Weeting Heath and Lakenheath Fen 1 May 2017
When we left Peterborough, our first call was at Weeting Heath where we had a blank at first but then, suddenly as happens with them, a single Stone Curlew appeared and showed very well pretty much for as long as we had time to stay. A couple of Curlew flew in but I didn’t see the Tree Pipit or the Woodlark that I had really hoped for as well. Still, Stone Curlew is not to be sniffed at.
Next we moved over to Lakenheath Fen which is only a five minute drive away from Weeting Heath. In reception we were told of a few recent sightings including Glossy Ibis and Garganey, both at the Washes viewpoint. This isn’t the usual way round we go so it was interesting to start on the river bank. We did get the Glossy Ibis but nobody had seen the Garganey recently so that eluded us.
We walked along the bank but didn’t find anyone who had seen it. As we walked there were plenty of Common Terns over the river and in the scrubby land there were Cetti’s Warblers and Reed and Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats, Reed Buntings and Wrens. On the water there were Tufted Ducks, Teal, Shelduck and Great Crested Grebe. As we looked back on some of the pools we also got a pair of Greenshank and a single Redshank. As we walked along the bank past the woods we could hear a Cuckoo calling and then as we turned onto the path, about half way down, I managed to locate it at the top of some trees on the left. I didn’t have time to get the scope on it before it flew but it was obviously a Cuckoo – a first for the year
At the bus shelter-type “hide” we looked over the reed bed and got fantastic views of Hobbies; they got closer and closer the longer we sat there until they were close enough to give us possible the best ever views. We also got a Marsh Harrier and there were more Common Terns over the reeds.
By now it was getting pretty cold and threatening to rain so we headed back to reception for a cup of teal before driving to Halesworth where we were spending three nights at “The Angel”
Year ticks this day were Whitethroat, Cuckoo, Hobby and Glossy Ibis. And, of course Stone Curlew at Weeting Heath.
Bird Sightings : Weeting Heath NWT
| Eurasian Stone Curlew | 1 |
| Eurasian Curlew | 2 |
| Eurasian Jackdaw | 1 |
| Eurasian Blue Tit | 2 |
| Dunnock | 1 |
Bird Sightings : Lakenheath Fen RSPB
| Mute Swan | 4 |
| Common Shelduck | 1 |
| Gadwall | 10 |
| Mallard | 6 |
| Common Teal | 6 |
| Tufted Duck | 4 |
| Great Crested Grebe | 1 |
| Glossy Ibis | 1 |
| Eurasian Marsh Harrier | 1 |
| Common Moorhen | 6 |
| Common Coot | 6 |
| Northern Lapwing | 1 |
| Common Greenshank | 3 |
| Common Redshank | 1 |
| Black-tailed Godwit | 8 |
| Black-headed Gull | 10 |
| Common Tern | 12 |
| Common Wood Pigeon | 4 |
| Common Cuckoo | 1 |
| Eurasian Hobby | 14 |
| Eurasian Magpie | 2 |
| Carrion Crow | 8 |
| Great Tit | 2 |
| Eurasian Wren | 1 |
| Cetti’s Warbler | 3 |
| Sedge Warbler | 4 |
| Eurasian Reed Warbler | 4 |
| Common Whitethroat | 1 |
| Reed Bunting | 1 |
| European Greenfinch | 1 |
| European Goldfinch | 6 |