This week away was a strictly no birding week.... or so I was told. Back in February in the midst of lockdown Sally saw this barn for holiday lets and booked a week on the off chance we would be able to go. Neither of us had been to Cambridge itself before so we booked a tourist day in the town as well. The weather wasn't great but we made the most of it and saw some really interesting places.
The non-birding week started by us diverting to see the European Roller near Lackford Lakes, which I said was on-route, which can be argued is the case if you look at a very small map of Europe. The antidote was to indulge Sally in a shopping trip to Bury St Edmunds for the afternoon and so the format for the week was set where we would spend half a day in a place of Sally's choice and the other half in an agreed nature reserve or walk.
Other than the Roller there was nothing of note in the area which ensured I wasn't angling to chase after a particular bird and it was all fairly relaxed so I managed to see the following notable birds
Minsmere (after Snape Maltings) - Bittern, Marsh Harrier, Roseate Tern, Spotted Redshank, Bearded Tit
Wicken Fen - Marsh Harrier, Grasshopper Warbler
Paxton Gravel Pits - Little Ringed Plover, Common Tern, Cuckoo
Grafham Water - Green Sandpiper,
Audley End - Spotted Flycatcher
and around the barn we were staying - Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting, Swallows, Tawny Owl
We had a great time, although picked up a nasty non-covid bug on our return which laid me low for 10 days - probably because my immune system has had nothing to do for the last 18 months.
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| This was our accommodation for the week |
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| European Roller |
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| European Roller |
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| European Roller |
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| Bittern at Minsmere |
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| Bittern |
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| Route around Wicken Fen |
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| historic Fen windmill |
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| Orchids on the Fen |
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| Panoramic over Grafham Water which is huge. |
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