Shag at Dog in a Doublet

© Brian Stone
The sluice at the Dog in a Doublet is the place to look for Shags or indeed most seabirds in the PBC area. Brian Stone was duly rewarded for heading out there this bitterly cold lunchtime, to check what may have drifted in on the strong northerlies. The brown plumage and pale-tipped wing coverts age this bird as a first-winter.

Sparrowhawk in Peterborough

© Mike Weedon
This young bird consumed what appears to be a House Sparrow or Greenfinch (can anyone ID it from this leg?) at its leisure in Mike Weedon's West Town garden (or rather on next-door's netting to protect their figs.

Cormorant at Orton Brick Pit

© Mike Weedon

Gadwall, Lynch Lake, Ferry Meadows

© Mike Weedon
Gadwalls (this is a drake) hang out with Coots, their favourite feeding partners, on this the smallest lake at Ferry Meadows.

Common Scoter at Ferry Meadows

© Brian Stone (click for larger pic)
Three female type Common Scoter on Overton Lake yesterday were replaced by eight on Gunwade Lake today. This normally coastal duck doesn't occur every year in the area and rarely stays long. Most are females or immatures so it was a treat to see an adult male with these.

Magpie in West Town, Peterborough

© Mike Weedon
Digiscoped in Mike Weedon's garden, where a pair were coming to peck at bread and take peanuts by the beakful.

Grey Plover at Deeping Lakes LWT

© Trevor Williams
This scarce bird for the Deepings area was found by Trevor Williams during his monthly 'duck count'

Wheatear at Prior's Fen

© Mike Weedon
This Wheatear apparently equalled the latest in Huntingdonshire, after birds on 30.10.90 and 30.10.01, though a bird was at Eldernell on 28.10.02, so perhaps late October records aren't that rare.

Slavonian Grebe at Baston/Langtoft GP

© Josh Jones© Chris Orders© Will Bowell
An ace find from patch worker Josh Jones. This is the first for the pits since January 2000, which was typical winter record and a one day stayer, and is only the second in the past couple of years for the PBC area.

Marsh Tit at Woodwalton Fen

© Mike Weedon

Rock Pipit at Dog in a Doublet

© Mike Weedon
There are many newly-laid rocks reinforcing the banks between the bridge and the sluice, making juicy habitat for this scarce migrant.

White Stork at Maxey

© Josh Jones
This is the same individual which has been frequenting the Gunthorpe Road area since late August at least, and is believed to be a first winter.

Tree Sparrow at Farcet Fen

© Steve Dudley
A first-winter in Steve's garden

Greenshank at Prior's Fen

© Mike Weedon
One of four juveniles present.

Wheatear at Prior's Fen

© Mike Weedon

Juvenile Arctic Tern at Prior's Fen

© Brian Stone

38 Knot at Deepings Lakes NR

© Kevin Du Rose

An unprecedented flock of this normally coastal wader species and surely a PBC area record count. They normally occur as singles and then perhaps only one a year!

Great Spotted Woodpecker at Ferry Meadows

A first winter male.

© Brian Stone

Little Owl at Farcet Fen

© Steve Dudley

Little Stint at Deeping Lakes LWT

© Mike Weedon
Photographed on 13.9.05, this juvenile Little Stint was found on 11.9.05 and was still present to 15.9.05 at least.