Eldernell for Short-eared Owls

With Shorties being thin on the ground this year and none showing at our usual hits including Capel Fleet, Wallasea, Two Tree Island, Rainham and even Burwell drying up we headed a little further north to Eldernell in Cambridgeshire. Driving down Eldernell Road we arrived at the small car park overlooking the Nene Washes and quickly found at least nine Common Crane feeding in the fields.
Common Buzzard and Marsh Harriers hunted and massive flocks of Lapwing and Golden Plover flew around the flooded areas but the Owls were playing hard to get until Jimmy picked a distant bird out in the scope to give us a year tick. After a short rain shower another Owl came out and sat on the path briefly before returning to the cover of grass and out of the biting wind.

We left and headed back down the A1 stopping at RSPB Sandy were we enjoyed good views of twenty plus Brambling feeding around the car park to give me another tick on the year list which now sits at 155.

Male Brambling

Brambling

Brambling

Great Spot

Great Spotted Woodpecker