On a bright frosty morning seventeen members met in the car park of the Welney Wetland Centre to share a day’s birding together. Some of the group got straight down to business by identifying the birds around the car park environs.  Before moving into the Centre itself 35 species had been found including Tree Sparrow, Reed Bunting, Fieldfare and circa 50 Linnet and that was without going anywhere!

The group then made their way into the eco-friendly Visitor Centre and made straight for the viewing balcony overlooking the bird feeders and Lady Fen, an area of shallow scrapes and ditches managed by the WWT with the support of the Environment Agency.  The freezing conditions meant the wading birds had moved off elsewhere but we did manage to find a small group of Curlew, a large flock of Lapwing and (thanks to Josh’s sharp eyes) a couple of Dunlin.  A single Redwing made a brief visit to scrub surrounding the feeders and we were also able to enjoy further views of Tree Sparrow and Reed Bunting.

Moving into the main centrally heated observatory came as some relief and the group settled down to searching the washes for new species for the day.  The water levels were very high so some dabbling duck species had departed but we managed to find a Bean Goose, a Ruddy Duck, a male Goldeneye amongst the commoner Pochard, Pintail and Wigeon.  Several Whooper Swans were present near the observatory but it wasn’t until later that seven Bewick Swans flew into the washes preferring to stay some distance away from the more aggressive Whoopers.  Eunice drew our attention to a Sparrowhawk that was seen to settle on the roof of a distant waterlogged hide, no doubt weighing up the chances of another meal before dusk.  A lonely male Shoveler decided to depart soon after it had been located perhaps in search of shallower water.  Fifty plus Black-tailed Godwits were feeding near the observatory and an enormous raft of Coot was seen in the distance.

After the noon swan feed had finished we decided to take a break for lunch before reconvening in the car park to move on elsewhere.  Before leaving we took a last look over Lady Fen and thanks to Glenn’s sharp eyes found a single Golden Plover some distance away.

We decided to see if a Great White Egret that had been reported a few miles away at Dunkirk Bridge near Piemoor over the Cambridgeshire border was still there.  On the way we took in a mixed flock of Bewick and Whooper swans grazing on sugar beet tops.  A few members also noted a Barn Owl flying over the road as they travelled whilst others had spotted a Stonechat. Luckily on arrival at Dunkirk Bridge a birdwatcher had “pinned down” the egret and we were able to join him and take in distant views of the fairly rare visitor to Britain as it stood motionless in a ditch poised no doubt to pounce upon its aquatic prey.

Our final destination was Denver Sluice, a few miles downstream of Welney on the River Great Ouse.  At least six Goosander were found and David Gibbons noted a Kingfisher flying across the channel as he was viewing other birds on the water.  Glenn drew our attention to a Marsh Harrier drifting over the grazing marshes and a few lucky members were able to follow his directions and find the bird.  Lucy’s searching of the distant scrub revealed a perched Bullfinch. Soon after we moved onto the river bank nearby disturbing a Redshank from a mud bank in mid-stream.  From our position we were able to view the frozen wet meadows below us. Yellowhammers could be seen perched high in the surrounding bushes, Pied Wagtails were feeding below, a Kestrel drifted over and a Snipe was flushed by some passing walkers.

By now the air temperature was beginning to drop dramatically as the sun was setting so we decided to retreat to the warmth of our firesides.  It had proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable day’s birding.

We had recorded 71 species.  Our day list compiled by Glenn in the order in which they were first sighted was as follows:-

Pied Wagtail, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Cormorant, Whooper, Bewick and Mute Swan, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Coot, Grey Heron, Wren, Collared Dove, Stock Dove, Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon), Jackdaw, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Lapwing, Magpie, Greenfinch, Linnet, Pintail, Starling, Reed Bunting, Fieldfare, Sparrowhawk, Curlew, Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, Wigeon, Dunnock, Dunlin, Redwing, Carrion Crow, Rook, Black-tailed Godwit, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, “Tundra” Bean Goose. Greylag Goose, Egyptian Goose, Canada Goose, Ruddy Duck, Goldeneye, Gadwall, Shoveler Teal, Moorhen, Golden Plover, Barn Owl, Stonechat, Kestrel, Great White Egret, Redshank, Goosander, Kingfisher, Marsh Harrier, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer, Snipe.

Author’s footnote.

On our journey home as we (i.e Selwyn & Kathy Jones, Josh Leeder and me) were passing Elsing Hall we noticed a significant number of Corvids, mainly Jackdaw, coming to roost in a woodland adjacent to the road.  We stopped and were treated to a local wildlife spectacular of an estimated 4000+ birds settling into the tree tops for the night.  The sight and sound was breathtaking.