Cranes.





Common Cranes, Poplar House Farm, Nene Washes

 

Saturday and Sunday were limited to Snettisham Coastal Park. Some nice birds turned up including Whimbrel, Cuckoo, Ring Ouzel, Lesser Whitethroat and the ever elusive Grasshopper Warblers. Also found a tolerant Redpoll which was colour ringed. Waiting to hear back from BTO about this bird.