Young Peregrine at Woodwalton Fen

We are blessed with a decent population of Peregrines in and around Peterborough. I have seen half a dozen or so even in the last couple of weeks at widely scattered sites. They hunt the Nene Washes, are seen in the centre of the city and are regularly seen around the 'higher' hills to the west of the A1M.
This young male, though (aged on the streaked not barred) breast, brownish, buff-fringed upperparts; sexed on relatively small size) was hunting ducks, small gulls and pigeons at Woodwalton Fen NNR yesterday early mornign (hence the glowing light). It was the second day running I had seen a Peregrine at the reserve, but the previous day's bird was a much bigger, grey bird, which I had down as an adult female.
Though I can't move for Peregrines, I still haven't seen a Merlin in the Peterborough area this year. And I crave this 'core' species, just to tickle my local year list up to 182 species. Three weeks to go...

Garden Sparrowhawk

This exquisite male was outside our bedroom window this morning. Luckily it stayed long enough a. for the children to see it and b. for Ed to fetch my camera for a few shots...

Mars Robot

About 40 years ago, when I was a tiddly wee lad, I made up a song called Mars Robot. I used to strum a small out of tune guitar rather randomly and sing this ditty as if I was a Glam Rock star. So, I thought I'd record a version and this is it...
Mars Robot by Weedons World

Digiscoped Kestrel

Scaup is 180

Josh Jones found this Scaup today among Tufties and the odd Wigeon on the cut of the River Welland known as the Deeping High Bank. I twitched it at lunchtime for my 180th PBC area tick for the year. Within half an hour I was on 181, after Josh, once more, found his first ever local tundra Bean Geese, four of them at Baston and Langtoft pits.

Red Grice in moorland

Male

Female

Red Squirrel, Loch Garten

Cute, innit?

Red-throated Diver, Black Isle

A tame (tired?) winter-plumaged individual, digiscoped in fading light

European White-fronted Goose video

European White-fronted Goose

This bird was found with Greylags at Ferry Meadows CP earlier in the week. It is part of a widespread influx of Euro Whitefronts into the country. In fact, we found a couple in northern Scotland a few days ago in a flock of wild Greylags, plus a couple of Barnacles, six Tundra Beans and a Ross's Goose.
The Whitefront was number 179 for my 2011 PBC year list.

Crested Tits, Loch Garten

I saw my first ever Crested Tits as a teenager, exploring the forest around Loch Garten before paying homage to the hide where you can watch the famous nesting Ospreys. More than 30 years later, I was at Loch Garten again with a group from Heatherlea (on a trip promoted by Bird Watching Magazine), photographing these delightful little birds. These are a few of the first I've processed (and probably the best of the bunch, to be fair). Enjoy!

Slavonian Grebes at Beebies pits

These two were found at lunchtime by local bird-finder and whippet-lover, Paul Taylor. Thanks very much for the call, Paul which prompted a cylcing twitch from work. These are the third and fourth I have ever seen in the Peterborough area. PBC year list has now matched last year's 177.

Grey Phalarope at Ferry Meadows CP

A wonderful cycle-to-work find by Brian Stone this morning at 8.30am was this lickle chap (an advanced 1st-winter judging by a few retained dark tertials and coverts). It was a flighty fella and called frequently (like a soft, clipped Coot call). Unfortunately, it couldn't get settled and flew off high at 10am. These shots were the best I could muster. A very nice BIGBY tick, FM tick, year tick and only my second Grey Phalarope in the Peterborough area. One of the birds of the year, locally.

A wee ditty

Japanproject by Weedons World
Which goes by the name of Japanproject (part of a work in progress...)

Tree Frog

At Frank & Daniela McClintock's place in the Algarve...

Snow cold Raven

Just a few more from Portugal...

Mediterranean Gulls

Cory's Shearwater


Common Tern

Yellow-legged Gull

Short-toed Eagle

Dunlin (digiscoped)