Nene Washes, Cambs, 24 & 29/6/99

The group held two walks along the Nene Washes back in June, on each occasion totalling about 40 species. Most of the waders had young birds so in terms of noise, everything was fairly quiet with no territories to defend; just the occasional Snipe drummed.

Both trips produced a good variety of waders with the star birds - the Black-tailed Godwits showing to good effect. The first trip logged an early Green Sandpiper. It's hard to believe that for failed breeders such as this, summer was well and truly over and winter fast approaching. The second visit produced a Little Ringed Plover, a couple of Ruff in full plumage and a flyover Curlew, surprisingly a scarce bird on the reserve.

Turtle Doves showed well on both nights, coming down to drink at one of the channels. One channel in particular was crawling with young waders on the first night and also produced three Garganeys and a young Yellow Wagtail. The mud was just perfect for them yet less than a week later, we built up how good this channel was and every one was getting all excited and we couldn't find much more than a couple of ubiquitous Meadow Pipits.

The first night was totally still and we watched the most spectacular of sunsets, our enjoyment only interrupted when a heron took a small wader chick and was promptly mobbed by seemingly every wader for miles around.

Marsh Harriers showed particularly well, with one particular young male showing a white rump. While we all joked about trying to string a Montagu's Harrier out of the sighting, Chris Hamlett actually found the genuine article, a cracking adult male, seen flying away towards March Farmers. Unfortunately, the rest of us couldn't get on to it.

Even at a distance, separation of males from the very similar Hen Harrier shouldn't be a problem. Even if you can't see the black bands across the secondaries, the bird's jizz is totally different. The Monty is very slender winged and has a much lighter, more buoyant flight, often described as tern-like. If you have watched the Hen Harriers coming in to roost at Eldernell in the winter, you will soon see a huge difference. The fact that there are no Hen Harriers around here in summer is another clue!

Favourite birds for most were the Barn Owls that gave superb close views as they hunted in front of us, dropping down to take the occasional vole. The second trip ended as we returned to the cars, just as the last few moments of twilight remained. A Hobby, one of my favourite birds made several low level passes as it hunted a few large moths for a late supper.

PBC's Nene Washes Trip Report by Gordon Hamlett

North Norfolk, 12/6/99

The weather forecast said there might be a few light showers. They were half right. The first one lasted from 6.15 am until 1.30 pm! We stood for two hours in the rain for a two second view of Golden Oriole. We then got caught in flash floods and couldn't get into Weeting for Stone Curlews as the reserve was full of other birders looking to the hides for shelter. So we called in on friends to dry out. They weren't in. Drove up to Cley where the six Spoonbills had disappeared overnight much to the consternation of the reserve staff.

There were more people waiting round the Three Swallows for the Laughing Gull to appear than there were on the reserve. It arrived on cue and showed well to the assembled masses lobbing bread at it. An interesting bit of trivia to amaze your friends with is that the Latin name for Laughing Gull is Larus atricilla which means 'black-headed gull' whereas the Latin name for Black-headed Gull is L. ridibundus which means 'laughing gull'.

We went and staked out some calling Quail to show group that evening. One bird called once and promptly shut up. We did find some Tree Sparrows though.

On to Titchwell. I was feeling awful by this stage and hoping the rain would keep everyone away. No such luck and a selection of the usual suspects appeared. The reed beds were crawling with juvenile Reed and Sedge Warblers allowing easy comparison. All the ducks were moulting into eclipse plumage presenting some interesting identification challenges including a drake Garganey losing most of its eye-stripe. The beach produced several Little, Common and Sandwich Terns with Little Tern being the group's favourite bird by far. A few Common Scoters lingered offshore and the first of three Little Gulls flew by.

Back to check the Quail at Choseley Farm. Nothing. Navigated back through the minor roads a mile or so inland. Totally different and well worth exploring. Loads of hedgerows (hooray) plus excellent views of the coastal marshes. A Barn Owl hunted over Ringstead Common. Someone at Titchwell had given us a site for Nightjars at Sandringham which he thought might be better than Roydon Common as it was more sheltered. We tried to find the spot but couldn't so reverted to plan A.

It was a totally still and fine night but there were not many large insects (plenty of midges though) so we didn't know what to expect. It was purrrrfect with Nightjars churrrring everywhere. It was still light when a cracking male flew within 20 feet of us allowing everyone stunning views of all the main identification features. These were the best views ever for all concerned and a lifer for a couple of the group. Altogether, we saw at least four birds with several other calling. A Woodcock also flew over. Views like that guaranteed that the drive home, and all the earlier cold and damp would soon be totally forgotten. Even the fact that the chippy was closed didn't seem to matter.

PBC's North Norfolk Trip Report by Gordon Hamlett