Jonathan Taylors Nene washes

2010-12-27T12:00:00.002Z

Bittern on frozen ditch, taken from tractor

This kestrel was in attendance at a large fire site that i was burning with the aid of tractor and front-loader. It realised that when i was moving large some root stocks small rodents would run out. It took a couple of hours to catch its first field vole which it did by running along the ground and through some branches at lightning speed, the second vole it caught approx one meter distance from my feet and another by dashing under the moving tractor only to come out the other side with its prize!

2010-12-20T21:13:00.002Z

One of 21 wild male corncrakes that returned to the Nene Washes in Cambridgeshire in 2010, great encouragement for the re-introduction scheme. Also of note were two males that were three years old and a female that was four years old (the oldest known wild corncrake ever re-trapped in the UK and probably the world! Most wild corncrakes only live for around 1 year with the 3/4 of the breeding population made up of 1 year old birds (2CY).

Common crane bred for the first time, the first breeding in the cambridgeshire fens since they were extirpated in the 1600's

A great Egret in full breeding plumage visited breifly in May.

2010-02-23T18:39:00.003Z

Mondays WeBS count was promising to be spectacular due to excellent conditions on Eldernell Wash and the March Farmers land that is shallowly flooded grassland mixed with arable weeds. The following totals of wigeon and Teal blew the long standing records out of the water!
Wigeon 22,571 Previous record 13533
teal 9012 Previous record 4000
Pintail 2400
Mallard 898
Gadwall 144
Bewick's swan 947
Whooper swan 299
Taiga Bean Goose 3
Crane 2
Icelandic Black tailed godwit 2220
Also the pair of peregrines continue to reside at Eldernell and the imm female on the Low wash.

Stonechat feeding association!

2010-02-21T13:34:00.001Z

This stonechat has recently spent whole days with me whilst working on the corncrake pens, often approaching to within 4 metres. He finds worms and various insects from the soil that I am changing from within the pens. He will even come in through the door to investigate, so I have to ensure its closed when i leave!

March Farmers spectacular

2010-02-21T13:14:00.001Z

Common cranes

sky full of wigeon, pintail and 1000 black tailed godwits

Bewicks swans, up to 1300 present, mostly feeding on washland grass, a nice change from winter wheat and oilseed crops.

Bean Geese

2009-01-29T18:02:00.005Z

Classic Tundra Bean Goose with short necks, triangular and very stout bill with text-book orange marking on bill.

Birds showing more orange on bill makes the impression/illusion that the bill is longer.

5 Bean Geese on March Farmers, 2 had what I would desribe as normal rossicus bill pattern and the other 3 more towards fabalis type. Build wise they are definately Rossicus (Tundra). General field guides do not show these bill variarions.

2008-07-12T11:08:00.003Z

spoony visited the washes last week, favouring a shallow ditch alongside 15 little egrets.
Skylark nest, just hatched out, the punkiest chicks i've ever seen.
Corncrake release's continue
Returning males increased to 12-14 , which is a major leap in the project so far. Calling patterns also indicate that birds are doing what they should be with lots of second phase territories being set up. Its vital that females breed twice to produce enough young to set-up a sustainable population, this means delaying mowing in their chosen fields until mid-August.

2008-06-06T16:06:00.000Z

Montagu's harrier, male briefly on fence post and flying off north.

2008-05-20T22:09:00.002Z

Good signs of progress with the re-introduction of corncrakes to the Nene Washes with up to 10 returning males now heard singing on site.

2008-05-15T20:52:00.000Z

Tha business end of spring - chick rearing

2008-04-29T16:12:00.004Z

Returning male corncrake

2008-03-24T09:35:00.007Z

Water flooding through the Stanground sluice into Moretons leam. The Nene Washes act as pressure release valve for the lower river Nene as it has done for around 500 years now, its worth remembering that without this function Peterborough would be a little damper!

2008-03-24T09:35:00.004Z

The fire at Abbey produce, making my contribution to carbon savings a little insignificant

2008-03-24T09:35:00.002Z

Part of the 5000 or so Icelandic black tailed godwits that provided the Nene Washes with a new spectacle, the previous winter record count was 1746 earlier on in February.
Quite a few of the birds are colour ringed, indicatingthat most birds had recently been on the east coast at sites like breydon water, the wash and the humber estuary, but some had also come from Chichester harbour on the south coast and the Dee estuary.

