 No awards for photography for this one as the subject was distant and my humble bridge camera zoomed to the max. However, another Merlin record for the site (the 6th or 7th since 2021 and the 2nd this year) and this time of one perched on the ground, perhaps attracted by the pool as a source of food or maybe just for a bath. This, the same pool enjoyed by a White-fronted Goose back in December 2021. The bird - either a young bird or a female - was observed bobbing its head a bit which I have seen Merlin do before and only flew off as I tried to move closer. With the wisdom of a raptor it flew into the sun and perched in a tree some way off. I walked in that direction but the bird had slipped away by the time I got there. However, in flight it showed well with noticeably dark upper wings compared to the ubiquitous Kestrels on site. A mini-Peregrine really and perhaps observed by the regular Peregrine perched not far off in its usual tree!
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 There are some birds that just say "Wild" and "Winter" to me and this time they took the form of 3 beautiful adult Bewick's Swans that arrived at the site in the middle of the day on 30th November. Immediately I saw their white shapes in the distance I knew they were something special - too small for Mute Swans and looking like birds do on migration - alert but trying to nap at the same time.  Another first for the site (#152) following the Turnstone on 17th October 2023 and a really good bird to see in Herts. Nationally Bewick's Swans have become much rarer and are considered vulnerable at a European level due to significant population declines. To see these birds at Stanborough GPs was a very special moment helped by the beautiful crisp day.
I kept my distance hoping they would not be spooked and two other birders were able to see them before, apparently in their own time and after a snooze and a wash, they flew off north-eastwards.  About time too I should say! A much expected bird at the site but one that has not shown until 2023 with the very first record an unusually early bird on 5th August. Given all the good habitat (although recently much diminished due to the quarry restoration works) it is a surprise that SEOs have not been recorded earlier. The August bird may have been roosting on site for longer than just the day but the activities of a juvenile Peregrine flushed it and crows ensured that it was mobbed off site in a westerly direction.  The Short-eared Owl on 5th August 2023 as it got it bearings before heading off west With good numbers of SEOs appearing in the UK another bird on 21st November was more expected. Initially seen high over the far end of the main pit the owl went down in cover crops just off site and adjacent to Cromer Hyde Farm. The publicising of this news led to others observing at least 3 birds hunting over the cover crops - presumably drawn to the abundance of voles and other creatures feeding off spill from the game-feeders. However, it wasn't until a week later that I was able to enjoy fantastic views of 4 Short-eared Owls as they rose high in the sky before slowly descending back down. At least 2 of the birds then spent the evening hunting over the site and both birds at one point perched 20 yards apart on the ground near me. When I left the site at last light a single bird remained perched on the electric sheep fence and affording excellent views. |
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