Trip reports

Coach Trip to RSPB Fen Drayton and RSPB Ouse Washes

Sunday, 20 January 2008

Following news of bad flooding, we set out with some trepidation to visit two of our more local RSPB reserves. At Fen Drayton we soon realised why the very helpful warden, Neil Renwick, had advised us not to park in the main car park when we saw a pair of Swans serenely drifting across the approach road! Nevertheless, with Neil's help we found both male and female Smew and had good views of Stoechats. On the way to the Ouse Washes we stopped to look at a mixed flock of Bewicks, Whooper and Mute Swans. The flooding at the reserve was restricted to the Washes themselves, which resulted in distant views of many of the water birds and very little sign of waders. Nevertheless, Tree Sparrows and Reed Buntings were much in evidence at the visitor centre and we enjoyed good views of a hunting Barn Owl, with another being seen on the journey home. Our final tally for the day was 68 species, which are listed below;

Blackbird, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, Coot, Cormorant, Crow, Collared Dove, Stock Dove, Tufted Duck, Dunlin, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Gadwall, Black-tailed Godwit, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Greenfinch, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Greater Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Heron, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Lapwing, Skylark, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Barn Owl, Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, Feral Pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Pintail, Meadow Pipit, Golden Plover, Pochard, Redwing, Robin, Rook, Shoveller, Siskin, Smew, Snipe, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Starling, Stonechat, Bewick's Swan, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Teal, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Pied Wagtail, Wigeon, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Wren.