Wikipedia quote. The stoat's coat is a rich medium brown with an off-white belly. In winter, the coat is thicker and in regions that experience an inch or more of snow for at least forty days of the year (I used to be alot colder here in winter!) the color changes to clean white. This white fur is known as "ermine", a term originating either from the Latin phrase "Armenius mūs" ("Armenian rat") or from a word common to the Germanic and Baltic languages, hence the scientific name. At this stage the stoat itself may be referred to as ermine, or as being "in ermine".

2007-12-21T19:35:00.000Z

New views on the washes looking west - Mc cains "chip" factory, hanson brickworks and 3 new wind turbines, not forgetting the electricity pylons, and last but not least the setting sun.

American mink -slightly blurred picture, they have poor eyesight, hence this pic taken at 4meters distance and not disturbed by me, though when hunting as this animal was they never seem to stop moving. still a rare photo opportunity

Pics from Fam Holiday to Sicily

2007-09-26T20:31:00.000Z

Scarlet Darter

Plain Tiger

Queen of spain fritillary - seen 3000mtrs up Mount Etna attracted to bare steaming Lava.
Large Wall Brown
Bath White
Pigmy or Mediteranean Skipper
Plain Tiger

Southern White Admiral
Swallowtail
Two-taile Pasha - amazing

Long tailed blue - abundant around Mt Etna

2007-09-20T06:57:00.000Z

Record shots of juvenile Purple heron on the Low Wash, taken at c100mtrs in the wind

2007-08-08T15:20:00.000Z

Todays release of Corncrakes onto the Nene Washes brought this years total to 77, we are well on target to release over 100 this year.

2007-06-15T18:40:00.000Z

2 juvenile Black Tailed Godwits. note the difference in neck tone (perhaps the male/female characteristics can show through even at this age?)
flock of 26 Little Egrets, the washes record was broken (a weekly occurence lately) on monday when I counted 35 together around one of the last remaining pools.

2007-05-10T16:33:00.000Z

Wilsons phalarope, female on the Nene Washes, alongside a Dunlin first seen flying overhead at 15:00 then watched settle onto the pool opposite Holly tree farm. Surely the same bird that was present at Grafham Water until yesterday evening. Also present 1 Turnstone, 6 Dunlin and 1 greenshank.

2007-05-03T16:40:00.000Z

First mute swans hatch out, this pair has 2 polish (white morph) amongst 7 cygnets. The polish bird is the washed out one, as opposed to the normal grey colour of the bird on left.

2007-05-01T17:28:00.000Z

grey herons, feeding on trapped fish, thers no escaping these formidable predators
A record shot of a male Bar tailed godwit, one of 24 today.

This common crane arrived from the east. fed for 1/2hr on flooded pools and then I'm not sure where it went. my 3rd record in 11 years, always a special sight.

2 little egrets feeding on drying out pools

one of 3 black bellied plover - grey plover is the wrong name when in this amazing plumage

2007-04-03T15:37:00.000Z

good numbers of Oystercatcher along the washes, enjoying the large flooded pools, today I saw one with a large worm - the first time i've seen one with a prey item.

2007-03-27T19:59:00.000Z

passage fieldfares stop over to feed on the moist pasture.

male lapwing

from -10 windchill to +16 in one week, confusing for us sapiens, it has'nt slowed down nature. With the floods receeding fast revealing the jewel that is the Nene Washes - all waders are currently displaying vigorously. Migrant marsh harriers have arrived in numbers, first avocets have been seen, mallard are already sitting on eggs where only 2 weeks ago the land was under water.

2007-03-09T08:33:00.000Z

Flooded washland at Lords Holt

following the rain on Friday and sunday and the full moon (creating high tides) the washlands are now operating in their role as flood release mechanism for the Lower river Nene, this protects areas of peterborough and surrounding farmland.

Mole escaping the flood
Gulls feasting on the mass movement of insects, worms and voles

male Shelduck

2007-03-04T08:26:00.000Z

Lunar eclipse on Saturday night. I was alerted to this eclipse whilst watching Spanish football at 10:30pm, the camera showed it at half time so I quickly went outside to enjoy it myself. The extent of the eclipse reached approx 9/10'ths, progressively turning fiery orange on its underside.

