Wheatears at Serpentine BP

© Brian Stone

Oystercatchers at Dog in a Doublet

© Brian Stone

Little Ringed Plover at Baston & Langtoft pits

© Mike Weedon

Little Owl at Deeping Lakes LWT

© Mike Weedon
One of a pair photographed on 5.4.06.

Tree Sparrow at Eldernell

© Mike Weedon
Sweetly singing bird on 7.4.06.

Scandinavian Rock Pipit at Baston & Langtoft GP

© Josh Jones
Scandinavian Rock Pipits that have wintered on the British coast move north, inland on their way back to the continent at this time of year meaning Pipit flocks are well worth searching. This bird was in the same flock as a summer plumaged Water Pipit.

Water Pipit at Baston & Langtoft GP

© Josh Jones
A superb find for Josh Jones on his local patch. This species is a rare visitor to the Deepings area and one in summer plumage is quite something.

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

Red Kite, Peterborough

© Kevin Durose

Smew at Deeping Lakes LWT

This 'redhead' (top bird) was hanging out with the sleepy Pochards, sheltering from the wind by the island in front of the hide.
© Mike Weedon

Sparrowhawk at Werrington

A nice male in the garden

© Roy Norris

Mediterranean Gull at Dogsthorpe Star Pit

© Josh Jones

Caspian Gull at Dogsthorpe Star Pit

© Josh Jones
A cracking 1st winter.

Caspian Gull at Dogsthorpe Star Pit

© Josh Jones
Perhaps not the most obvious Caspian in the world but a nice adult all the same. The last two shots are video grabs.

Smew at Deeping Lakes LWT

© Trevor Williams
Part of a group of 9 birds present on the Lake at Deeping Lakes today. 10 birds have been present in total.

Siskin at Ferry Meadows

© Max Catterwell

Mealy Redpoll at Baston/Langtoft GP

© Josh Jones

Crossbill at Southey Woods

© Mac Bell
A stunning shot of a superb male!

Great Spotted Woodpecker at Eldernell

© Max Catterwell
This Great Spotted Woodpecker (a male, note the red patch on the back of the head) was one of three which have been chasing each other around Lord's Holt recently, drumming, and calling with excited chatters. Lord's Holt is the small alder wood beside the Nene Way and Morton's Leam (ie the main channel) to the west of the car-park at Eldernell.

Mealy Redpoll at Deeping Lakes LWT

© Mike Weedon
This male Mealy was found by Will Bowell on 20.1.06. It was in alders at the western end of the west pit (aka Phase 1), in the company of about 20 Goldfinches and at least two Lesser Redpolls (which are smaller and browner).

Bewick's Swan on Deeping Highbank

© Trevor Williams
One of two adults and juvenile Bewick's Swan along the Highbank this afternoon. This is only just an annual visitor to the Deepings area, with Whoopers being regular but still rare; mainly along the Highbank.

Little Owl at Deeping Fen

© Trevor Williams
This cracking species can often be found on willow trees along Deeping Highbank or Fen in the winter.

Marsh Tit at Southey Woods

© Will Bowell

© Mike Weedon
The Crossbills failed to perform well today but Marsh Tits were one of the numerous species of birds coming to seed on the fence, in the car park during the morning gloom.

Crossbills at Southey Wood

© Brian Stone


© Mike Weedon


© Max Catterwell

© Eugene Flanz
Some the 14 or so Crossbills gathering near a puddle in the car-park. Numbers have been growing in the area over the past week or so. Perhaps even more will be present soon.

Fieldfare at Padholme PS

© Brian Stone
This was among a mixed flock of Fieldfare, Redwing and Starling on one of the few sunny spells so far this year.