Sandwich Tern at Deeping Lakes

© Josh Jones© Will Bowell
Along with the Little Stint, this was an excellent find for Sue Titman. This bird arrived about mid-day and was gone by 13.30, heading north after making a quick trip south-east at 13.00 (when the above flight shots were taken). A first for the reserve and the first for the Deepings area in many years, many local birders were keen to see this individual. Sandwich Terns are rare but annual passage migrants to the PBC area. Most recent records have come from Ferry Meadows where an exceptional 9 were together in April 2003.

Little Stint at Deeping Lakes

© Josh Jones
Little Stints are rare spring migrants to the PBC area, usually in May. Most birds occur in the Autumn during September and October usually, so a moulting bird in March is most unusual. In fact there are very few that winter in Britain in general so this is a very interesting record.

Shelduck at Deeping Lakes

Drake, photographed at Deeping Lakes LWT, 18.3.06
© Mike Weedon

Great Crested Grebes at Ferry Meadows CP

© Katie Fuller

Cormorant at Ferry Meadows CP

© Katie Fuller

Iceland Gull at CEGB

© Michal Maniakowski
Record shot from 16.3.06.

© Mike Weedon
Thousands of gulls, predominantly Black-headed, come down to the water of the 'Teardrop Lake' of CEGB Reservoir in the Fletton/Hampton area of Peterborough in the fading light of evening. This one shone like a beacon from the masses. It is much paler and purer white than the rather creamy-brown first-winter Iceland Gull that has been seen at Dogsthorpe Star Pit since 12.3.06, and also seems to have a less-butch bill and a gentler expression. This CEGB bird is a second-winter, with only light streaking, pale grey feathering in the scapulars and a much more contrasting black-tipped pale bill (and doubtless a pale eye). All would be visible on this shot, if only it hadn't been such poor light! This bird was probably the one seen distantly by Brian Stone at Eye Tip on 14.3.06. This shot was taken on 15.3.06.

Iceland Gull at Dogsthorpe Star Pit

© Mike Weedon
This first-winter bird was found by Peter Herkenrath and friends on 12.3.06. Could it be the same individual that has been at Milton Tip?

Little Grebe at Woodwalton Fen

© Mike Weedon

Kingfisher at Woodwalton Fen

© Mike Weedon