2007-03-03T07:33:00.000Z

Its that time of year again where Merlins can be seen frequently on the Nene Washes. They utilise the drove gateways as perches and can allow close approach when in a tractor or other vehicle. They appear to be hunting the spring arrival of Meadow pipits and Reed Buntings though I have seen them take Dunlin.

Weasal - taken from the truck was investigating rabbit burrows at Eldernell.

2007-01-24T17:55:00.000Z

Group of 7 Roe deer, seemingly established on the Washes!
The number of wild swans has increased this week with around 260 Whoopers and 650 Bewick's. 2 of the bewicks had recently been fitted with yellow neck collars in Holland. One was on Texel until Jan 1st, it arrived in the UK on 2nd or 3rd, being seen at Catfield, Norfolk on 3rd and here at the Nene washes on 22nd. Many birds are now feeding on the washland grass particularly at Eldernell, others are feeding on waste potatoes, beet tops or winter wheat.

2007-01-15T21:41:00.000Z

Water Fern azolla filliculoides. This invasive alien plant species usually sinks to the bottom of the water to over-winter or is killed off by hard frosts. This patch seemed very happy and going by how green it is - actively growing. I wonder if this patch managed to survive the freeze up in December or has it floated to the surface during the recent mild spell and already started reproducing.

2007-01-14T20:24:00.000Z

adult peregrine utilising an electricity pylon. If you want altitude in cambridgshire surely the top of a large electricity pylon is the place to be. On a clear day I can easily see 15 miles in the fens so I wonder how far a peregine can see, I guess the nearest meal is far enough!
fieldfare at Eldernel car park

2006-12-19T22:22:00.000Z

The number of Stonechat on the Nene Washes has reached a minimum of 38, the highest since the major population increase of winter 2001/02 when 47 were counted

2006-12-18T17:19:00.000Z

This rather ill looking Barn owl was seen on a fence line at March Farmers mid-morning, it did eventually fly a short distance, though i guess its not long for this world. This Kestrel was hunting from horse-back, a new behavioural sighting for me. It returned to the same horse several times, the horse seemed oblivious.
Another sunset west from the south barrier bank at Eldernell

2006-12-16T14:07:00.000Z

Bewick's swan - a group flying within 100mtrs of the March Prison wind turbine!?

2006-12-08T18:21:00.000Z

Bewicks feeding on suger beet tops. This flock of 369 contained 64 juveniles.

One of the swans in the flock has a blue neck collar and was first sighted on the Nene Washes in January 1997, again in January 1998 and January 2000, having been caught in Russia and ringed as a juvenile in 1993 and subsequently caught in 1996 when its neck collar was fitted. Most winters it is sighted on the Ouse Washes but sometimes it spends the whole winter on the continent mainly in Holland.
Whooper swan one main flock of 179 present near march Farmers - again on beet tops.

2006-12-07T18:49:00.000Z

This weeks full moon rising over the B1040 pools (known as the town fifties). The high tides that are associated with the twice monthly cycle can cause the Nene to flood providing heavy rain has fallen in the catchment. In spite of the storms in recent weeks we are yet to see such an event.
Icelandic Black-tailed godwits have arrived on the reserve's artificial floods near Eldernell, some 760 are currently present having been displaced, by deep flooding, from the nearby Ouse Washes.

Creating Artificial Floods on Nene Washes

2006-11-14T18:52:00.000Z

We have started creating our annual artificial floods at the eastern end of the Low Wash, viewable from the South Barrier bank west of Eldernell. Good numbers of wigeon are already using them when disturbance is low and 28 whooper swans and 20 Bewicks so far.

2006-11-06T23:28:00.000Z

This shag arrived at the Dog in-a Doublet sluice today, it was colour ringed. Thanks to the internet I was quickly able to find the scheme and the man that was studying them. It was ringed on the Isle of May in the firth of Forth Scotland on July 11th 2006.

stonechat paradise

2006-11-05T13:19:00.000Z

Good numbers of stonechat are back on the Nene washes for the winter. No full co-ordinated count made yet but 20+ certainly present. What they find so attractive in the washland habitat are the numerous ditches that are edged with rank vegetation at the interface with short grazed pastures. Most birds are paired up, an essential part of their winter survival, in my opinion, as one bird is always on the look out (a sentinel) whilst its partner seeks out insects and larvae from the decaying ditch-side plants. Their main predators out here are Merlin and Sparrowhawk.

