Eldernell, Cambs, 21/2/04

It has been obvious for some time now that the club's walks have become increasingly successful and our annual trip to Eldernell was no exception. Several new faces turned up and a big welcome to you all.

What is perhaps less obvious, is the degree in planning that makes sure that numbers will be kept down in future. The wind was so bitter and the weather so raw that I think we can safely guarantee that not many will turn up for the next one!

The trip started with a chorus of jeers and boos for your esteemed leader who announced that as he had a foot full of blisters, he couldn't actually walk and so left the eye-watering struggle against the elements to Chris, Janet Darke and Malc Holley while all the time staying no more than five yards from the football and rugby on the car radio and the warmth of the essential flask of coffee.

Most of the birds at the feeders were staying on the ground but at least they were getting a good look in. Tony Parker had constructed a wire cage that allowed the small birds in but kept the greedy Pheasants away. Over a dozen Yellowhammers and a Reed Bunting were seen among the tits and finches.

One thing about the Washes is that they can look devoid of birds until a hunting raptor spooks them all or you get good views of the right bit of land. So it was that some 4,000 Wigeon, 3,000 Teal and 1,500 Pintails were seen along with 100 or so Bewick's Swans.

Waders were present too but more elusive - four Black-tailed Godwits, about 30 Redshanks and the odd Snipe and Dunlin were noted. There were plenty of Lapwings too, including some hardy souls who tried the odd bit of displaying but the Ruff and the rest of Dunlin kept well down.

Anyone walking past Lord's Holt automatically breaks the skyline and it was unfortunate that a few people ignored requests to go no further and so scared off many of the birds before the rest of the group had a chance to see them properly.

As the group struggled back to the car park, now into the teeth of the gale, we managed to cheer them up with news that a Kingfisher was perched just along Morton's Leam and was showing really well. We also found a couple of Stonechats. These were lifers for some of the group but they kept quiet about it, no doubt deciding that the wimp of a leader didn't deserve to have a pint bought him for every lifer found!

Between the time of the last dregs of coffee being consumed, and terminal frostbite setting in, a Buzzard drifted over our heads to join the wintering Marsh Harrier we had seen hunting earlier and the odd glimpse of the escaped Saker Falcon, putting the fear of God into everything avian.

So, for those of you who have never been to Eldernell before, I'm sorry about the weather. It's not always that cold. It just seems like it.

PBC’s Eldernell Trip Report by Gordon Hamlett