Beanz Meanz Dipz

 It was my 57th birthday today and I thought it would be appropriate to seek out some Beans. With this aim in mind Alan Shorrock and I set out for Eldernell where two Tundra Bean Geese have been hanging out for some time. Sadly for me the Beans were not on today's menu and I had to settle for some alternative fare instead.

Cranes

Sun and clear skies meant that we had good visibility but that did not help us to find any of the Long-eared Owls which traditionally roost here. With the LEO's going AWOL and the Bean dip creating something of a stink it looked as if today had all the makings of being a disaster. Luckily for us a selection of other birds came to the fore and saved us from a day of dippy depression. A Short-eared Owl roosting in a bush next to the farm was a welcome start to our amble, I couldn't grab a picture as it was obscured by branches but I enjoyed the view. Next up were a quartet of Cranes that Alan found, unusually for this species they showed fairly closely and I got a few decent pics. The Cranes eventually flew off providing more photographic opportunities though they were only the first of several sightings today. Marsh Harriers were criss- crossing the washes and joined Buzzards and Red Kites in their search for prey while large numbers of dabbling ducks were feeding on the floods. Four Bewick's Swans and a flock of about seventy distant Pink-footed Geese were welcome discoveries, I haven't seen Pinkies in Cambridgeshire before. A Tawny Owl was roosting in the same tree that has been occupied for at least the last three years and showed well. On our way back to the car Alan spotted a pair of Stonechats which brought our morning birding to an agreeable close.

Tawny Owl and Black-tailed Godwits

While Shozzer was tucking into a well earned lunch I decided to walk along the riverbank in the direction of March. My stroll was halted by a Cattle Egret which was feeding on the bank in front of me. I gave Alan a call and he was lucky enough to see the egret before two walkers put the bird to flight. In the distance a large group of Whooper Swans were feeding in a field, other birders had seen Bewick's with them but we didn't find them. On the washes a large flock of Black-tailed Godwits were roosting and there was also a small number of Ruffs too. It might have been a good idea to wait around and see what flew in to roost but a birthday meal with the family had been booked and I had to get home in time for that. It's a shame that we couldn't find those Beans but my best ever photos of Cranes provided more than ample compensation.

Cattle Egret