Keeping it local: Strumpshaw Fen

Despite the lure of a Red-footed Falcon in Suffolk and a Great Spotted Cuckoo on the north coast, I met Brian at the Fen as usual. In truth we saw a lot more birds than we could photograph, but it was a pleasant walk with lots to enjoy.

Fen Hide produced distant views of a Kingfisher but little else, while the walk to Tower Hide along the riverside added Garden Warbler, two Bitterns and a Cuckoo. From Tower Hide there was little to enjoy: once again the water has been maintained at such a high level that there's nowhere for Herons or waders to stop and feed, nor any grassy fringing for wildfowl to roost: how different from past years when we were able to enjoy groups of five Great Egrets, three species of Sandpiper and a long-staying Glossy Ibis... I did pick out a distant Wood Sandpiper on the mowed area opposite the hide, while Ben Lewis showed us images of two Spotted Redshank that had found the only shallow water on the west side of Lackford Run. A few House Martins moved through: amazingly these were a year tick!

Back at home, the Jackdaws that have moved into our owl box are eating us out of house and home: they have a particular fondness for suet blocks!