Roe deer in Eldernell Decoy wood

2006-11-01T18:01:00.000Z

A brief walk into the wood at lunch time to escape the biting wind and out popped this Roe deer. With the sun directly behind me I was able to digiscope it before it finally realised I was there, 30 mtrs away. Not a standard wash-land mammal, though it's over 3 years since we flooded and they seem quite at home.

Little owl - stretch and wink

2006-10-21T07:19:00.000Z

Whooper swans arriving

2006-10-13T19:04:00.000Z

Following 13 flying east on tuesday, a group of 3 spent the afternoon resting on our only pool, always a fine site, knowing they've just flown in from Iceland (probably).

Comparison of Common Seal and recent Grey Seal

2006-10-10T19:28:00.000Z

This Common Seal from February 2005 shows the distinctive squashed convex nose as opposed to last months Grey seal with its concave "roman" nose. This animal was tagged and was probably the individual rescued 2 years earlier as a pup at the Dog in a Doublet sluice having mis -adventured up the Nene.

last months vagrant Grey Seal - how many other cambs records are there I wonder.

2006-10-05T20:49:00.000Z

These welsh mountain ponies are a feature of March Farmers, very hardy with distinctly small heads they are really good at eating coarser grass and nibbling at stuff other horses cringe at. Here on the cradge bank they are doing a good job getting it ready for the Wigeon. *(cradge or scradge is an old name for the inner wash bank that is maintained at a lower height than the outer bank to allow for a river in spate to overflow onto the washes.

Whinchat

2006-09-29T08:17:00.000Z

This bird is posted to show the white tail base, made visible when the tail is spread for balancing in the windy conditions, digiscoped from tractor.

2006-09-26T16:39:00.000Z

small copper on central drove, the only flutterby I saw today!

Short-winged conehead

2006-09-24T20:42:00.000Z

Photographed in August from damp grass fields on the Nene Washes, I'm a complete novice with this kind of thing - but I think these are s.w coneheads, formerly a coastal species.
The short wings are obvious and the ovipositor is more curved than in long winged conehead.

Whinchats from Eldernell Wash

2006-09-24T12:40:00.000Z

A group of 5 feeding around sheep grazed field, these two look like autumn adults as opposed to juveniles with orange, unstreaked breasts.

2006-09-23T20:29:00.000Z

Green woodpecker on fence stake along central drove, nice to see the transitional plumage from juvenile to adult.

2006-09-20T21:02:00.000Z

yellow wagtails are numerous on the washes in September, these were taken from the tractor last week, most birds had checked out by the weekend
Hummingbird hawk-moth in the kitchen!

2006-09-15T19:46:00.000Z

Giant puff balls, 3 on a raised bund at Eldernell, are the first I've seen on the Nene Washes, the aliens have landed!
Wheatear
osprey with fish from Eldernell Pits - record shots

heron food

2006-09-12T20:15:00.000Z

This frog was found in the middle of a heard of cows, happily hunting insects which it appears to have eaten large quantities of. As I approached it was unable to hop away due to its swollen state!
Frogs have been scarce in recent years following the spring floods of 1998, 2000,2001, in the past weeks I've seen several froglets and this thriving young adult.

Short-eared owl

2006-09-11T18:59:00.000Z

Short-eared owl at Eldernell today, whilst topping rushes this shortie like others fly at the last second and usually land nearby. They are reluctant to fly far so as not to attract the attention of crows and kestrels who love to mob them. This beauty was digi-scoped less than 10 metres away- hence I could not fit it all in.

this shot was taken through binoculars (Leica 10x40). Using a Nikon coolpix 4500.

Seal (Grey?) in Tidal Nene.

2006-09-10T13:31:00.000Z

first heard (blowing) then seen as it surfaced on out-going tide alongside Eldernell Wash, stayed under for c1min in which time it swam c150 mtrs and stayed surfaced for c20 seconds. Of all the other common seals i've seen in Nene this one imediately struck me as different - with a long nose running straight into forehead.

Nostrils wide open - taking in a lung-full.

