Dersingham/Sandringham

26/05/07, Leaders: James and Simeon
Stopped off in the Dersingham/Sandringham area for about 1 hour after picking Simeon up from ringing at Snettisham (where he had a Spoonbill fly over!) A Golden Pheasant called regularly from within the rhodedendrons, and Common Crossbills were heard calling occasionally. In short: 2 decent species, but we didn't see a thing!

The Fens

7/5/07 The Fens Leaders: James and Simeon
We started off at Weeting Heath where we quickly picked up Woodlark and a Stone Curlew. There were also 4 Lapwing chicks! Then we went to Lakenheath and got 16 Hobbys, 1 Marsh Harrier, a pair of Stonechats, a Bearded tit and a fine drake Gargeney! The final stop was Welney where we got 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Little Egrets, another Marsh Harrier and 2 Yellow Wagtails. On the journey back to Denver we got a third Marsh Harrier, loads of Stock Doves and a Corn Bunting! Apparently, the Golden Orioles should start to arrive at Lakenheath in the next week so watch out.

D of E and afterwards...

Near Peterborough, 4-5/5/07 Leaders; Simeon and Connor
Connor and I went on our Duke of Edinburgh practice expedition which statred at Ferry Meadows. Naturally, we were birding a lot of the time and saw 5 Arctic Terns and a Common Sandpiper at this site. We stayed overnight at Sacrawell Farm Campsite where we got Marsh Harrier, 2 Yellow Wagtails and a load of Peacocks that kept screaming and woke me up at 5:30am! On the next day we got 3 Buzzards and two Red Kites in Yarwell (wherever that is)! The first bird flew over us whilst we were lost in a game reserve near a caravan park! The expedition was supposed to be about 20 miles long, but it was more like 23 with the detours our group took!!!
When I got back on Saturday afternoon I went to Whin Commonm and got one of the Nightingales singing in the middle of the day. Then Connor phoned me to ask me if I wanted to go and get the phalarope at Grafham! Of course I accepted and 25 minutes later James, Connor, Billy and I were on the way to Grafham Water. The bird showed well (see gallery) on one of the scrapes. It always followed the ducks when they were feeding to pick up the insects they had disturbed from the surface of the water. We also got Cuckoo, Turtle Dove, Ruddy Duck, Little Grebe, Barnacle Goose, Hobby and several Common Terns.
It was a really good trip (we missed a day of school!) and we're doing the assessed expedition in pretty much the same place on 18th - 19th May! Any bets on what we'll get?