Nene Washes 7 January 1999
by Gordon Hamlett
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PBC Trip Report Nene Washes 7 January 1999 by Gordon Hamlett |
If you have never seen the Washes flooded before, it can come as quite a surprise. You get no inkling at all of what you are about to see as you drive down Eldernell Lane until you crest the small rise just before the car park. Certainly, several of the 25 or so members who turned up for the February field trip were amazed at the vast expanse of water greeting them.
That was not the only shock to the system. The wind is usually pretty bracing at Eldernell but here we were greeted by some absolutely biting northerly gales. And that was mild! A couple of miles down the road at March Farmers, it was almost impossible to stand let alone plant a tripod. Nevertheless, there were sightings of both Whooper and Bewick's Swans, Merlin and a small flock of Stock Doves there.
Back at Eldernell, birds looked decidedly thin on the ground. There was a noticeable influx of Fieldfares with about 20 in fields just before the car park. Another 50 had been seen earlier along North Bank. These sightings mirrored reports of movements across the south-east, especially in Kent.
Herring Gulls moved through in reasonable numbers with a few black-backs with them. Small flocks of Lapwings were constantly on the move and about a dozen Pintails flew past. A couple of hundred Bewick's Swans were fairly distant and a Sparrowhawk sought refuge in the nearest wood. To add to the fun, the weather decided to close in and we had a couple of mini-blizzards, both lasting just a couple of minutes.
Standing in the wind wasn't really an option so we headed off towards the heronry. Well, most of us did as the cold claimed its first few victims. The pond held mostly Tufted Ducks though a couple of female Goldeneyes were picked out. A pair of Bewick's Swans landed close to the dyke allowing excellent telescope views. A small flock of Goldfinches flew over - just about the only small birds seen in the windy conditions.
You only really realised just how many birds were out there when they all took off at once, presumably in response to a hunting raptor. Trying to find one hunting bird when ten thousand waders are flying in ten thousand different directions is never easy though. Lapwings numbered well over 10,000 with at least 1000 Golden Plovers and a few Ruff.
The snow flurries had now long moved through and the lighting conditions were superb. Drake Pintails, Shovelers, Wigeon and Shelducks just lit up in the late afternoon sun. Group newcomer Chris Garvey then did exceptionally well to pick out a Peregrine perched in the wood opposite the car park.
We all wandered back for closer views and a much needed cup of coffee. The Peregrine flew out on a couple of occasions, more you suspected to keep warm rather than top hunt seriously though it did make a few half-hearted stoops at a passing Black-headed Gull. Beyond the heronry, a second bird was much more serious as it launched itself at a Lapwing.
Back at the car park, another bonus was that Chris just happened to have a huge astronomical telescope with him and we all enjoyed the most amazing views of the perched Peregrine at 70x magnification. Only the wind prevented a higher magnification still from being used.
The second bird returned to the same wood with both birds flying over the wood for our delectation. Superb birds though they are, they are perhaps not the most intelligent of birds. The male that stooped at a passing Cormorant was surely being a trifle over-optimistic.
The trip ended with a Barn Owl hunting behind the farm. For most though, it will be the views of the Peregrines that will live longest in the memory.