This pic shows a bulging snout with a convexed bridge

Darters up close

2006-09-07T18:22:00.001Z

Ruddy Darter
Common Darter - with patience and experience its possible to get both species perching on your hand. (note the abdomen shape is almost even width on striolatum. the red tone can be very strong on some individuals, though never like the blood red of the Ruddy darter)
Comma - this emerged whilst picing the darters- the vivid orange is always a welcome splash of colour on any day.

France family holiday - back in 2 weeks!

2006-08-19T18:53:00.000Z

I leave any visitors to my site with this Red Kite taken near Barnack

2006-08-18T12:08:00.000Z

This patch of fringed water lily was found on Eldernell Wash 200mtrs from moretons leam where it is a scarce plant. The strange thing is this ditch was dry last year untill it was cleared out and re-connected to the summer water supply.

Common Darter A bright individual.

Brown winged hawkers are very common at present, though their wings are getting very tatty, this one was ovi-positing along a heavily poached margin - carefully placing its eggs just below the waters surface, appearing to push the eggs into the soft peat.

25 more Corncrakes released on Nene Washes

2006-08-15T17:54:00.000Z

Pics from this morning's corncrake release. Is it me or does the Nikon coolpix 4500 have a delayed reaction!!! Today we released a further 25 young crex's all around 5 weeks of age, bringing this years releases to 64. The above pics are of one leaving its bag very quickly - next time I'll get the head end and paste it on! Measurements are taken of head&bill, wing length, wax on primary sheath (to see how much growing remains). The vet from Whipsnade checks for general condition of bare parts, heart beat and body fat reserves.
Todays birds were in excellent condition making very good weights at the top of the range for the captive breeding stock. The final release of 2006 will be next week.

Corncrake friendly Topping

2006-08-11T18:06:00.000Z

Most corncrake field management refers to Hay-making, on the Nene it now applies to general pasture topping where the vegetation has been left un-managed until after August 1st to benefit corncrake breeding. The basic principle is to mow from the centre of the field outwards pushing the birds to the margin, which is left un-cut, - the above picture illustrates a former hay-field cut this morning. Typically in Aug/Sept large numbers of swallows feast upon the flushed insects, sand and house martin and 2 swifts also joined in today easy pickings.

Small Red-eyed damselfly at Eldernell sluice

2006-08-09T21:10:00.000Z

Red-Eyed Damselfly

Small Red-Eyed Damselfly

2006-08-08T17:44:00.000Z

Snipe chick 2/3rds grown. A few snipe will breed into August, this individual ran out in front of the tractor whilst topping thistles at the edge of a rush marsh

Because the bird had run out into the cut area I decided to move it back to the safety of rush cover, the chance of a close-up pic was irresistable.

Corncrake Reintroduction at Nene Washes

2006-08-03T15:37:00.000Z

Corncrake Re-introduction Project
So far in 2006 28 young have been released, our expected total is around 80.

this large chick! became slightly tame (the only one out of 80!) and has consequently developed at above average speed - at 28 days old its as heavy as most adults.

This chick is 14 days of age.

They gain about 4 grams each
day and can fly at around 32 days.

Bedford Purlieus

2006-07-30T19:32:00.000Z

White-Letter Hairstreak at Bedford Purlieus. A surprise find as it was on this oak and therefore expected it to be a "purple" then it was observed gathering nectar from brambles. Two more very worn specimens were also seen with no streak remaining and tail-less!

Red-Veined Darter at Maxey/Etton Pits

2006-07-30T19:27:00.000Z

Another angle on the red-veined Darter

2006-07-30T16:35:00.000Z

Sunday 30th July
Red-Veined Darter at Etton Pits, eventually showed itself when the day hotted up. Frequenting some recently landscaped shallow pools, preferring to perch on gravel/clay edges. Thanks to Kevin DuRose for locating this species.

2006-07-29T20:57:00.000Z

Currently the star breeding bird on the washes and a real privelige to work with, this individual was colour ringed during an RSPB project to determine the birds productivity, site faithfulness and other management issues. Many reserves would like to have them, its just working out how to increase the numbers so they can re-colonise suitable habitats. They are very site faithful, returning to natal fields in their second year having wintered in West Africa. The project did however prove that some birds return in their first summer and have nested at this age. One of our birds colour ringed in 1997 was present on the reserve this year and could be seen on droveside gates scolding passers-by as it protected its young.