Birdwatching with Bug

We took Meredith into Cambridge today to see the peregrines.  She took some photos with her bridge camera and the results were surprisingly good.  The male falcon brought in a pigeon to his stash on the church.  On the way back to the car, Meredith saw a flying heron over the Mill Race.  It was discovered on the pond near the Granta pub, very close and not too worried by people.  She had never seen one so close, she said.  Along the Granta she said she had heard the warning call of a Great Spotted Woodpecker; we were a bit sceptical, but she was right and we saw the adult bird come and feed the chick.  Amazing hearing and memory.  The chaser was on our pond.

Pitt Peregrines

Into Cambridge just after 9 o'clock.  One bird was sleepy on the Pitt Building, the other was a hundred yards away on the church.  They brought in one kill, a small black bird, but when a buzzard flew over, they went berserk, screaming loudly, both in the air.  Looks like two chicks with primaries well formed.   

Deserted City

Cambridge should have been packed with tourists, students, bikes, coaches and cars.  Instead it was populated by builders and construction workers as the colleges took advantage of the absence of students (until Sept 2021, the university says) to reconstruct and refurbish.  Marks and Spencer and two fruit market stalls were open.  The Anchor on Silver Street was completely boarded up, and there wasn't a single punt on the river.  It was our first trip to town since January. 

Squabbling Starlings

                                      

The starlings sometimes seemed unsure which of the juveniles was their responsibility, and the young birds were often aggressive, as in the second picture where one grabs an adult by the skin on its neck.

Garden Birds

Greenfinch and a juvenile Starling.  

Not Out Of The Woods Yet

Two dragonflies hatched out on Ann's pond today, then we went for a very hot walk to Hardwick Wood, where I caught glimpses of Robin, GS Woodpecker, Jay and Chiffchaff.  On the way home I snapped a Swallow and a Thrush.

At Last!

The shelving expected at the end of March finally arrived today.  Matt deftly assembled it all within the day and now that we've sifted out all our stuff there's nothing to go in the spaces!

Sadie's Birthday

The neighbours all came out at 10 a.m. to sing Happy Birthday for Sadie.  We had a lunch in the garden.  She took pictures with her camera and then cut Carol's swan cake online.  Just after this the internet went off for the rest of the day!!  

Back to the Pits

Our first visit to Paxton Pits since the lockdown began.  Male and female Cuckoos heard, and Ann spotted a Hobby, but no other raptors seen.  Plenty of damsel flies but none of the larger dragonflies.

Littlewells

A visit to Barton now that lockdown has eased.  It was afternoon, so there wasn't much bird activity.  Nice juvenile Yellowhammer and a hazy Mistle Thrush.  Ann found this Small Copper.  

Before and After

I last had my hair cut in November 2019, and needed a trim when lockdown began.  After lots of comments from my extended family, I let Ann hack it a bit shorter.  Sadie took the photos.